Purdue News

April 9, 1999 Purdue-Siemens partnership to help energize growth WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The meter division of Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution, with headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., and a new plant in Lafayette, has formed a strategic partnership with Purdue University. Siemens purchased the former Landis & Gyr electrical meter facility in Lafayette last June and, in February, announced that it would bring as many as 100 new production and engineering jobs to the plant within the next 12 months. The partnership will facilitate opportunities for Purdue faculty and Siemens staff to collaborate on research. The agreement also provides a vehicle for internships, cooperative study programs and other hands-on student opportunities and will encourage the recruitment of Purdue graduates. "We see this agreement as a winning situation for both parties," said Purdue President Steven C. Beering. "Partnerships with companies such as Siemens give Purdue University -- with its highly trained technical faculty, staff and students -- the opportunity to have an enormous impact on economic growth in the state of Indiana and beyond." Siemens will have access to Purdue research facilities, faculty and student expertise, customized technical training and executive education programs, and improved manufacturing technology and processes through joint projects. "We look forward to working with Purdue," said Jan van Dokkum, president and chief executive officer of the company. "There are so many areas of mutual interest, the partnership was a logical next step to our expansion in Indiana. In fact, a Purdue team already is working on a product quality project in our Lafayette plant." The Siemens partnership is the latest in a series of similar agreements between Purdue and companies such as equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, biotech company Bioanalytical Systems, and Raytheon, an Indianapolis defense systems manufacturer. Purdue schools involved in the partnership activities will include electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, materials engineering, management, technology, computer science, and consumer and family sciences. Purdue programs also key to the agreement are the Technical Assistance Program and the Summer Intern Program. Source: John Schneider, assistant vice president for industry research and outreach, (765) 494-5532, jas@purdue.edu Writer: Kate Walker, (765) 494-2073, kate_walker@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page