Purdue University has entered into a major five-year strategic partnership with Rittal and Eplan, marking a new chapter in smart manufacturing education and research. The collaboration, centered around the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, was formally announced during the Rockwell Automation Fair in Chicago last November.
Through this partnership, Purdue joins the Rittal + Eplan Partner Network as a research partner dedicated to advancing smart manufacturing education and preparing students for the next industrial revolution.
As part of the initiative, Purdue will launch two new labs on campus, the Eplan Electrical Engineering Technology Projects Lab and the Rittal Automation Systems Lab.
These facilities will give students hands-on experience with data-driven technologies used in plant engineering, wire assembly, and automation. Together, they’ll serve as a hub for innovation, allowing students and faculty to work directly with cutting-edge software and hardware platforms that are defining the future of automation and fabrication.
Beyond the labs, the partnership will support scholarships, internships, and joint research programs, with possible collaboration extending to Purdue Polytechnic High Schools. The agreement also includes a large-scale donation of Eplan software licenses and additional investments from both Rittal and Eplan.
The collaboration benefits both academia and industry. It creates a stronger talent pipeline for the manufacturing sector while giving Purdue students real-world exposure to technologies widely used by global companies. Students will gain direct experience using the Eplan Platform for electrical design, along with Rittal’s automation and enclosure systems, ensuring they are “industry ready” from day one.
For Rittal and Eplan, this partnership represents a long-term investment in developing the U.S. workforce and expanding their global model of collaboration between industry and education. Both companies, part of the Friedhelm Loh Group, have a strong tradition of supporting research and learning initiatives across Europe and are excited to bring that experience to the United States.
The partnership is already showing results. Purdue students recently showcased a capstone project, sponsored by Rittal and Eplanin the Innovation Area of the Rockwell Automation Fair.
Over 100 students were also invited to attend the event, offering valuable opportunities to network with industry leaders. Strengthening the relationship further, executives from Rittal and Eplan will join the Purdue Polytechnic Dean’s Advisory Council, ensuring ongoing collaboration and alignment between academic and industry goals.
Leadership Comments
“Purdue Polytechnic has always sought to prepare new generations for tech-driven industries, and this partnership is the perfect embodiment of that mission,” said Daniel Castro, Purdue Polytechnic dean. “By integrating world-class solutions from Rittal and Eplan into our curriculum, we are going beyond theory. Students will develop the hands-on skills and technological fluency needed to lead.”
“Purdue Polytechnic’s tradition of preparing their students for immediate industry impact makes them the perfect match,” said Sebastian Seitz, CEO of Eplan. “Purdue will continue to build on its excellent reputation through cooperation with industrial top players, while Rittal and Eplan look forward to smart impulses from cutting-edge research and education. Purdue students will be the engineers who bring advanced concepts to the U.S. economy, applying their knowledge to drive the next wave of industrial innovation. We are proud to invest in the talent that will move the world forward.”
“The U.S. economy has a great opportunity for growth,” Seitz said. “A deep understanding of data-driven automation with high-quality data right from the start is the key to unlocking this growth especially in an era of skilled labor shortages. That domain knowledge forms the basis for the next level: real-life value creation with industrial AI. This partnership is about laying that foundation.”
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