SIUE School of Engineering Showcases Facilities During Manufacturing Event
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Engineering and Technology (ENGTEC) partnered with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to host the inaugural Manufacturing Matchmaking event for the Metro East Wednesday on the SIUE campus. Approximately 40 manufacturing professionals and suppliers participated in speed-networking meetings and toured the SIUE School of Engineering facilities while on campus.
“In today’s high tech environment, these types of exchanges are rare, yet they go a long way in enhancing the value of the manufacturing supply chain,” said Lisa Kenney, Metro East regional manager for IMEC. “This event helped manufacturers identify new opportunities and meet new customers and suppliers with the ultimate goal of reducing costs and increasing the value of their operations.”
During their tour of the University’s engineering facilities, manufacturers were introduced to the School’s capabilities, including advanced labs, accomplished faculty and students.
“The SIUE School of Engineering was proud to participate in this opportunity to connect manufacturing partners in the region,” said Hasan Sevim, dean of the School. “We were delighted to showcase our state-of-the-art engineering facilities and to introduce our industry outreach center ENGTEC as a resource to this community.”
ENGTEC offers unique and extensive engineering capabilities to private sector employers in Southern Illinois and the St. Louis region. It supports student preparation, while facilitating growth in regional competitiveness and providing industry solutions.
“There is a natural synergy produced from our collaborative efforts with IMEC and our overlapping missions,” said Bob McClellan, interim director of ENGTEC. “ENGTEC is the vehicle to bring all of these potential stakeholders together in a jointly beneficial manner.”
ENGTEC is a cross-disciplinary business, manufacturing and technology incubator, fabrication and proof-of-concept facility available to SIUE’s students and faculty as they collaborate with private-sector customers, strategic partners and other innovators. The Center’s focus is to support and increase knowledge and innovation in the areas of technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing through investigative study, innovation, and formal, hands-on education to better prepare students for their productive entrance into the workplace.
Photo: Chris Gordon, PhD and Cem Karacal, PhD, associate deans of the SIUE School of Engineering, lead event participants on a tour of the School’s facilities.
