Purdue University, Rittal and Eplan celebrated the opening Sept. 15 of two new learning labs at the university’s Engineering and Polytechnic Gateway complex. The labs expand an international partnership the organizations announced in October 2025 to strengthen workforce development, and prepare students for smart manufacturing careers. 

Purdue is engaged in a five-year collaboration as the primary U.S. academic research partner in the Rittal + Eplan Partner Network. The companies report their collaboration reflects a broader commitment to strengthening education with technologies and integrated workflows. Beyond the two labs, Purdue’s partnership with the two firms includes plans for scholarships, internships, workforce-development opportunities and joint R&D initiatives.

“The Rittal and Eplan labs present environments where Purdue students can develop hands-on experience with tools and processes critical to an array of technology-focused industries,” said Daniel Castro, dean of Purdue Polytechnic Institute. “Purdue Polytechnic has always focused on practical learning and problem-solving skills as we prepare job-ready talent. Integrating Rittal and Eplan into our curriculum show our students a path from design to production.”

These two experiential, project-based facilities—the Eplan Electrical Engineering Technology Projects Lab and the Rittal Automation Systems Lab—deliver industry expertise and engineering technology to Purdue, while creating a pipeline of skilled talent. Located at Purdue’s School of Engineering Technology, the two labs give engineering technology students opportunities to conduct studies and develop hands-on experience with industrial tools, technologies and processes. More specifically, Eplan’s lab focuses on computer-aided engineering and electrical design, while Rittal’s lab gives students experiential training with physical infrastructure, including industrial enclosures, power distribution systems and automation hardware.

“Industry is changing rapidly, and the next generation of engineers need more than an understanding of individual technologies. They need to understand how engineering and manufacturing work together,” said Sabastian Sietz, CEO at Eplan. “That’s what makes our partnership with Purdue so important. Giving students the opportunity to learn in an environment that reflects the realities of modern industry will help them enter the workforce ready to contribute, innovate and lead. We’re not simply investing in two labs; we’re investing in the engineers who will shape the future of American manufacturing.”