Press Release

Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Officials from Indiana Tech and Steel Dynamics Inc. joined together on Friday, August 13, to celebrate the dedication of the Steel Dynamics Energy Engineering Laboratory.

A gift of $300,000 from Steel Dynamics Foundation, Inc. provided funds to equip the state-of-the-art energy engineering laboratory at Indiana Tech's Fort Wayne campus. The university offers a bachelor's degree in energy engineering, and the Steel Dynamics Energy Engineering Laboratory will provide students with equipment for instruction in alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cells, ethanol, and other biofuels.

"I want to thank Steel Dynamics and the foundation not just for what they have done for Indiana Tech," Indiana Tech President Arthur E. Snyder said at the dedication ceremony. "They have done so much for Fort Wayne, its universities and the community, and we are very grateful."

Dave Aschliman, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, spoke about the importance of the energy engineering degree and its focus on renewable and alternative sources of energy.

"Because of this gift from Steel Dynamics, our energy engineering students will be able to study solar energy firsthand," Aschliman said.

Aschliman said the lab will focus on solar energy this year, and three different types of solar powered water heaters have been purchased and installed. Wind power will be the focus in the second year and biofuels in the third year.

The energy engineering degree program includes an emphasis on business and economic principles to ensure that graduates can approach energy efficiency from a cost perspective as well as a scientific perspective.

Richard Teets, executive vice president for steelmaking and president and chief operating officer of steel operation, and Kevin Bort, engineering manager, structural and rail division, represented Steel Dynamics at the dedication. Teets spoke at the dedication and lauded Indiana Tech for including business courses as part of the energy engineering degree program.

"In the real world, energy solutions must be technically practical and economically viable," he explained.

In addition to the energy engineering degree program, the lab equipment will support coursework for students in other engineering disciplines such as electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

For more information on engineering degree programs at Indiana Tech, visit www.IndianaTech.edu/engineering.

Source: Indiana Tech