Work begins at SEL Discovery Park facility
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A new facility in the Purdue Discovery Park District is up and running. Washington-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories on Wednesday celebrated the beginning of manufacturing operations at its 100,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to employ up to 300 people.
SEL President, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Ed Schweitzer was on hand to mark the start of production by signing the first SEL product manufactured in West Lafayette. Schweitzer is a graduate of Purdue University.
The company announced plans for the facility in April 2018. At that time, Purdue President Mitch Daniels called the commitment by SEL a “breakthrough moment” for the university and the Discovery Park District.
“(SEL) coming here will draw the attention of others who also want access to researchers, access to the top technological talent, top talent produced in Indiana and the Midwest, and the amenities that will come with our location, our airport, all these features that Purdue can offer that others cannot,” said Daniels.
As part of the original announcement, Schweitzer and his wife, Beatriz, also donated $3 million to Purdue’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.