Standard of Excellence: The Human Touch in an Automated World
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
Global Sourcing Spotlight: How to Evaluate Supplier Capabilities Worldwide
SEL Receives Purdue Senior Design Partner of the Year Award
May 1, 2025 | Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) has been awarded the Senior Design Partner of the Year Award from the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. The award was presented on April 16 during the poster session for the senior capstone project, where students presented their learnings to mentors, peers, and industry sponsors.
During the award portion of the event, the college surprised SEL representatives with the Senior Design Partner of the Year Award for “outstanding support and steadfast partnership in senior projects.”
In the fall of 2024, Purdue University faculty members visited the SEL facility in Lewiston, Idaho, to select projects for the spring semester senior capstone course. They identified four real-world industry challenges for the students to solve for their capstone projects.
This spring, six engineers and technicians from the SEL Manufacturing Division served as industry mentors for more than 24 seniors divided into teams, helping them navigate their semester-long capstone projects. Throughout the semester, students frequently met with their SEL mentors after an initial visit to the Lewiston facility. The mentors provided the student teams with the tools, samples, and data needed to progress in their projects.
SEL is actively involved in supporting the next generation of engineers through higher education. The University Relations team engages with higher education institutions in various ways, including equipment donations, serving on university advisory boards, sponsoring student projects, and offering scholarship opportunities.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Partnerships Drive Innovation for a Brighter Manufacturing Future
08/26/2025 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007When Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) opened its greenfield facility in 2023, it did so with careful attention to choosing its suppliers. In this discussion, Collin Peters, electronics business director for North America at MKS’ Atotech, and Justin Kennedy, manager of engineering at SEL, explore their unique partnership that includes collaborative efforts to develop innovative solutions like the Uniplate® PLBCu6 line.
It’s Only Common Sense: 20 Lessons in 20 Years—A Career in Common Sense
08/25/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseIt’s been 20 years and 1,000 columns since I published my first monthly edition called “It’s Only Common Sense” on Sept. 5, 2005. I had only written 10 columns when I realized I couldn’t be confined to once a month. I simply had too much to say. So, on July 31, 2006, I started writing once a week, and let me tell you, that’s a lot of Mondays spent thinking, listening, watching, and writing about this wild, brutal, and beautiful industry we call the printed circuit board business.
SEL: Revolutionizing PCB Production Through MES, Partnerships, and Vision
08/21/2025 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Two years ago, we visited Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) to better understand its new captive greenfield PCB facility. We recently returned, this time to discuss how this bold vision has transformed the industry. Barry Matties met with John Hendrickson, engineering director, and Jessi Hall, vice president of vertical integration, to discuss the transformative capabilities of Factory Core, SEL’s custom manufacturing execution system (MES), which allows for real-time monitoring of workflow and machine performance, and has led to impressive improvements in quality and cost efficiency.
Inventing the Future: An Interview with Dr. Ed Schweitzer
08/20/2025 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer III, founder of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), has a corner office in the company’s world headquarters in Pullman, Washington. Forty-two years after his SEL-21—the first microprocessor-based digital protective relay—ushered in a new era of power-system protection, he has forever changed the way the world safeguards its electric grids. In this three-hour conversation, Dr. Schweitzer reveals that he remains excited to get to work each day, unpacking the “better, cheaper, faster, simpler” mantra that’s still driving SEL’s innovation, and the culture glue that keeps more than 7,000 employee-owners rowing in unison.
Marcy’s Musings: Continuing to Invent the Future With SEL
08/19/2025 | Marcy LaRont -- Column: Marcy's MusingsTwo years ago, PCB007 Magazine devoted an issue to Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL), a new captive greenfield PCB facility in Moscow, Idaho. We highlighted some of the most cutting-edge achievements in facility layout, design, and equipment in the PCB fabrication industry. SEL was a shining example of what was possible, providing insight and inspiration to PCB fabricators looking toward growth and expansion.