A $100,000 gift from Nidec Motor Corp. will fund the relocation and expansion of the undergraduate power laboratory in the electrical and computer engineering department at Missouri S&T. The gift will also support equipment upgrades in the lab.

“We have an awesome power program, but our undergraduate lab has been sorely in need of an upgrade,” says Dr. Daryl Beetner, chair of electrical and computer engineering. “Nidec’s donation will allow us to modernize and expand the lab equipment and to better prepare our students for jobs in industry.”

St. Louis-based Nidec Motor Corp. is a manufacturer of industrial, commercial and residential motors. The company’s motors are used in everything from computers, home appliances and automobiles to large machinery in the mining, water treatment and power generation industries. A long-time S&T industry partner, Nidec has also provided funding for an endowed scholarship and the senior design lab in electric and computer engineering.

“Like Missouri S&T, Nidec has a long history of fostering discovery, creativity and innovation,” says John Hussey, the company’s vice president of engineering and an S&T graduate in electrical engineering. “We’re proud of our past accomplishments, but we know that developing next-generation talent is essential for our future success. The benefits of this investment will be far-reaching as S&T students meet the world’s challenges, demands and opportunities.”

The power lab is used by every undergraduate student in electrical engineering for required labs in electromechanics and power system design and analysis. Students use the lab to conduct experiments and tests on all aspects of electrical power including motor control, energy conversion, system integration and design optimization. The lab relocation and renovations are expected to be completed by the end of the fall semester.

“Electrical engineering is a foundational program on our campus,” says Dr. Richard W. Wlezien, vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “When the electrical engineering community went micro, we maintained our focus on macro-scale power systems. This generous gift from Nidec Motor is yet another example of the type of industry partnership that shows we lead the way in this important area. It will ultimately help enrich our students’ academic experience.”

The lab, housed in S&T’s Emerson Electric Co. Hall, will be expanded by 25 percent with the relocation. New equipment will include digital power analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, connection panels, cables, oscilloscopes, probes, a motor drive and more.

“We are very pleased to contribute to Missouri S&T, a leader in academic excellence,” says Tim Schamel, president of Nidec’s HVACR Group and an S&T graduate in mechanical engineering. “Giving engineering students access to state-of-the art resources and technologies is one of the most direct ways that we can support the future of our industry.”

Electrical engineering is one of the oldest degree programs at Missouri S&T. The first bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering was awarded in 1917, and courses in electrical engineering have been offered since the 1890s. The electrical engineering department expanded to include computer engineering in 1998.

For more information on the lab expansion, contact Krystal Hull, senior development officer, corporations and foundations, at krystal.hull@mst.edu or 573-341-6596.