For more information, contact Cindy Young, (937) 775-3232.

October 14, 1997

WRIGHT STATE FORMS PARTNERSHIP
WITH SPRING MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE

Wright State University has formed a partnership with the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) to further spring design education and research at Wright State.

"Wright State University is pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with SMI," said James Brandeberry, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. "This collaboration will allow the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to develop a focus that serves the needs of the spring manufacturers. Through this focus and collaboration with SMI, we hope to become an international center for education and research in the design and manufacture of springs."

The initial $5,000 grant will be used to foster spring design education at Wright State and develop a co-op education program. The co-op program would give WSU students the opportunity to gain meaningful experience in their chosen area by working in the spring industry locally and throughout the nation. The students will be provided with highly desirable skills, positioning them well for future careers in the industry and the spring industry will gain a pool of highly skilled prospective employees.

Future plans call for a center for research in spring design and manufacture at Wright State University. The center would capitalize on the faculty expertise and laboratory facilities at Wright State to help manufacturers improve spring design and durability.

The effort is being led by professors Joseph Slater, Ph.D., Raghavan Srinivasan, Ph.D., and Isaac Weiss, Ph.D., of the WSU mechanical and materials engineering department, in coordination with Charles Pepka and Ken Boyce of SMI.

The Spring Manufacturers Institute promotes the interests of precision spring manufacturers with cooperative activities in education, regulatory compliance, mechanical and technical support. SMI membership is composed of more than 350 companies with 17,500 employees throughout North America. The gross annual industrial output of the North American spring industry is $2.4 billion.