New Siemens Energy Large Manufacturing Solutions Laboratory

With the support of local industry who will benefit from its research capabilities, the Lee College of Engineering opened the new Siemens Energy Large Manufacturing Solutions Laboratory.

Housed in the college’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Building, the new lab will conduct research on the precision dimensional measurement of large-scale energy components. The lab was made possible with $2 million in support from Siemens Energy and Hexagon Metrology. Siemens made a gift of money for lab construction, and Hexagon is providing a Leitz PMM-F 30-20-16 coordinate measuring machine as the first major component of the lab.

A video clip of the dedication event.

“Large scale manufacturing is complex, and this lab will allow UNC Charlotte faculty, students and partners to continually research and innovate, keeping our talent pipeline and global competitiveness on the cutting edge,” said Mark Pringle, vice president of Siemens Charlotte Energy Hub. “The rising need for manufacturing technology development in the U.S. makes this lab a truly valuable asset, and Siemens is proud of this joint effort.”

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois said the lab will strengthen the mission of EPIC and The William States Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte in supplying the workforce and research needed to support advanced manufacturing in North Carolina.

“With the very generous support of Siemens Energy and Hexagon Metrology, we are making an important step in that mission today with the dedication of the Siemens Large Manufacturing Solutions Laboratory,” Dubois said. “I want to thank Mark Pringle at Siemens, along with Angus Taylor at Hexagon, for providing all the resources that made this possible.”

The new lab builds on the expertise of the Lee College of Engineering’s Center for Precision Metrology, which is one of the foremost programs in the world in the areas of precision measurement and manufacturing. With the addition of the 60,000-pound Leitz PMM-F machine, researchers will be able to measure parts up to 3x2x1.6 meters to an accuracy of a few microns. The new machine is in a temperature-controlled room of 20 degrees Celsius that fluctuates no more than .5 of a degree.

Dr. John Ziegert, a professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, is the director of the Siemens Large Manufacturing Lab.

“This world-class dimensional measuring machine provides unique capabilities that will enable UNC Charlotte faculty and students to provide benefits to Siemens,” Dr. Ziegert said, “as well as other companies in North Carolina and throughout the nation. We fully understand that Siemens and Hexagon expect impact and return on the very significant investments they have made here. We are committed to doing everything in our power to deliver that impact, and to grow the partnership.”