Purdue Polytechnic is hosting the inaugural Tech Expo, a business-to-business trade show, on Friday, April 27, 2018, on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. The Tech Expo is an opportunity for staff from businesses and manufacturers to network with their counterparts from other companies.
Randy Cook is a process manager for ArcelorMittal, a steelmaking plant in Burns Harbor, Indiana. He said members of ArcelorMittal’s recruiting team, who also are their facilities’ engineers and managers, will be shaking hands at the Tech Expo. “Even though steel has been manufactured for more than a century, ArcelorMittal continues to evolve our processes and the types of products we produce,” said Cook. “Our goal is to make stronger and lighter steel for our customers in a safe and sustainable manner. We always enjoy connecting with people who appreciate that kind of innovation.”
Besides networking, the manufacturers and suppliers displaying at Tech Expo can get acquainted with the innovative student minds of Purdue Polytechnic by attending their capstone project presentations. Graduating seniors will display their capstone projects during the Tech Expo in an adjacent room, so attendees are encouraged to walk the aisles, visit with students and see their tech-savvy, problem-solving capabilities.
“ArcelorMittal sells steel products to Fortune 150 companies like Ford and Whirlpool, but we’ve had challenges with name recognition – especially with respect to recruiting – because we’re not a direct supplier of products to end consumers,” said Cook. “The Tech Expo will give us a unique opportunity to reach out to prospective employees and show them who we are and what we do.”
The Tech Expo and capstone presentations are open to the public. The expo will be held 1 – 5 p.m. on April 27 in the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center. Admission to the Tech Expo and capstone presentation is free with a Purdue University ID. Without a Purdue ID, admission is $10. All-day parking is $5.
Business representatives who would like to exhibit at the Tech Expo can contact Mike Reckowsky, director of industry engagement, at (765) 496-0527 or mreckowsky@purdue.edu. Information for exhibitors, including booth fees and a link to the registration website, is available at polytechnic.purdue.edu/techexpo.