MEMS Partners with ELLWOOD for Lab Improvements

The Metallurgical Lab housed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering will be capable of supporting more students through a gift from longtime partner ELLWOOD Group, Inc. (ELLWOOD), a leading supplier of quality metals and custom engineered components for critical applications worldwide. 

The gift grants the opportunity to name the space, purchase equipment, and create longform support with an endowment.  

“ELLWOOD has been a great ally of this department, thanks in great part to our alumnus Robert Rumcik,” said Brian Gleeson, department chair of Pitt’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. “Their generous gift will continue to inspire and support future generations of students.” Rumcik, ‘68, a member of the ELLWOOD Board of Directors, formerly served as President of ELLWOOD Quality Steels (EQS) and ELLWOOD National Steel (ENS), specialty steels and nickel-based alloys producers.

ELLWOOD’s most recent gift includes: 

• Purchase and installation of a benchtop scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
• Creation of the endowed fund to support the ELLWOOD Metallurgical Laboratory equipment and education-related lab and research expenses of faculty and students
• Travel costs for students and faculty for annual tours of ELLWOOD’s melt shop, remelt and open-die forging facilities
• Sponsorship of student membership dues for the Material Advantage student program