Purdue University Provides No-Fee Technical Services to Hoosier Businesses Through the Technical Assistance Program (TAP40)

Written by John Drach, Technical Assistance Program, Manager

During the 2023/2024 academic year, the Purdue TAP40 program, in conjunction with Purdue faculty, has completed multiple no-fee projects for Indiana businesses. These projects provide much-needed transformational technology to a wide range of businesses throughout the state.

The Purdue University College of Engineering has assisted with many projects over the past year and has helped transform businesses with cutting-edge technology. Some recent examples include:

• School of Industrial Engineering - Performed a “motion amplification” study for an Indiana manufacturer with setup and quality problems.
• Lyle School of Civil Engineering - Faculty performed a structural analysis on an exciting new affordable housing design.
• Davidson School of Chemical Engineering - Helped a small chemical company develop an automotive cleaning product.
• School of Mechanical Engineering - Assisted a client with testing an innovative wind turbine design.
• Purdue Polytechnic Institute - Helped with materials and design of a battery storage cabinet for the growing electric battery market.
• School of Materials Engineering - Assisted a client with a high-tech metal 3D printing project for aerospace and defense parts.

The Purdue University College of Agriculture is a strong supporter of agribusiness and foods in the state and has provided expertise from their departments including:

• The Department of Food Science-FEMI performed a shelf-life stability project for an online business selling very creative and delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
• A Department of Forestry & Natural Resources professor worked with a client on an environmentally friendly and sustainable replacement for formaldehyde-based adhesives.

Mitchell E. Daniels School of Business helps TAP40 clients with business technology services including a project that assisted a new company manufacturing wood products with a marketing plan.

Regional campuses also support industry in their area within the state with projects such as:

• Purdue University Fort Wayne typically performs over 25 no-fee TAP40 projects annually.
  • The College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science helped a hot dip galvanizing manufacturer to reduce their waste stream and increase recyclable plant discharge.
  • A Department of Organizational Leadership professor assisted a client with a job description and employee evaluation project.
• Purdue University Northwest faculty worked on an artificial intelligence project for the defense industry.

Purdue TAP40 also provides no-fee projects to governmental or non-profit organizations including recently assisting a small Indiana utility with a technical communication problem.

Since 2005, Purdue MEP and TAP40 programs have generated an economic impact exceeding $7 billion to the Indiana economy. For more information on what a no-fee TAP40 project can do for your Indiana business, please contact John Drach, TAP Program Manager, at jrdrach@purdue.edu or contact your Purdue MEP industry advisor.

 

Writer: John Drach, 440-591-9580, jrdrach@purdue.edu