EVERETT, Wash. - Washington State University leaders celebrated the latest development in the institution's longstanding partnership with Fluke Corporation with the opening of the new Fluke Engineering Lab.

The lab, located on the WSU Everett campus, will give thousands of engineering students across the university system the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with Fluke equipment used every day by working professionals.

"Tomorrow's engineers cannot be prepared for tomorrow's challenges using yesterday's tools," said WSU President Betsy Cantwell. "Through our partnership with Fluke, we're bringing industry directly into the classroom and creating new opportunities for students to connect what they learn with how engineering is practiced in the real world. This kind of university-industry partnership can transform engineering education and help WSU shape the future of engineering in Washington and beyond,"

Earlier this year, Fluke donated $1.2 million in equipment to the university, ranging from tools used for thermal imaging and digital multimeters to calibration equipment and energy loggers.

"Great engineers learn by doing," said Parker Burke, president at Fluke. "Through the Fluke Engineering Lab, students will gain hands-on experience with the same tools and technologies they'll use in industry. This investment is about more than equipment. It's about building the skills, confidence and problem-solving capability the next generation will need to strengthen our workforce, accelerate innovation and solve the critical challenges facing industry."

The future workforce needs of the United States' manufacturing industry are significant, with upwards of 3.8 million new workers potentially required by 2033. Up to 1.9 million of those jobs could go unfilled due to skill and talent gaps, with partnerships like those between WSU and Fluke being pivotal to tackling that challenge.

"While the Fluke Engineering Lab is located at WSU Everett, the opportunities this partnership creates will extend far beyond a single location, benefiting students and strengthening engineering programs across the WSU system," said Sandra Haynes, executive vice president for WSU statewide campuses. "We are grateful to Fluke for its investment in our students and for helping expand access to industry-standard tools, experiences, and opportunities across all of our campuses."

The lab's official unveiling took place Thursday afternoon as part of the university's WSU in Puget Sound slate of events leading up to the Apple Cup.

More information on the lab opening event and the WSU-Fluke partnership is available on the corporation's website.