Lincoln Electric and David C. Lincoln, son of its founder, support aspiring engineers at Ohio State

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It makes perfect sense that the world’s leading welding technology company and the son of its founder would join resources to support the country’s leading welding engineering program.

With a $1 million donation, Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric and David Lincoln have co-funded the first endowed professorship in welding engineering at The Ohio State University. Lincoln Electric also donated or consigned nearly $420,000 worth of welding equipment and technology for use by Ohio State students and faculty.

“A cornerstone of Lincoln Electric’s success has been welding engineering expertise and product innovation, said Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln Electric’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The endowment at Ohio State honors that legacy and places Lincoln Electric at the forefront of welding engineering education. It also underscores our commitment to develop future ‘welding experts’ who will continue to drive innovation in our industry.”     

Founded in 1895 by John C. Lincoln, an Ohio State electrical engineering alumnus (1888), Lincoln Electric is a global provider of comprehensive arc welding, cutting and joining solutions. David Lincoln is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded the Lincoln Laser Company and a real-estate business in Phoenix, Arizona.

Lincoln Electric
(l to r) Prof. John Lippold, Dean David B. Williams, David Lincoln, Lincoln Electric North America President George D. Blankenship, Prof. Mike Mills

Residing in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the endowed welding engineering professorship will facilitate recruitment of a new faculty member during the 2015-2016 academic year.

“Gifts that support our programs and students are extra special when they originate from the family of a distinguished alumnus like John Lincoln and the company he established,” said College of Engineering Dean David B. Williams. “Lincoln Electric and David Lincoln are steadfast in their belief that education drives innovation.”

 

State-of-the-art welding equipment provided by Lincoln Electric will benefit more than just the welding engineering program. Students and faculty in mechanical and aerospace engineering, integrated systems engineering and agricultural engineering also will use the latest arc welders, training simulators, fume extraction units, plasma cutters, software and safety equipment. Additionally, manufacturing research collaborations and partnerships will utilize the new technology.

Lincoln Electric (Nasdaq: LECO) is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric has 47 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company’s website at www.lincolnelectric.com.

A former Lincoln Electric Board Member, David Lincoln is the chairman of the Claremont (CA) Lincoln University and served on the board of the Claremont School of Theology for a number of years.

Ohio State’s welding engineering program is the only ABET-accredited undergraduate program in North America. It also offers master’s and doctoral degrees, including a nationally-ranked online master’s option.