Engineering students celebrate National Manufacturing Day 2026

It was a day packed with hands-on design and manufacturing challenges, giving students the chance to put their engineering skills to the test.

From designing a prop light sabre holder in a 30-minute CAD challenge to reverse engineering a drone landing pad and exploring the possibilities of 3D printing in manufacturing, there was plenty of opportunity to get creative and think like an engineer.

The day also marked the launch of the IoT Engineering Design Challenge, a national pilot organised by NSCG in partnership with AutoDesk and CADClass.

The students will now take on a real-world, employer-led engineering brief to design a carabiner using industry-standard design principles and software. With three and a half weeks to put their skills to the test, with those achieving 90% or above progressing to Stage 2 and the chance to compete for awards and prizes.

The day also featured an insightful presentation from Siemens , exploring the journey from initial concept and design through to manufacture and implementation.

A fantastic day of collaboration, creativity and practical engineering - and the beginning of an exciting national challenge!