Young product designers explore innovation in industry

Our budding product designers discovered more about innovative manufacturing techniques and more during a visit to a pioneering company based in Ripon. Report by Mrs STEVENSON

SIXTH form product design students took part in an exciting and insightful visit to Additive-X, a leading additive manufacturing company based in Ripon. 

The trip was organised to support students’ A-level studies by offering a practical look at how advanced design and manufacturing techniques are used in real-world contexts.

During the visit, students were given a tour of the facilities and introduced to a wide range of professional-grade 3D printers and additive technologies. They had the rare opportunity to see and handle a variety of specialist materials used in the industry — including copper, PLA, silicone, carbon fibre, and Kevlar. These materials were explored not only in terms of their properties but also how they can be integrated into products to enhance performance, strength, and functionality.

Students also learned about the importance of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and its central role in modern design and prototyping. Chris, one of the experts at Additive-X, highlighted the vast career opportunities that exist within CAD-based design and engineering roles.

There was a strong focus throughout the session on design iteration and problem-solving, with students encouraged to think about how rapid prototyping can aid innovation and speed up development processes in industry.

Student Isobella commented:"The session was really informative and it allowed me to achieve further insight into the additive processes used in industry. It was great to see some of the products being developed. I found it really interesting how the different materials can be printed, especially the metals and silicone."

Oma added:"It was really nice to learn about 3D printing and how you can use it for prototyping and improving design iterations. It was also nice to see careers in design within the local area."

A huge thank you to Additive-X for allowing the group to visit. It is such a valuable experience to be able to see industrial processes in practice and how they are being used for real-life problems.

The visit not only deepened students’ understanding of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques but also highlighted the wealth of career paths available within design and engineering — right on their doorstep.