Irish Manufacturing Research hosts St Colman’s NS students for Manufacturing Day Ireland

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), an independent research and technology organisation in advanced manufacturing, marked the inaugural Manufacturing Day Ireland by welcoming 120 students from St Colman’s National School to its Mullingar facility.

Manufacturing Day Ireland, led by Ibec, showcaes the innovation, skills, and career opportunities in modern manufacturing. Companies across the country opened their doors to students, educators, jobseekers, and communities to see first-hand how Ireland’s manufacturing sector is shaping the future.

The St Colman’s students spent the day exploring the science behind advanced manufacturing in a lively workshop with Mark the Science Guy, touring IMR’s cutting-edge labs in Robotics, Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing, and Extended Reality (XR), and taking part in hands-on STEM activities designed to spark creativity and curiosity about future careers in science, engineering, and manufacturing.

Luana Raggi, programme coordinator for Ideas Made Real at IMR, said: “Initiatives like this are about more than just opening our labs, they are about opening minds. By engaging students at this age with hands-on experiences in robotics, 3D printing, and XR, we are helping them see that manufacturing is creative, exciting, and full of possibilities for their futures.”

This initiative was delivered by Ideas Made Real, IMR’s national STEM outreach programme, and funded by FactoryXchange. Together, these partners are committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators, building stronger connections between schools and industry, and ensuring that young people see manufacturing as a dynamic, creative, and sustainable career path.