In the fall of 2025, we announced the launch of the Nespresso Assembly Challenge (NAC) international student team competition: https://manuf.bme.hu/?p=18024&lang=en
In the two-semester competition, the BME team developed a two-robot automated assembly cell. The main tasks completed during the competition were the design of assembly processes, the design and manufacture of unique grippers and fixtures, and the preparation of robot programs. The robotic assembly processes were first validated in Siemens Tecnomatix Process Simulate robot simulation software environment, then in a simulation-identical assembly robot cell in the laboratory of the Department of Manufacturing Science and Technology. In accordance with the participant guide’s requirements, we presented our progress and the final result through several reports and online presentations, and even, on June 4, 2026, in a live demonstration with the personal participation of the jury.
On July 3, 2026, the organizers of the competition, the participating teams and their mentors, as well as the sponsors, gathered in Switzerland for the final event of the competition. In the morning, we visited the Nestlé Nespresso SA production plant in Romont, where we took part in a factory tour, a professional demonstration and a tailored cocktail master program. In the afternoon, the five student teams presented their results to the professional jury, the other student teams and the audience in the innovation park of Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne Ltd. The event was closed by an award ceremony and a professional networking program.
To our greatest joy, the NAC 2026 competition was won by the BME team. Second place went to the Haute Ecole Arc – Ingénierie (HE-Arc. Switzerland) Morley’s team, while the third place was taken by the team of Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM – Mexico). During the informal discussions closing the competition, it was said that Nestlé Nespresso SA considers the Nespresso Assembly Challenge 2026 competition as the first stage in a competition series, building on the positive experiences, and that based on the cooperation between Nestlé Nespresso SA and BME, the results of the NAC-BME team will be incorporated into several bachelor’s and master’s degree courses of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Finally, we share some pictures and a film about the Final Event. Members of the NAC-BME team (from left to right): Gábor Viszlai – BSc student, András Tóth – team mentor, Áron Barna – MSc student, Csongor Jobbágy – MSc student, Gábor Molnár – MSc student, Sándor Ferenczi – BSc student
