EXPERIENCE MFG
Tours are back in person!
What It’s All About
Experience MFG is an independently organized annual event by Hansen & Company Woodworks. The event is designed to inspire & educate future creators that manufacturing provides real, clean & bright, and sustainable career options in many areas of focus.
Each year we provide a hands-on kit, engineered & manufactured right here in Central Minnesota, empowering students to build a unique item that they get to keep! We also open our doors to educators & students for an experiential tour to get a real-life hands-on look into the fascinating world of a technology-focused modern manufacturer.
How much is it? All completely FREE!
Hands-On Learning With Kits
Back by popular demand, we’re offering a hands-on virtual experience with a kit for each student to assemble along with instructions provided.
Takin’ It Up a Notch
This year, students get to create something we’re sure they’ll love: a Wireless-Charging Phone Docking Stand!
Changes we’ve made to our kits this year to improve the manufacturing experience in your classroom:
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- All kits will be premade and ready to ship beginning in October!
- Introducing different levels to suit your students’ skills & interest!
- All kits will arrive WITHOUT a drawing or description of what the kit is. To bring technology focus further into the classroom – students or administrators will be able to scan a QR code on the kit to reveal what it is and how to complete it.
- Take the manufacturing process further into the classroom! Administrators will have the option this year to receive kits individualized in bags or receive all kit pieces mass-stacked on a pallet to work with students to organize, sort, & distribute. A careful practice in all manufacturing!
Choose Your Skill Level
To allow for a variety of skill-levels – for the first time ever, we’re introducing Kit Levels with additional challenges in complexity! Administrators will choose the best level for their class or school based on their technology and skill capabilities.
KIT 1
Skill Level: Introductory
Scan > Sand & Customize > Assemble & Use
Kit 2
Skill Level: Intermediate
Scan > Router Saw > Sand & Customize > Assemble & Use
Kit 3
Skill Level: Advanced
Scan > CNC > Sand & Customize > Assemble & Use
*This will only be available to one school this year. Machinery & programming must meet certain requirements.
Tours are back in person!
Kit 1
Two CNC-machined pieces of MDF ready for students to:
- Scan a QR code to learn what it is and how to make it.
- Sand, paint, and customize per student’s design personality.
- Assemble & start charging their phone!
*Option to request an HCo Team Member to join your class when you’re working on these with students for further insight into engineering and manufacturing and to help with any questions along the process! Limited availability.
Skill Level: Introductory
Sand & Customize
Time Needed: 2 Days
What students will need:
- A phone & WiFi needed to scan QR code to learn what it is and how to finish it,
- Sanding materials, and
- Paint.
Kit 2
One CNC-machined face & outlined piece of MDF ready for students to:
- Scan a QR code to learn what it is and how to make it.
- Router cut along outline.
- Sand, paint, and customize per student’s design personality.
- Assemble & start charging their phone!
*Option to request HCo Team Members to join your class when you’re working on these with students for further insight into engineering and manufacturing and to help with any questions along the process! Limited availability.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Route & Finish
Time Needed: 2-3 Days
What students will need:
- A phone & WiFi needed to scan QR code to learn what it is and how to finish it,
- Safe Access to a Router Table,
- Sanding materials, and
- Paint.
Kit 3
One 18½” x 9” piece of MDF ready for students to:
- Scan a QR code to learn what it is and how to make it.
- Download a DXF file to use for your school’s CNC machine.
- Run CNC program to cut the MDF piece to design.
- Sand, paint, and customize per student’s design personality.
- Assemble & start charging their phone!
Includes: 2-3 HCo Team Members to join the class
Skill Level: Advanced
Run CNC
Time Needed: 3-5 Days
What students will need:
- A phone & WiFi needed to scan QR code to learn what it is and how to finish it,
- Safe Access to CNC Machine,
- Access & Basic Training on CNC Program Software,
- Sanding materials, and
- Paint.
Note: Kit Level 3 will only be available to one local school this year due to the complexity of ensuring proper setup with CNC machines and programming. CNC machine and software program must meet certain requirements for this Kit Level to be successful in the school. If you’d like to request this level, please include the make & model of your CNC Machine and what software you use with your request.
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsors who help us bring manufacturing to local schools like yours!
Platinum Elluxe Level
Park Ave Level
Heirloom Level
Ready to #experienceMFG with your class?
Tours Are Back in Person!
75 Minutes of Experiential Learning
We’re thrilled to welcome students back for in-person tours this year while introducing a couple of new developments to improve the tour experience!
Tours Available Throughout the School Year!
We’re opening our doors to students and educators throughout the school year this year! We want those interested in learning about the fascinating world of technology-focused manufacturing to be able to join us on a day and time that works best for them.
Request a tour during any Tuesday or Thursday in October, November, February, March, or April during the 2022-2023 school year!
Tours will be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. For groups larger than 15 people, we may need to break into smaller groups to allow for flow.
Get Hands-On Experience with Technology
While we can’t let students touch machinery, we like to share the real-life technology used every day here throughout our tour. Our shop tour demonstrates the programs, machines, and robots (yes, robots) we use.
To further the tour experience this year, we’re beefing up how we show technology is used from the time we first look at a project at estimating to when we finally see it installed in the field. Join us as we introduce the opportunity for students to see and touch the technology we use before cabinets are even built! After all, manufacturing is a tech job.
FAQs
Are there any costs or fees for kits our tours?
Absolutely not! Kits and tours are all completely free to schools!
We believe inspiring the next generation of future creators shouldn’t come at a cost to educators and thanks, in part, to our sponsors, we’re able to provide these experiences at no cost to you.
Schools will need some of their own equipment or materials like paint and sanding paper or sponges.
Other costs like transportation is not covered but you can visit https://mnmfg.org/statewidetour/transportation-funding/ for assistance with transportation funding.
Can I request different levels of kits?
Absolutely! We know some teachers work with multiple grades or some school administrators might request these for the entire school. You can complete the request form for each Level you’re looking for or if you prefer, contact Sarah Hansen at RyanD@HCoWoodworks.com or 320-363-0051.
Why will only one school be selected for Kit Level 3?
While we are very excited to introduce the CNC element of our kits to classrooms this year, this Kit Level does require equipment with certain capabilities. To uphold our expectations of a quality experience, we want to be sure we can set the school up for success. We hope to expand this offering to more schools in the future.
Is there any assistance with transportation fees for a tour?
You can visit https://mnmfg.org/statewidetour/transportation-funding/ for potential assistance with transportation funding.