Oct 28, 2025

Design Excellence Shines at Industry Hackathon 2025

A team of talented students from KFUPM achieved first place in the Design Track at the Industry Hackathon 2025, held in Riyadh, on 25 October 2025, and organized by the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF). The winning team included Shaimaa Mansour Al-Wadaei (Industrial & Systems Engineering), Asmaa Al-Anzi (Mechanical Engineering), Mariam Al-Khuzraj (Mechanical Engineering), Shahd Al-Aydi (Industrial Engineering), and Fatimah Al-Harthi from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.

The team’s project introduced a revolutionary industrial trolley inspired by ambulance stretcher design, featuring foldable wheels to accelerate loading and unloading from trucks directly into warehouses while ensuring product safety by minimizing contact surfaces. Additionally, a hydraulically operated scissor lift allowed the trolley to reach the truck’s full height, effectively creating a second level to maximize storage space.

Despite a tight timeline, the team excelled by holding daily meetings, leveraging guidance from hackathon mentors, and combining diverse academic backgrounds. They conducted field visits, expert consultations, and extensive research to ensure the solution was practical, cost-effective, and highly efficient.

The team was driven by a desire to solve real industrial challenges, turn innovative ideas into practical applications, connect with industry mentors and companies, and register their solution as a patent with the support of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund and assistance from the Industrial & Systems Engineering Department at the university.

Reflecting on their experience, the team encourages fellow students to seize such opportunities, as they enhance practical skills, foster creative thinking, and provide hands-on experience in tackling real-world industry challenges.