Festo Didactic and Dobot Robotics' partnership at SkillsUSA 2025 highlights a growing emphasis on mechatronics education as manufacturers face critical skills shortages.
The engineering workforce pipeline continues to face mounting pressure as manufacturers struggle to fill positions requiring advanced automation and mechatronics expertise. At the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta (June 23-27), industry leaders are responding with expanded training initiatives that more closely mirror real-world manufacturing environments.
Festo Didactic, the educational arm of German automation giant Festo, is partnering with collaborative robotics manufacturer Dobot to showcase integrated training systems that bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial application. Their joint exhibit features the MecLab cobot station, a comprehensive platform designed to simulate various automation scenarios while providing hands-on experience with AI-driven smart manufacturing processes.
Raising the bar for technical competition at SkillsUSA
The mechatronics competition at SkillsUSA has evolved significantly from its early iterations, according to Alyssa Evans, technical support engineer at Festo and mechatronics technical chair at SkillsUSA.
“We’re working extremely hard to ensure that technical standards and best practices in industry are aligned with the curriculum and training needed to guide students down a pathway to compete here at SkillsUSA,” Evans said. “I look forward to being here every year because every year the competition gets stiffer.”
This year’s competition challenges more than 50 high school and college students to build complete mechatronics systems using Festo’s factory-simulated training equipment, including MecLab, MPS, fluid power, industrial controls, and ac/dc systems. Competitors must demonstrate proficiency in assembly, integration, and programming — skills that directly translate to modern manufacturing environments where systems integration expertise commands premium salaries.
The judging panel reflects industry’s serious investment in workforce development, featuring representatives from major manufacturers including Nissan, Denso, and Toyo Tires, alongside automation specialists from ATC, Reletech, and technical education providers. This industry-led evaluation ensures students are measured against current professional standards rather than outdated academic benchmarks.
Strategic workforce development initiative
Beyond competition, the event serves as a critical professional development platform for educators who will shape the next generation of engineers and technicians. Festo’s partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) offers Train-the-Trainer sessions in Fundamentals of Industry 4.0 and Bionics4Education, providing instructors with industry-recognized certifications at significantly reduced costs.
“Last year’s training was such a success that SkillsUSA not only invited NC3 back but also expanded the offering,” said Lisa Marshall, Festo’s program manager at NC3. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for instructors — especially those attending SkillsUSA for the first time — to earn an industry-recognized certification at a significantly reduced cost while engaging with the nation’s top technical talent.”
Industry 4.0 skills gap reality
The collaboration between traditional automation leaders and emerging robotics companies reflects the rapidly evolving skill requirements in modern manufacturing. With over 30,000 certifications issued through Festo’s programs and 36,000 Festo-equipped educational institutions globally, the scale of workforce development efforts underscores the magnitude of the skills challenge facing the engineering sector.
The Festo Industry 4.0 Certification Program (FICP) represents a strategic response to employer demands for workers who can seamlessly integrate multiple automation technologies. As manufacturing becomes increasingly digitized and interconnected, the ability to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries — mechanical, electrical, software, and data systems — becomes essential rather than optional.
Winners from the 2024 and 2025 competitions will compete for positions on the team representing the United States at the 2026 WorldSkills Championship, highlighting the international dimension of technical skills competition and workforce development.
The partnership between established automation providers and emerging robotics companies at SkillsUSA 2025 signals a maturing approach to technical education — one that prioritizes practical integration skills over theoretical knowledge alone. For engineering professionals and educators, the event offers insights into how industry leaders are adapting training methodologies to meet the demands of increasingly sophisticated manufacturing environments.
As the engineering workforce continues to evolve, initiatives like these provide a roadmap for developing the interdisciplinary skills that will define the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
