"You are all winners because you work in metal and technology!"

The smell of welded steel still hangs in the air as the first of twelve wind turbines is wheeled out. "Don't touch the sheet metal, it's still warm from welding..." a student laughs as he and three of his teammates roll the monstrosity out. It's Wednesday afternoon, almost 2:30, and the tension is mounting among the sixty first-year Engineering students.

Welcome to the BIC. Welcome to Summa Techniek , where twelve unique wind artworks rotate in the sun. Created by first-year students in collaboration with over forty training companies. The assignment? Design and build a 'Whirligig Windmill': a windmill powered by technology and creativity.

The assignment seems simple at first glance: create a decorative windmill. But the requirements were anything but light. Each design had to be demountable, mobile, and compact enough to fit in a Volkswagen Golf 4. And more importantly, the upper structure had to actually rotate in the wind and power at least one moving part. "There's definitely a sustainable idea behind it," says instructor Patrick Fonken of Summa Techniek. "You could even install a dynamo on it to generate energy. But for this assignment, we opted for a more compact model, something people would want to place in their garden or on a patio."

All participating students are enrolled in a BBL program in sheet metal, construction, welding, or machining. They combine their studies with work at a training company; one day a week is dedicated to classes, and the rest of the time they gain practical experience at a training company. The intensive collaboration with the business community makes this project extra special. "The materials were funded by Crafted, the festival for creative craftsmanship, and the training companies. The companies were more than just material suppliers," says Fonken. "They acted as a sounding board, a coach, and sometimes even a lifesaver," he laughs. "This created an interaction where students truly learned through practical application. That's the essence of the BBL model: learning by doing, in a way that matters."

Besides technical skills, from welding and milling to drilling and edging, students also had to think creatively and project-wise. "What effect does wind force have on the balance point of your turbine? How do you prevent components from becoming too heavy or breaking off in a gust? How do you collaborate under pressure, with a deadline and limited resources? And yes, the result is something they can be proud of. Technical students are often down-to-earth and task-oriented," Fonken emphasizes. "They think: if it works, it's good. But this project shows them that their work can also have an aesthetic impact, that they can be proud of what they build."

Just after 2:30 PM, the three jury members, comprised of practical trainers from three training companies, walked over to the first structure. A blower was used to test the workings of the wind mechanism. The windmills turned, a dog bobbed up and down, another artwork featured a football player performing a full bicycle kick, and yet another featured the blades of a helicopter turning. Jury member Rik Kuijken of Wilvo Metalworking examined the objects closely.

Bert Godfried, a jury member representing VDL-GL, is impressed by the diversity: "Each team followed its own path. They didn't compare themselves, but consciously made their own choices. That's wonderful to see." During the awards ceremony, he had a clear message for all the participants: "You are all winners, because you work in metal and technology. You can be proud of what you've achieved here!"

The eventual winners are surprised that their design took first place. The team of Lars, Ronnie, Tijn, Thijmen, and Jasper proudly hoist themselves down the stairs to their creation for the winner's photo. As the windmill rotates smoothly, a steel figure hanging from a kind of gymnastics bar moves in the center.

"This team carefully considered the brief. They created something the client requested," emphasized jury member Mark Coppens of Coppens Metaal. "Technically, this is the best-designed, all the mechanisms are correct, and everything was built according to the regulations!"

The windmill of the winning team will compete for one of the Crafted Awards on Thursday, June 19, during the Crafted Festival . Incidentally, all twelve Whirligig windmills will be on display there. Visitors to the festival will be welcomed upon entry by a colorful procession of rotating works of art. The Whirligig Windmills are set up along the red carpet at Microstad.