Talented students from across the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT) partnership came together this week for the annual Poster Connect event, held at The GBSIoT Hub in Birmingham.
The 2025 edition of the event saw students from partner institutions — Birmingham City University (BCU), University College Birmingham (UCB), Aston University, Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA), and BMet — presenting their innovative work on the GBSIoT Smart Factory to a panel of industry experts and staff.
The posters showcased a range of Industry 4.0-focused projects, including developments in digital twin technology, automated IoT systems, and intelligent manufacturing processes. The event provided a unique opportunity for learners to demonstrate not only their technical expertise but also their communication and presentation skills — both of which left a lasting impression on the judges and attendees.
Celebrating Innovation
Following a series of engaging presentations and insightful Q&A sessions, three outstanding projects were recognised by the judging panel:
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🥇 First Place: Thabani Dzimba (BCU) – Node-Red Automated IoT Workpiece Counting & Positioning Tracking System.
Thabani’s project aimed to develop a low-cost, real-time tracking system combining RFID technology and SSIM-based computer vision to monitor slot availability and workpiece movement. Built on a Raspberry Pi and visualised through a modular Node-RED dashboard, the solution also incorporated MQTT communication, a custom-designed enclosure, and local data logging using SQLite — all optimised for varying factory conditions. -
🥈 Second Place: Oluwakoyipada Jaiyeoba (BCU) – Development of a Factory Twin of the CP Lab/Factory at GBSIoT.
Oluwakoyipada’s project focused on replicating the CP Factory simulation using Siemens’ Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software. By integrating Insights Hub (Mindsphere), they established a data link between the real factory and its digital twin, enabling both offline and online simulations. The project validated the accuracy of the digital twin to enhance real-time factory monitoring and optimisation. -
🥉 Third Place: Team AUEA – Romeo Sudat, Aman Luggah, and Salman Irfan – Automated PRV Assembly with IoT Integration
The judging panel — Steve Jones from Siemens plc and Joe Boughey from Didactic Services Ltd — praised the participants for the quality of their work and the clarity with which they presented it. While the winning teams stood out, all students were commended for their innovation, problem-solving skills, and professional approach to explaining their concepts.
Collaboration Across the Partnership
In the afternoon, staff from across the GBSIoT partner institutions — including Solihull College & University Centre — took part in a dedicated session exploring how students are benefiting from the shared Smart Factory resource. The discussion included opportunities to share best practice, celebrate learner impact, and look ahead to future plans for collaboration and innovation across the partnership.
Inspiring the Workforce of the Future
The event was a clear demonstration of the technical capabilities and emerging talent within the GBSIoT partnership. Students impressed not only with their engineering insight but also with their ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and confidence. GBSIoT extends its congratulations to all the winners and thanks every student who took part for their hard work, creativity, and professionalism.
