Deadline: March 22, 2027
2027 Rick Merluzzi Aluminum Extrusion Student Design Competition
Organizer
Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) and its educational and research organization, the Extrusion Technology for Aluminum Profiles Foundation (ET Foundation). The Student Design Competition is named in honor of former AEC Chairman Richard Merluzzi.
Location
Hosted in the USA and open internationally (international student design competition); winning entries will be exhibited at the 14th International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar and Exposition — ET '27.
Deadline
Submission deadline: March 22, 2027. Judging and results announcement: Spring 2027.
Competition Category
Two categories:
- Open Student Design — any viable extruded aluminum product design or extruded part assembly; may be a newly invented product or an improvement of an existing one, and must incorporate at least one aluminum extrusion;
- Sustainable Design Award — the student design that best addresses societal and/or environmental challenges or concerns, in addition to the four basic judging criteria. The entry must be a viable, extrusion-based product that meets sustainability demands while contributing to the quality of life for intended users. Past entries cited for this award have included: soil erosion control systems; water purification or irrigation systems; refugee, temporary, or mobile housing; portable medical isolation or treatment units; portable carts/beds for refugees; space-saving greenhouses; hydroponic and/or vertical gardening/growing systems.
Eligibility
Students only. Open exclusively to students enrolled at accredited institutions, including:
- High school students;
- Undergraduate and graduate university students;
- Trade, vocational/technical school, and design school students;
- All fields of study are accepted, including Design, Engineering, Architecture, and related disciplines;
- Both individual students and student teams are accepted; for teams, each member must complete, sign, date, and submit an official entry form;
- Multiple entries are allowed; all designs must be original and use at least one aluminum extrusion;
- The extrusion profile must fit within a 10-inch diameter circle (profiles larger than this are not considered practical designs for extrusion).
Entry Fee
Free to enter.
Prizes/Awards
A total of US$15,500 in student scholarship awards, presented as cash:
- First Place: $5,000
- Second Place: $4,000
- Third Place: $3,000
- Sustainable Design: $3,500
- Grand Prize: $3,500 (awarded across all categories and classes, including the Professional Class)
Additionally: - All winning designs will be exhibited at the 14th International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar and Exposition ET '27;
- Entries that provide a 3D-printed sample or other forms of prototyping receive extra consideration during judging.
Core Introduction
The Rick Merluzzi Aluminum Extrusion Student Design Competition is organized jointly by the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) and the ET Foundation. It aims to challenge and empower the next generation of designers to explore how aluminum extrusions can shape a more sustainable world and improve quality of life. Open to students at accredited institutions worldwide — from high school to graduate level, across design, engineering, architecture, and related fields — the competition accepts entries from both individual students and student teams. Entries must be original designs incorporating at least one aluminum extrusion, which may be a new product or an improvement on an existing one, and the extrusion profile must fit within a 10-inch diameter circle. The competition emphasizes design innovation, practical use of the extrusion process, material advantage, and market potential, with a dedicated Sustainable Design Award to recognize entries that address social and environmental challenges. The student scholarship prize pool totals US$15,500 in cash, with an additional Grand Prize of $3,500 awarded across all categories and classes. All winning designs will be publicly exhibited at the 14th International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar and Exposition ET '27. Entry is free; judging is conducted in Spring 2027 by a panel of aluminum extrusion industry professionals.
