INDEX Corporation MFG Day 2026 shows students what’s possible in manufacturing

INDEX Corporation welcomed more than 180 Hamilton County high school students at its North American headquarters in Noblesville last Friday, Oct. 2, for MFG Day 2026, showing them the wide range of futures a career in manufacturing can open up, from the production floor to engineering, service, finance, and sales.

Students moved through the facility in small groups, rotating through stations where INDEX team members explained how the equipment operates and what it takes to build, program, and service it. Stations included the INDEX MS40-6 CNC multi-spindle, the TRAUB TNL12 sliding headstock lathe, toolholder rebuilding, shipping and logistics, and 3D printing.

The 3D printing station was led by a Fishers High School student currently interning at INDEX, giving visiting students a direct look at where their own interest in manufacturing could take them.

INDEX President and CEO Michael Huggett speaks to students about INDEX’s history and the importance of keeping manufacturing in America. (Photo provided by INDEX Corporation)

INDEX President and CEO Michael Huggett spoke to students about the company’s history and the importance of keeping manufacturing in America, where an estimated four million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled by 2030.

“At INDEX, our goal is to help American manufacturers keep jobs here at home and stay globally competitive in the markets where they’re facing the toughest pressure, so we’re not losing manufacturing overseas,” Huggett said.

INDEX works with local schools to offer internships across both technical and business-focused roles and sponsors local robotics groups, connecting students with real-world experience before they graduate.

A Fishers High School student interning at INDEX leads the 3D printing station for visiting students during MFG Day 2026. (Photo provided by INDEX Corporation)

MFG Day is a nationwide initiative held on the first Friday of October to introduce students to careers in manufacturing. INDEX has hosted MFG Day events at its Noblesville headquarters since 2019, making workforce development a central part of its mission.

About INDEX Corporation
INDEX is a global leader in advanced CNC turning and milling technologies, with its North American headquarters in Noblesville. For more information, visit index-group.com.