Solidworks users are arguably the most numerous, passionate and sociable CAD software customers. The many user groups that have formed around this product reflect not just its reach across multiple industries, but also the hobbies and passions of those who have adopted it in their daily work. IronSWUG is one of the most exciting of these groups.
Part mobile meet-up, part endurance challenge, this event – touring multiple venues by motorcycle – was established by Adam Ebernickel and Brad ‘Tank’ Meador and has already travelled across 22 American states.
Its next trip will see it travel the length of England this summer. With this in mind, DEVELOP3D recently grabbed the chance to hear more, directly from Brad Meador.
Q: What can you tell us, Brad, about the background to this event?
A: IronSWUG was founded by Adam and me through a shared passion for both Solidworks and motorcycles. During an event in early 2020, we had the idea to combine those two interests into something unique that would bring the Solidworks community together in a different way.
After the COVID lockdowns were lifted, we turned that idea into reality by travelling from state to state on motorcycles while presenting Solidworks technical topics and connecting with user groups across the country.
What started as a creative idea between two avid riders and CAD professionals has grown into a community-focused initiative built around education, networking and a shared passion for engineering and two wheels.
Q: What’s the route plan for IronSWUG’s UK leg and what can you tell us about who might be taking part?
A: This year’s route will take Adam across the UK alongside fellow riders and Solidworks community members Jose Saldana, a mechanical design engineer with over 20 years of Solidworks experience and a longtime leader in the SWUG Network, and Ken Denton, a senior leader within HP’s Workstations organisation. Both are travelling from the United States to take part in the event.
Along the way, they’ll be hosted by local Solidworks User Group leaders. A special shout out goes to London SWUG leader Kirby Downey, who has been instrumental as our “boots on the ground” in coordinating and supporting the UK side of the event.
I’ll be supporting this year’s tour stateside by managing the website, social media content and online event coverage, to help keep the community engaged throughout the journey.
Q: Who is the event intended to serve? What might attendees hope to learn and/or experience?
A: What started as an idea between a group of passionate Solidworks users has grown into an event focused on building connections across the user community while making technical education more approachable and memorable.
IronSWUG is designed for Solidworks users of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. The event brings together the engineering and design community through a combination of professional networking, technical training and shared experiences.
Whether someone is new to Solidworks or an experienced professional, the presentations and discussions are intended to offer value for everyone – from everyday tips and tricks that improve workflow efficiency to deeper technical dives into specialised topics and advanced design practices.
Beyond the technical side, attendees also have the opportunity to network with other professionals, user group leaders and industry experts from across different regions and backgrounds.
Ultimately the event is about community – creating an environment where people can learn, share ideas, build relationships and leave inspired, both professionally and personally.
IronSWUG is built around community engagement, so meeting new people and sharing knowledge is a huge part of what makes the experience special.
Q: So how can DEVELOP3D readers get involved in IronSWUG?
A: There are several ways, whether they want to attend an event, support the journey or help grow the community. The easiest way is to follow along via the IronSWUG website and our social media channels, where we’ll be sharing route updates, behind-the-scenes content, technical highlights and event coverage throughout the tour.
If there’s a stop near them, we encourage Solidworks users, engineers, students, makers and industry professionals to come out and participate in the user group meetings and presentations.
IronSWUG is built around community engagement, so meeting new people and sharing knowledge is a huge part of what makes the experience special.
THE IRONSWUG UK TOUR 2026
Follow the journey on Instagram via @tank_ironswug or visit the website
13 July – Newcastle upon Tyne
14 July – Warrington
15 July – Leamington Spa
16 July – London
