German Plastics Center (SKZ) expands educational portfolio for additive manufacturing
From November 7 to 10, the world of 3D printing met in Frankfurt am Main. With almost 30,000 visitors and over 800 exhibitors, the trade fair was a complete success and underscores the increasing industrial importance of additive manufacturing. The German Plastics Center SKZ was also on site with its own booth and linked old and new in an "old school" classroom to draw attention to education in 3D printing.
The SKZ booth at Formnext 2022 as a contrast to modern additive manufacturing processes and digital training opportunities. (Photo: SKZ)
Continuing education was also the focus at Formnext 2022
Oscar Wilde once said, "Progress is the realization of utopias." Walking through Formnext, the trade fair for additive manufacturing and 3D printing, one felt a bit like being in a utopia. Although the first 3D printers hit the market back in the 1980s, the technology still feels like something out of a science fiction movie. The further developments and advances in additive manufacturing, especially in recent years, are remarkable. In the meantime, the technology has also long since made the leap from prototype construction to industrial series production.
At Formnext 2022, the SKZ booth stood out. Next to futuristic 3D printers with modern white cladding and four-legged robots in the aisles, the SKZ classroom with wooden school desks initially looked out of place. But at second glance, a poster describing the variety of additive manufacturing processes caught the eye. "On the one hand, we certainly wanted to attract attention with the contrast," explains Matthias Ruff, sales manager at SKZ. "On the other hand, this time we also wanted to focus more on vocational training and continuing education for additive processes."
The concept of the booth was successful and the booth was filled with interested visitors throughout. The aforementioned overview poster was available to take away free of charge, thus providing an initial educational content. In fact, however, the SKZ's educational offering is diverse. As a contrast to the "old school" classroom, online courses are also offered. The ability to understand and use 3D printing technologies is becoming increasingly essential for future professionals. That's why it's important to have an educational offering across all professions, from career changers to business professionals to experts. "In research, we have been successful in 3D printing for a long time. However, we are noticing more and more that our customers are requesting educational offers. With this technology, the barrier to entry is low and printers are now readily available. However, knowledge about processing parameters, design, and the limits and possibilities of the processes is often lacking as know-how in the companies. Here, we would like to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and have once again expanded our course portfolio. SKZ now also offers many topics in English," adds Irena Heuzeroth, trainer at SKZ.
The SKZ symposium "3D printing: What medical professionals expect - questions from everyday clinical practice" will also be held on April 19, 2023. At this conference, forward-looking questions and ideas will be discussed in order to be able to realize the 3D printing utopia. The lectures will be held in German.
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