Stratasys partners with Fornovo (Parma)-based training consortium, Innovation Farm, to provide 3D printing/additive manufacturing focused educational and technical expertise to bolster the association’s programmes. Comprising three manufacturing companies – Bercella, Dallara and Lincotek – Innovation Farm was established to address and overcome the issue of local skilled labor shortages faced by both public and private companies. The initiative provides specialized training to equip those in local high schools and further education institutions, as well as the unemployed, with the necessary professional skills required by local manufacturing companies. Those same companies can also directly access training for existing employees. The partnership will see Stratasys work closely with Innovation Farm team to establish and run dedicated courses tailored to the needs of each different group. For schools, this will comprise training on Stratasys’ established flagship PolyJet- and FDM-based 3D printing technologies, along with courses geared towards designing parts specially for the AM production process. Other specialized elements of Stratasys’ training syllabus will be aimed at a more advanced level for those in higher education and will include workshops that demonstrate 3D printing’s capabilities directly to local manufacturing companies. “Additive manufacturing continues to be a recognized and proven technology that is transforming the design to production operations of companies small and large – says Fabio Boiocchi, Marketing Manager for Italy at Stratasys –. As such a vital tool to manufacturers, understanding the various technologies and applications served by 3D printing is invaluable for those working directly with it to leverage its many benefits. We are delighted to support Innovation Farm’s worthwhile endeavors to arm individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to provide the beating heart to our manufacturing industry both today and in the future”.
