Stratasys Ltd., a leader in polymer 3D printing solutions, today announced that it has partnered with Fornovo (Parma)-based training consortium, Innovation Farm, to provide 3D printing/additive manufacturing (AM) focused educational and technical expertise to bolster the association’s programmes. The agreement makes Stratasys the first and exclusive leading additive manufacturing solutions provider to join Innovation Farm’s partner network.
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.
“Our objective at Innovation Farm is to improve the employability of the local labor market by raising the quality of education and training across those technical and transversal skills that are increasingly demanded in today’s workplace,” explains Franco Bercella, Founder and Partner at Innovation Farm, and President of Bercella S.R.L.
“A major aspect of this is through the impartation of knowledge through qualified experts who are driving the development and provision off breakthrough new technologies. As the recognized global leader in 3D printing, Stratasys is a perfect complement to significantly strengthen our capability to meet our objectives,” he continues.
“Additive manufacturing continues to be a recognized and proven technology that is transforming the design to production operations of companies small and large,” adds 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,” he concludes.
As a testament to the success of Innovation Farm’s program, 85% of those that undertake training immediately find employment, according to the association’s project coordinator, Giulia Carbognani.
Established in 2016, the consortium today has a board of directors comprising six member companies and a number of partners. In addition, it leverages a wider network to develop its training programs, including Experis, Manpower, Cisita Parma, and ITS MAKER. As well as a focus on 3D printing, Innovation Farm’s technology stable also embraces CAD/CAM design and CNC machining, with robotics part of its longer-term vision.
