rapid.tech 3D launches Short Courses as certified continuing education for additive manufacturing

rapid.tech 3D is expanding its previously largely congress-driven format by adding structured continuing-education units. With new Short Courses, visitors can deliberately complement their trade-fair and conference day with a workshop that is documented with a certificate at the end. The program is organized together with the Center for Continuing Education at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, which also issues the certificates. This shifts the focus—alongside professional exchange—more strongly toward the question of how skills development in additive manufacturing can be mapped in a formal, practice-oriented way.

In terms of content, the Short Courses are designed as interactive formats and are intended both to make it easier to get started and to deepen existing know-how. Instead of lecture-style presentations, the organizers rely on concrete practical examples—for instance using real parts, typical defect patterns, or CAD data that are suitable (or not) for AM process chains. Participants can ask targeted questions and follow workflows that in industry often break down between design, data preparation, and manufacturing when design rules and process limits are not considered together.

“The Short Courses offer an excellent opportunity to get a targeted introduction to the world of additive manufacturing,” explains Prof. Dr. Stefan Roth, Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences. “Alongside fundamentals of additive manufacturing—which provide orientation especially for those newly arrived in the industry—we also address specialized topics such as additive manufacturing in toolmaking or AM-oriented component design. This allows selected fields of additive manufacturing to be explored in greater depth.”

The latter in particular is relevant for technically savvy users, because factors such as support-structure requirements, part orientation, tolerance chains, or post-processing are decided not at the printer, but already during design.

For companies, the formal framework is an additional incentive. Participation is certified and can therefore be documented as professional continuing education.

“As a partner for part-time professional learning, we have many years of experience in qualifying specialists and managers,” says Dr. Sandra Wolf, Commercial Director of the Center for Continuing Education. “With the Short Courses at rapid.tech 3D, we are creating an offering that meaningfully combines technical training, practical relevance, and formal recognition.”