SKZ becomes main sponsor of the 3D Printing Academy and provides content for AM training

The SKZ – German Plastics Center is partnering with the 3D Printing Academy and supporting the platform as its main sponsor. The aim is to make expertise in plastics and additive manufacturing structured and available online. The focus is on curricula that span from entry level to industrial application and target designers, production planners, and quality specialists. The Academy sees itself as a community offering with currently over 2,400 active members, plus live sessions, expert interviews, and a growing course catalog.

“With this new cooperation, we are making an important contribution to digital continuing education in the plastics and 3D printing sectors,” says Alexander Vyhnal, Head of Education & Research in Additive Manufacturing at SKZ. “Our goal is to deliver practical, widely accessible knowledge. With the 3D Printing Academy, we have a strong platform at our side to achieve this.”

In terms of content, the SKZ modules cover the entire process chain. Fundamentals of plastics engineering are linked with process-specific content, such as material extrusion (FDM/FFF), photopolymerization, and powder bed fusion. The program also addresses topics like part design for AM, data preparation, process windows, qualification, and post-processing. The goal is a transparent bridge from experimental environments to series production, including references to standards and practical case studies from medical, automotive, and consumer-goods projects.

“With SKZ, we are gaining a renowned partner known for excellent expertise in the plastics industry,” emphasizes Andreas Weiß of the 3D Printing Academy. “By integrating SKZ content, we are expanding our course offering and creating even more practice-oriented and scientifically grounded learning opportunities for our members. This strengthens not only our community but also knowledge transfer across the entire sector.”

“Through this new partnership, SKZ and the 3D Printing Academy are making an important contribution to further expanding digital learning formats, reaching new target groups, and exploring new avenues in the qualification of additive-manufacturing professionals,” adds Irena Heuzeroth, Senior Trainer for Injection Molding & Additive Manufacturing Education at SKZ. “At the same time, it underscores both partners’ shared interest in actively shaping the future of manufacturing and making knowledge widely accessible.”

Education remains a bottleneck for AM industrialization. The cooperation addresses this gap with scalable e-learning formats that can be integrated into corporate training programs.