Posted to News on 10th Apr 2017, 18:32
EOS introduces expert 3D printing training programme
EOS is announcing a first of its kind 3D Printing training course, collaborating with two leading universities in the UK and Germany. For this 6 month "Additive Manufacturing Application Engineer' programme, EOS will work directly with the University of Wolverhampton, a long-standing partner of EOS with an existing high-level metal AM expertise especially in automotive, Formula 1 and aerospace, and SRH Hochschule Berlin, one of the leading private universities in Germany, specialising in international business administration and management.
Gngr Kara, Director Global Application & Consulting at EOS comments: "One of the major barriers for metal Additive Manufacturing technology is the shortage of AM application engineering experts at a global level. The programme aims to empower the future generation of AM engineers through specialised training and expertise.
"With this initiative, we also want our customers to turn this AM knowledge into a competitive advantage. They will save time and money, as well as boosting their business productivity with industrial 3D printing."
The first participants will start their expert training programme in May 2017, with a maximum number of eight participants per course. More information about this programme can be found here.
Until recently, an application engineer would need up to 2 years' experience to acquire adequate AM knowledge. This programme is designed to reduce the learning curve to 6 months, and lower the general threshold that companies are facing when implementing Additive Manufacturing technology. The programme will also substantially reduce the investment risk for entering AM production. Based on the trained workforce, a customer is now able to bring innovative AM metal applications to their industries as well as introducing both radical innovations and serial manufacturing more rapidly.
Understand, improve and implement AM
In close cooperation with both universities, the course offers a mix of intense theoretical and practical learning blocks at the partner universities, at EOS and in-house with the customer. After a period of 6 months, participants receive their "AM Application Engineer" certification.
Part 1: Understanding AM (at EOS and in-house): Participants are being introduced to the fundamentals of Additive manufacturing, including the definition and development of the right applications for the use of this technology.
Part 2: Improve knowledge and technical AM competence (at the University of Wolverhampton and in-house): During the next 4 months, participants will improve their know-how in process development (e.g. defining parameters, supports), material characteristics (e.g. metallurgy, powder, density, post processing), quality assurance (destructive and non-destructive testing, CT scanning etc.) and how to leverage the freedom of designing for AM.
Part 3: Implement AM (at SRH): During the last week of this educational programme, participants will attend strategy courses focusing on how to implement AM in the organisation, how to generate and communicate AM business models and how this will all affect internal value chains.
Gngr Kara concludes: "The programme is giving engineers the technical expertise to master AM more efficiently. As such, it supports them to develop and improve AM applications, implement serial production, optimise innovation and keep their organisation well ahead of their respective competition.
"This is a proven short-cut for our customers - they can build new AM metal-based competencies internally. This will make the difference when it comes to introducing AM-driven innovations. We believe that the industrial champions of the next decade have to build up their AM technology competencies in this decade."
The complete Additive Minds offerings, including the additional training, innovation centres and consulting can be found here.
