Europe is set to get its first MakerBot Innovation Centre this summer when the desktop 3D printing pioneer unveils a new location in Italy at LIUC – Università Cattaneo.
“We are excited about bringing the first MakerBot Innovation Centre to Europe”, said Alexander Hafner, General Manager with MakerBot Europe. “The opening of the MakerBot Innovation Centre will represent a great chance to empower students, faculty and professionals to innovate, keep pace with developments and will prepare students for the business challenges of tomorrow”.
The MakerBot Innovation Centre for LIUC will house 20 MakerBot 3D printers including three MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printers, 12 MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers and five MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printers.
“MakerBot Europe is providing the consulting, technical support, and training needed to set up the MakerBot Innovation Centre at LIUC,” explained Dr. Jochen Zimmer, Director Professional Services with MakerBot Europe. “We are bringing in Energy group from Bentivoglio, our MakerBot Authorized Reseller Gold, to provide the 3D Printers and technical support for LIUC.”
“From next year our Engineering students will have the chance to challenge their skills in designing and manufacturing prototypes in the context of simulated startups. The MakerBot Innovation Centre will allow us to continue and develop the activities carried out by SmartUp, giving our students a concrete opportunity of hands-on experience with the next technologies of digital manufacturing, which are increasingly part of the everyday life of enterprises”, said Prof Luca Mari, Director of SmartUp – Digital Manufacturing Laboratory and Professor in the School of Industrial Engineering of LIUC.
The companies of the Province of Varese are allied in the Unione degli Industriali della Provincia di Varese. The main goal of this union is to support the development and the growth of the member companies and the LIUC, that offers academic curricula in Management, Law and Engineering, was established through the sponsorship of this association.
The centre will hold its grand opening in June and offer courses for the LIUC students and also for entrepreneurs, technicians and professionals.