13th May 2021 1:04 pm 13th May 2021 1:04 pm
PrintCity – a digital manufacturing centre at Manchester Metropolitan University – is bringing together industry and academia in an effort to address engineering’s digital skills gap. Mick Goodwin, applications engineer at industrial 3D printing company, Markforged looks at how it’s tackling the challenge.
Manchester Metropolitan University is one institution tackling this challenge through its MSc in Industrial Digitisation and its 3D additive and digital manufacturing centre, PrintCity.
The PrintCity team see their purpose as ‘bridging the skills gap between education and industry’ – through innovation and collaboration. Attracting students from across disciplines including engineering and fine arts, PrintCity is providing them with access, hands-on experience and insight into technology and industry. The course attracts both BA and BSc undergraduate students.
by Stephen Chapman
Manchester Metropolitan University is behind a £3.2m 3D printing initiative to help SMEs.
The PrintCity Network launches this month and will help companies to understand and utilise 3D printing technology to develop new products and services.
“More and more businesses have been looking to adopt digital manufacturing techniques, particularly during the pandemic,” explained Professor Craig Banks, Academic Lead for PrintCity.
“With many traditional supply chains being disrupted, SMEs have turned to PrintCity to use new methods of design and manufacturing during this difficult time, with many needing our support to adopt these new approaches.
“PrintCity has been supporting SMEs since its inception in 2018, utilising existing business support programmes such as the GC Business Growth Hub and Made Smarter North West Pilot Programme.