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New Partnership: Mikrocentrum & Additive Center Support moving from Prototype to Performance
Eindhoven, September 4, 2025 – Mikrocentrum and Additive Center have entered into a collaboration to support high-tech manufacturing companies in applying 3D printing technology to functional, industrial applications. Through knowledge sharing via training programs and tailor-made workshops, the partners help companies move from prototyping to performance — and thereby achieve tangible impact in production, both in technical performance and in cost savings.
Although 3D printing is widely used for prototyping, its actual application in functional parts often remains limited. This collaboration focuses precisely on that turning point: how do you design parts in such a way that you can fully benefit from the unique advantages of 3D printing, such as weight reduction, design freedom, and cost savings?
“Mikrocentrum plays an essential role in connecting and strengthening the high-tech manufacturing industry,” says Joran van Aart, partner at Additive Center. “Together we help companies not only to gain knowledge about 3D printing, but also to truly apply that knowledge to their own products and processes.”
From Experiment to Impact
The first result of the collaboration is a two-day training on October 1 and 2, 2025 in Eindhoven. This Design for Additive Manufacturing training teaches engineers, product developers, and managers how to (re)design parts for 3D printing technology. Topics such as part consolidation, topology optimization, material selection, and business cases will be covered — with direct application to the participants’ own cases.
In addition, the partners offer a series of in-company workshops for organizations that want to analyze their own parts or processes for opportunities in additive manufacturing. These sessions are designed to help teams discover, design, and calculate concrete applications — always with real-world production and business impact as the starting point.
“Additive Center brings in-depth knowledge of additive manufacturing,” says Elroy Leijten of Mikrocentrum. “They know exactly how to deploy the technology where it truly adds value — both in performance improvement and in cost reduction. That is exactly what our high-tech manufacturing community is increasingly looking for.”
Success Story: 3D-Printed Gripper at Tetra Pak Subsidiary Sidel
A concrete example of the power of additive manufacturing can be found at Sidel, part of Tetra Pak. In collaboration with Additive Center, a metal bottle gripper for soft drink bottles was completely redesigned. The result: from an assembly of seven parts to one integrated component, with 50% weight reduction, 30% cost savings, and improved durability. Through the training sessions and in-company workshops, companies will learn how to identify and capitalize on such opportunities.
For Whom?
This collaboration is aimed at engineers, R&D teams, and management of high-tech manufacturing companies — such as machine builders and mechatronics developers — who want to improve their products, processes, and end-of-life services with digital production technology.
More Information
Additive Center, located at the Brainport Industries Campus in Eindhoven, supports OEMs and industrial suppliers in applying additive manufacturing as a full-fledged production technology. With technical expertise, design guidance, and practice-oriented training, Additive Center helps companies produce more cost-efficiently, develop faster, and make their products smarter and lighter.
Mikrocentrum is the connecting platform for the high-tech and manufacturing industry. Together with our members, customers, and partners, we are committed to building a strong innovation ecosystem, talent development, and tackling today’s major societal challenges. We are an independent foundation, a training provider, meeting place, innovation accelerator, and program creator. With courses, events, and the High Tech Platform, we offer everyone in technology a place to expand knowledge, share expertise, and meet others. Our principle: together we achieve more than alone.