Training Center for Additive Manufacturing: hands-on training and further education in plastics and metal 3D printing for Swiss industry.
form3D – Verein zur Förderung der Aus- und Weiterbildung in der additiven Fertigung
Föhrenweg 7, CH-2544 Bettlach (Training Center for Additive Manufacturing)New on Amplifa
About form3D
form3D is a non-profit association and operates a Training Center for Additive Manufacturing in Bettlach. As a spin-off of the Swiss m4m Center, the center imparts practical knowledge along the entire process chain of industrial 3D printing: from material selection and component development (DfAM) and process development to manufacturing, post-processing, quality assurance, and validation. The machine park comprises modern plastics and metal 3D printers, including a compact LPBF system (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) from Swiss manufacturer a-metal. Target groups are professionals from industry and production, apprentices in technical professions, and students of advanced vocational colleges (Höhere Fachschulen). The offering includes a basic module for professionals, introductory courses for apprentices, workshops, and customized training events for companies. A network of industry, research, and education—including Empa, inspire, ZHAW, University of Bern SBPE, RMS Foundation, BSF Bünter AG, and a-metal—feeds current research knowledge into the courses. Industry focus areas are medical technology, mechanical engineering, and precision mechanics, particularly among Swiss SMEs.
- Site
- Bettlach
- Processes
- Training/education in Additive Manufacturing (plastics and metal 3D printing), Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) / component development / material selection, Metal 3D printing (LPBF / Laser Powder Bed Fusion), Laser marking (plastic jaws for laser marking produced in the course), Plastics 3D printing, Training and further education in Additive Manufacturing, Hands-on courses and workshops (metal and plastics 3D printing), Basic module for professionals
- Materials
- Metal 3D Printing (Laser Powder Bed Fusion), Plastics 3D Printing, Design for Additive Manufacturing
- Founded
- 2026
- Industries
- Medical technology, Mechanical engineering, Precision mechanics, Swiss SMEs, Training and further education, Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing
- 01
Material selection
- 02
Component development / DfAM
- 03
Process development
- 04
Manufacturing (plastics and metal 3D printing)
- 05
Post-processing
- 06
Quality assurance and validation
- 07
Knowledge transfer in training and further education
Processes and Materials
Metal 3D Printing (Laser Powder Bed Fusion)
Layer-by-layer melting of metal powder using a laser; enables precise, complex metal components and hands-on training on the a-metal printer.
Plastics 3D Printing
Used in introductory courses and workshops, e.g. production of plastic jaws for laser marking.
Design for Additive Manufacturing
Component development and material selection as part of the taught process chain from idea to finished component.
Locations
Bettlach
CHTraining Center for Additive Manufacturing
- Materials
- Metal powder (LPBF), plastics
- Metal 3D printers (LPBF) from a-metal
- modern plastics 3D printers
- metal 3D printers from other systems
Course Content and Practical Objects
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training/education in Additive Manufacturing (plastics and metal 3D printing)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Metal, Plastics |
| Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) / component development / material selectionEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Metal 3D printing (LPBF / Laser Powder Bed Fusion)Additive | – | – | – | – | Metal powder |
| Laser marking (plastic jaws for laser marking produced in the course)Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Plastics 3D printingAdditive | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal 3D printer (LPBF / Laser Powder Bed Fusion) | a-metal | – | – | – | Bettlach, Föhrenweg 7 |
| Plastics and metal 3D printers (modern machine park) | – | – | – | – | Bettlach, Föhrenweg 7 |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2025
Establishment of partnerships and network, including with University of Bern (SBPE), ZHAW, inspire, Empa, RMS Foundation, BSF Bünter AG, and a-metal
- 2026
Foundation of the form3D association on 5 March at the training center in Bettlach; start of the first courses (basic module for professionals, introductory courses for apprentices)