Institutions

The goal of the Green FabLab project is to construct a digital fabrication workshop dedicated primarily to environmental problems and resource management. At the same time, Green FabLab is a STEM-focused workforce development project intended to address the future needs of regional SMEs and ensure the region’s long-term potential for innovation. Through problem-oriented learning approaches, Green FabLab inspires tomorrow’s engineers and researchers to pursue careers in environmental engineering, energy technology and resource management and develop solutions for protecting our environment and climate.

‘Digital Fabrication’ is well on its way to revolutionising our world and the global economy. But what about here in the Lower Rhine? Our “zdi-FabLab @ school” project is focused on just that, namely making new fabrication technologies like 3D printing, 3D scanning or laser cutting available in our region. To that end, the Faculty of Communication and Environment at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and its zdi Centre Kamp-Lintfort have adapted a globally-connected concept that was originally developed by the Massachusetts Insitute of Technology (MIT): the FabLab.

3D printing, scanning, laser cutting tand more – digital manufacturing technologies are widely considered to be a prelude to the next industrial revolution. To prepare students for the future of manufacturing and cement these technologies as integral parts of the region, three Lower Rhine universities – Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Ruhr-West University of Applied Sciences and RWTH Aachen University – have joined together in an ambitious project based on the ‘FabLab’, a pioneering concept developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that is rapidly taking hold around the world. The project partners have also begun development of a Centre of Excellence for 3D Manufacturing Technologies, or 3D-Kompetenzzentrum Niederrhein, to effectively coordinate the production opportunities and capabilities of the participating FabLabs.

The Operations Research Club in Kamp-Lintfort was originally initiated as a students' project. Today, the Club consists of experts, students and professors who cooperate in finding suitable solutions for current business issues by applying analytical methods of problem-solving and decision-making. The Club is dedicated to solving real world problems and provides a platform for students and scientific employees who want to improve their operations research skills. Companies are welcome to benefit from its resources and expertise.