Further training, development and applied research come together in Patras, Greece: covering an area of 2,000 square metres, the Teaching Factory has established a competence centre where engineers, production managers and employees can familiarise themselves with digital manufacturing technologies and Industry 4.0 applications in a practical setting. This is not just about theory, but about real-life scenarios that arise from the specific needs of companies and are tested directly on site.
Practical application scenarios are at the heart of the concept. They have been developed in numerous national and European research and cooperation projects and are continuously being expanded in collaboration with industry partners. The Teaching Factory is an industry-oriented organisation consisting of seven companies, including players from the steel industry, robotics, a research organisation and system integrators. Their specific challenges give rise to use cases that are translated into collaborative robot systems, digital twins, virtual reality training environments or AI-based assistance solutions at the Teaching Factory. "Large language models are also used, for example to make the interaction between operating personnel and machines more intuitive and to increase safety and efficiency in production," explains Key Account Operations Manager Charalampos Kouros.
Cooperation with university
In close cooperation with the University of Patras, and in particular the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation, the Teaching Factory acts as a bridge between research and industrial implementation. Many of the partnerships have emerged from EU and nationally funded projects. The large-scale infrastructure of the Teaching Factory offers opportunities that would be difficult to replicate in a university context alone. "Conversely, companies benefit from direct access to the latest research results and methodological expertise," says Kouros.
The focus is on knowledge and technology transfer. Employees from industrial companies work together with experts on specific projects, gain practical experience with automated systems and take this know-how back to their companies. "This creates a low-threshold entry point into robotics, AI and digital production processes, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, which often face high investment barriers or lack access to new technologies," explains Kouros.
Expansion into German-speaking countries
With its appearance at XPONENTIAL Europe, the company is now specifically seeking to engage with partners in German-speaking countries. Participation in the joint stand of the Professional Association for Microtechnology (IVAM) marks the beginning of an internationalisation strategy for the company that goes beyond project cooperation. The plan is to establish a branch in Germany in the future.
In terms of content, the Teaching Factory's profile fits seamlessly into the thematic environment of XPONENTIAL Europe. Autonomous mobile robots, collaborative applications in assembly, digital twins as enablers for flexible production systems – numerous current projects address precisely those interfaces between robotics, autonomy and industrial applications that are also the focus of the trade fair.
In dialogue with companies, research institutions and technology providers, the Teaching Factory now wants to explore where joint projects, new demonstrators and sustainable training formats can be developed. The Teaching Factory not only brings infrastructure and project experience to the table, but also a clear self-image. Kouros: "Technology becomes effective when it can be experienced – and when people are empowered to confidently integrate it into their production reality."
Author: Sonja Buske
