Research & Development in additive manufacturing, metal 3D printing, and digital production workflows play a decisive role in shaping future industrial applications. At 2onelab, we are proud to support leading universities and research institutes with professional metal AM systems, combining hardware, software, and service for hands-on learning and advanced research.
Partnerships with academic institutions allow students to gain real industrial experience, while researchers access robust technology for experimentation and knowledge transfer. Today, we are excited to highlight one of our longest and most meaningful collaborations: our partnership with the Technische Universität Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) — a cooperation that has contributed to innovation, digitalization, and academic excellence in metal additive manufacturing.
Key Points in Brief:
- 2onelab collaborates with TU Darmstadt by supplying industrial metal 3D printing technology to support research, teaching, and student projects at the university’s Additive Manufacturing Center (AMC).
- In partnership with PTW, 2onelab has further developed the 2Connect digital platform to improve process transparency, data integration, and digital services for additive manufacturing.
TU Darmstadt – A Leading Technical University in Germany
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, widely known as TU Darmstadt, ranks among the strongest German universities in STEM fields including mechanical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and materials science. Recognized for its strong research output, industrial partnerships, and international orientation, TU Darmstadt attracts students and researchers from across the world.
For 2onelab, it has been both an honor and a milestone to equip the university’s Additive Manufacturing Center (AMC) with our 2Create metal 3D printer — now serving as an integral tool for academic research, industry collaboration, and student projects.
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- Representatives from Taylor’s University Malaysia, PTW TU Darmstadt, and 2onelab with 2Create 3D metal printer
PTW & the DiSer Project
Within TU Darmstadt, our primary research partner has been PTW (Institut für Produktionsmanagement, Technologie und Werkzeugmaschinen), an institute exploring digital production, machining, and additive manufacturing.
For their research needs, PTW sought a compact industrial-grade metal 3D printer capable of operating under realistic conditions while being suitable for student training. As Peter Gross, research associate at PTW, explains:
“We found exactly that in 2Create, the small-format printer from 2onelab.”
From May 2023 to October 2025, PTW and 2onelab collaborated to further develop 2Connect, our digital platform designed to improve transparency across additive manufacturing workflows.
Together, we worked on:
- Enhanced print job data analysis
- Machine-process-service integration
- Cross-workflow traceability
- More intuitive interfaces for education and research
In Peter Gross’s words:
“Within this project, our goal was to develop digital services for additive manufacturing and, together with 2onelab, integrate them prototypically into software solutions.”
Our joint project received the Distr@l Quality Seal “Gold” as part of the Hessian Distr@l funding program, underscoring the innovation potential and industrial relevance of our research cooperation.
Advantages of 2onelab for R&D
Universities and research labs require tools that are robust, flexible, space-efficient, and easy to operate. 2onelab solutions offer exactly that:
– All-in-One Solution: Metal 3D Printers (2Create/2Create Plus) + Software (2Build CAM) + optional equipment
– Small-Format Industrial System: Minimal footprint, suitable for labs and research centers
– Full In-House Development: From hardware to software to process engineering
– Wide Application Range: Dental, medical, engineering, prototyping, aerospace, industrial R&D
– Student-Friendly Operation: Intuitive workflows, ideal for teaching and training
– Material Flexibility: Titanium, CoCr, Stainless Steel alloys and more
– Ready-to-Print System: Fast setup, streamlined production
– Warranty & Maintenance Support
Together, these features make 2onelab systems highly attractive for universities aiming to combine teaching, research, and real industrial application.
Conclusion
Our cooperation with TU Darmstadt demonstrates how industry-academic partnerships drive innovation in metal additive manufacturing. Through joint development, real-world student training, and award-winning software research, this collaboration has created value far beyond the classroom.
We look forward to continuing this journey — advancing research, supporting education, and shaping the future of metal 3D printing together.
