InnoTech, a top fabrication company based in Seeb, Oman recently held two workshops on 3D printing for businessmen and engineers in Muscat, a report said.

Sponsored by BP Oman as part of its social investment programme, the event saw more than 100 participants, reported Times of Oman.

These courses were held at the Nizwa Cultural Centre and the Ibri College of Technology, where participants spent four days of practical training in 3D design, 3D printing and digital fabrication skills as part of a technique known as additive manufacturing.

On the first day, participants learned how to design 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, which is used to increase designer productivity, improve design quality, and create a manufacturing database. The following day highlighted the use of more complicated design tools and later a competition was held where participants vied to build the highest tower using some of the tools to simulate how 3D printers work. The final day concluded with teams assembling parts of the 3D printer and building their final project.

“Nowadays, this technology can be seen in every major industry worldwide from automotive, aerospace, defence and consumer products to medical supplies,” Othman Al Mandhari, the co-founder and CEO of InnoTech was quoted as saying in the report.

“Additive Manufacturing is important in the rapid prototyping and manufacturing industry for many reasons, mainly for its ability to create simple product designs and significantly reduce weight of parts.

“This technology is further supporting innovation and creativity through allowing users to try different iterations without bearing additional cost, unlike conventional manufacturing. Supporting our ambition to instil a culture of additive manufacturing, 3D printers will be permanently installed in the Nizwa Cultural Center and Ibri College of Technology. Students and staff will be able to use them for free at any time,” he added.

Four trainees will be chosen for a two-month internship in InnoTech and a possible job opportunity after the internship, the report said.