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3M and Wroclaw in partnership for technical and vocational education

A modern laboratory for learning the rules of Industry 4.0 was opened in the Vocational Training Centre. It was created thanks to co-operation between the American company 3M and the Wroclaw City Office in the promotion and support of the development of technical and vocational education. ‘The heart of 3M beats in Poland,’ stress the company’s representatives, adding that Wroclaw is the first city outside the USA in which 3M equips vocational schools.

Wroclaw students presented a new place in the Vocational Training Centre at ul. Strzegomska 49a. The laboratory includes 8 kits consisting of three independent modules (storage, transport and handling) that imitate manufacturing processes.

Further two kits of modules were granted to the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Complex of Vocational Schools in Oleśnica. The value of the equipment is 500,000 PLN.

‘We can learn the functioning of manufacturing lines here. I can separate plastic from metal elements on one module, which starts another stage of production.’

Marcin Pełek, student of the Electronic Educational Centre in Wroclaw

3M and Wroclaw for technical and vocational education

3M equipped the laboratory in the Vocational Training Centre with educational kits for specific operations of the manufacturing process that can be used for training future workers of factories of the future using elements of Industry 4.0. This project was implemented within the scope of the 3M Manufacturing & Academic Partnership global project.

‘I am very happy with the valuable co-operation between the city and business and education sectors. The challenges posed by digitisation and automation require qualified personnel at every level. The co-operation in creating the future and the mutual concern about the development of competences of young Wroclaw inhabitants and not only shows how responsible our business community is. I am very grateful to 3M for this initiative.’

Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wroclaw

Wroclaw is the first non-US city in which 3M equips vocational schools

3M Manufacturing & Academic Partnership is a long-term program of 3M’s co-operation with technical schools. In the USA, 3M has already supported almost 50 schools and educational facilities by providing equipment, training programs, workshops and internships.

Within the scope of this co-operation, 3M chose Wroclaw as the first non-US location for the implementation of its program.

‘The heart of 3M in Poland beats in Wroclaw. It is where we launched Superhub – one of 3M’s biggest manufacturing centres around the world. Today we manufacture in Superhub over 12,000 innovative products that we export globally with the “Made in Poland” tag.’

Anthony Crawford, Head of Manufacturing Operations at 3M in the East Europe Region

Anthony Crawford adds that support for technological education is their strategic goal and, along with the development of the company, they need more well-trained employees, particularly in the Industry 4.0 area.

‘We co-operate with educational units and Wroclaw to promote technical education and to support young people in the practical acquisition of knowledge. The submitted equipment is the beginning of our co-operation with schools. The program includes also training periods and internships.

Moreover, we are opening the Training Centre and the Innovation Centre for students and teachers, where our experts will run workshops and share their knowledge. The world needs qualified specialists in order to build a sustainable future. We believe that such activities can help us fulfil this mission,’ stresses Anthony Crawford.

Practical classes in the state-of-the-art technologies

In consultation with the Department of Education of the Wrocław City Office and the Vocational Training Centre, a scope of training courses for teachers has been determined and a laboratory has been prepared in the Vocational Training Centre, where students of all schools can attend professional classes in automation and mechatronics with the use of equipment and on the basis of the training program created by 3M’s international experts.

‘Professions in the mechatronic industry are very popular. Now our Centre runs courses for students in the professions of mechatronic technician and automation technician, and we are launching a course in a new profession of robotics technician in the next school year. The vocational and technical education laboratory with the possibility of manufacturing process simulation and the organisation of practical classes in the state-of-the-art technologies with the best equipment ideally fits into our tasks.’

Anna Chołodecka, Director of the Vocational Education Centre

3M: education, training periods, internships

3M will develop co-operation also under the internship program in SuperHub 3M in Wroclaw aimed at enabling students to utilise acquired technical knowledge in real manufacturing processes.

Under this program, 3M offers an opportunity to work with the state-of-the-art technologies used in the production area and to co-operate with experts in Industry 4.0. Participants of internships will become familiar with production automation and digitisation issues.

Automation is the future

An active participant in the project was the Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency, which received 3M’s grant in the amount of 500,000 PLN via Global Giving Foundation and concluded the purchase of equipment for the laboratory.

‘It is great pleasure to co-operate in such a synergic project, which is a direct response to the needs of today’s labour market. Automation is the future, but it does not mean at all that machines will replace people. Industry 4.0 will set new challenges for employees of factories of the future. This project is not only a contribution to the improvement of the quality of technical and vocational education, but also the promotion of such a career path.’

Magdalena Okulowska, President of the Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency

3M in Wroclaw

3M Poland Sp. z o.o. is a technological manufacturing company being a branch of the international corporation 3M. The enterprise has been present on the Polish market for almost 30 years, during which it has invested over 650 million USD. Making use of science and following the rules of sustainable growth, 3M creates innovative solutions improving the quality of human life around the world.

  • Currently 3M has four manufacturing centres in Poland: two in Wroclaw, one in Janinów near Grodzisk Mazowiecki and one in Rabka. The head office of the company is located in Kajetany near Warsaw.
  • 3M employs over 4,500 people in Poland and offers around 12,000 products within four business groups: Safety and Industry, Transport and Electronics, Healthcare and Consumer Products.
  • Since 2013, the 3M Innovation Centre has been available in Wroclaw as a space where the company presents its new technologies and solutions. Three years later, also in Wroclaw, the corporation launched the 3M Shared Service Centre for Europe, Middle East and Africa. In addition, the 3M Training Centre was opened in Wroclaw in September 2017.