The Erasmus+ project strengthens traditional manufacturing through digital fabrication, providing free vocational training resources for the footwear, toy and jewellery sectors.

The Erasmus+ project 3aDitional+ (3D Training to Promote Traditional Manufacturing Sectors) concluded its two-year collaboration with a final transnational meeting and dissemination event held in Logroño, Spain, on 26–27 October 2026. The event brought together project partners and stakeholders to review the project’s achievements and highlight the opportunities that digital fabrication offers traditional manufacturing industries across Europe.

Coordinated by Spain’s Footwear Technology Centre (CTCR), 3aDitional+ aimed to support traditional manufacturing sectors in integrating digital technologies into their processes while preserving craftsmanship, strengthening competitiveness and promoting skills development.

Bridging Traditional Craftsmanship and Digital Innovation

Traditional manufacturing industries, including footwear, toys and jewellery, play an important role in Europe’s cultural heritage, regional economies and employment. However, many small and medium-sized enterprises face challenges in adopting new technologies and adapting to changing market demands.

Through 3aDitional+, the consortium developed practical learning resources to help artisans, apprentices, vocational education and training (VET) providers, and manufacturing professionals explore the potential of 3D printing and rapid prototyping. These technologies can support faster product development, reduce material waste during prototyping and enable businesses to innovate while retaining the quality and individuality of traditional products.

A key project outcome is a free, self-paced Moodle training course with learning pathways tailored to the footwear, toy and jewellery sectors. The training materials are available in English, Spanish, Italian and Greek, with Slovak and Portuguese language versions at different stages of development. The course provides accessible opportunities for professionals and learners to develop relevant digital skills at their own pace.

European Collaboration for Sector-Specific Training

The project brought together six organisations combining expertise in manufacturing, engineering, research, education and digital learning:

• CTCR (Spain): Project coordination and footwear-sector pilot testing.
• ADESOS (Spain): Training methodology and hosting of the final event in Logroño.
• AIJU (Spain): Research and pilot activities in the toy sector.
• Politecnico di Torino (POLITO, Italy): Engineering expertise and leadership of the jewellery-sector pilot.
• CARDET360 (Cyprus): Quality evaluation and instructional review.
• CEDA (Slovakia): E-learning platform management and dissemination.

Throughout the project, partners engaged artisans, apprentices and manufacturing professionals through pilot sessions and focus groups. This practical approach helped ensure that the training resources addressed the needs of the target sectors and reflected real workplace challenges.

The final transnational meeting provided an opportunity to review the project’s results, discuss sustainability and exploitation measures, and reinforce the consortium’s commitment to making the resources available beyond the project’s lifetime.

Ensuring Long-Term Impact

As the project concludes, its results will remain accessible to vocational trainers, manufacturing businesses and other stakeholders interested in digital fabrication. The consortium has established a Sustainability Plan and Exploitation Agreement to support the continued use and dissemination of the sector studies, curriculum guidelines and e-learning materials through the project website and the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform.

The 3aDitional+ International Observatory has also engaged 26 participating organisations, providing a foundation for continued dialogue and knowledge exchange across traditional manufacturing sectors.

By combining traditional skills with digital innovation, 3aDitional+ contributes to the modernisation of vocational education and training and supports European craft industries in adapting to evolving technological and economic demands.

Learn more about the project: http://www.3aditional.eu/