A small Stellenbosch start with a practical aim
PrintAcademy 3D works from Stellenbosch, Western Cape, helping schools and educators turn 3D printing into something usable in everyday teaching. The focus from the start was never on theory alone. It was about showing people how to use a printer, how to prepare a file, and how to turn an idea into something they could hold in their hands.
The early work centred on small training sessions for teachers, hobby makers and local learning spaces. The first workshops were shaped by real classroom needs, including limited time, shared equipment and the challenge of keeping lessons practical when power cuts or busy timetables interrupted the day.
- Hands-on introduction to 3D design and printer operation
- Early support for schools looking to explore maker education
- Simple classroom guidance that teachers could apply straight away
Building the first school training routines
As interest grew, the programme expanded beyond one-off sessions and into structured training for schools. The team began refining lesson flow, setting up repeatable workshop formats and creating support material that could work for both beginners and more experienced educators. This period helped shape the Teacher Introduction, Learner Foundations and CAD Basics approaches that remain part of the offering today.
These were years of learning alongside clients. Teachers wanted clear steps, manageable class sizes and guidance on how to run a practical session without wasting filament or losing time to setup problems. The response was straightforward: build training that respects classroom reality, not just lab conditions. There was a fair amount of trial and error, but each workshop made the next one better.
- Workshop formats refined for school environments
- Support material developed for basic 3D modelling and print preparation
- Growing understanding of what schools need for safe, useful classroom use
From training sessions to complete lab planning
Over time, schools were asking for more than training alone. They needed help choosing equipment, planning the layout of a room and making sure the space could work for daily teaching. That led to a wider service approach that included Printer Operations, Project Planning and the beginnings of dedicated Lab Setup Course support.
This shift marked an important step in the company story. Instead of only helping educators use a printer, the team began helping schools think through the full learning environment: power supply, ventilation, storage, supervision and practical workflow. For a school in Cape Town or Pretoria, the needs were not identical, but the same basics kept showing up. Good planning saves time later and reduces costly mistakes.
- School lab planning discussions became part of the standard process
- Support expanded to include maintenance basics and daily use routines
- Practical safety reminders were built into every setup conversation
Stronger support for teachers and remote planning
Over time, the team placed more emphasis on teacher confidence and on support that could work even when schools could not always meet face to face. More educators wanted a clear path from first contact to classroom use, especially when new learning spaces were being planned or when staff had to share equipment across subjects. It was also a period where flexibility mattered, with schools trying to keep projects moving despite load-shedding and changing schedules.
Training offerings became broader and more structured, with options such as Teacher Intermediate, Management Briefing, Holiday Programme and Custom Group Workshop support. The school lab kits also became more central, giving institutions a practical way to set up a 3D-printing environment with the right tools and a cleaner workflow. That made it easier for teachers to get going without having to source every item seperately.
- Teacher support broadened to suit different experience levels
- Lab kits were developed for easier classroom rollout
- More planning advice was shared for schools managing time, space and power interruptions
School kits, maker clubs and wider reach
As the work matured, more schools outside the Western Cape began approaching PrintAcademy 3D for practical assistance. The team supplied school 3D-printing lab kits to institutions across South Africa, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Gqeberha. The goal stayed the same: keep the setup sensible, keep the training useful and keep the learning hands-on.
During this period, maker clubs and learner programmes became a bigger part of the story. Schools were looking for ways to keep learners engaged after the initial novelty wore off, and the answer was to give them projects with real purpose. That included design tasks, printer operation practice and guided planning around classroom projects that could be finished within the school term.
- School lab kits supplied to a wider national client base
- Maker Club Training added for extracurricular learning
- Learner-focused sessions shaped around creativity, planning and problem solving
A full support team for training and lab rollout
Today, PrintAcademy 3D operates from Stellenbosch with a team that supports training, lab planning, workshop delivery and operations. Under the direction of Ettienne Truter, the company works with Lwazi Molapo on training coordination, Lizanne Rossouw on school lab consulting, Lwandle Msiza on technical support, Hlengiwe Mabunda on curriculum content, Rivaaz Nair as workshop facilitator and Amahle Mkhwanazi on operations. Each role feeds into the same practical goal: help schools use 3D printing well, not just buy equipment.
The current service range includes Teacher Introduction, Teacher Intermediate, Learner Foundations, CAD Basics, Printer Operations, Project Planning, Lab Setup Course, Maintenance Basics, Maker Club Training, Holiday Programme, Management Briefing and Custom Group Workshop support. Schools from Paarl to Somerset West and across major cities can reach the team through the enquiry form on the contact page. The work is still built on the same values from the start: clear guidance, useful tools and enough support to make classroom technology genuinely workable.
- Practical support for schools at every stage of the setup process
- Training that suits teachers, learners and school leadership teams
- Ongoing focus on safe use, simple maintenance and classroom readiness