The Production Technology Center (PTC) is an open innovation environment for advanced manufacturing, where industry, academia and research organisations co-create, test and scale new production technologies. Located in Trollhättan, Sweden, PTC provides a real-world setting for experimentation and validation, with a particular focus on metal additive manufacturing, automation and sustainable production processes.
Context and Challenge
The transition towards sustainable and resilient manufacturing systems requires new forms of collaboration, faster innovation cycles and the ability to move from research to industrial application. European industry faces challenges related to digital transformation, resource efficiency and supply chain resilience, while small and medium-sized enterprises often lack access to advanced infrastructure and test environments. There is a clear need for spaces where technologies, processes and competencies can be developed and validated in close interaction between stakeholders.
Mission
PTC’s mission is to enable collaborative innovation and accelerate the adoption of advanced and sustainable manufacturing technologies. By fostering co-creation between industry, academia and research institutes, PTC contributes to strengthening innovation capacity, supporting industrial transformation and enabling lifelong learning.
What We Do
PTC operates as a collaborative test and demonstration environment where stakeholders jointly explore, develop and validate new production technology. The center provides access to advanced equipment and expertise within areas such as additive manufacturing, robotics, welding and materials processing. Activities are structured around real industrial use cases, enabling iterative experimentation, prototyping and validation in a production-relevant context.
Activities and Impact
Through co-creation projects, experimental development and industry-driven initiatives, PTC is a platform for the transition towards more sustainable, efficient and flexible manufacturing systems. The center enables companies to test new technologies, reduce development risks and shorten the path from idea to implementation. It also contributes to skills development and knowledge transfer by connecting education, research and industrial practice, thereby strengthening both regional, national and European ecosystems.
Collaborative experimentation and testbeds
PTC provides a production-relevant environment where companies, researchers and students jointly test and validate new manufacturing technologies and manufacturing solutions. Through access to advanced equipment, competence and real-world production setups, ideas can be rapidly iterated and scaled towards industrial application.
Industrialisation of advanced manufacturing technologies
The center supports the transition from research to implementation by enabling prototyping, process development and validation of technologies such as metal additive manufacturing, automation and advanced materials. This reduces time-to-market and lowers the risks associated with adopting new production methods.
Cross-sector co-creation and knowledge exchange
PTC is a platform that brings together industry, academia and research institutes in joint projects and everyday collaboration. This continuous interaction enables knowledge transfer, strengthens innovation capacity and supports the development of solutions aligned with real industrial needs.
Skills development and lifelong learning
By integrating research, education and industrial practice, PTC contributes to upskilling and reskilling within advanced manufacturing. The environment supports both formal education and on-the-job learning, helping to address emerging competence needs in industry.
Sustainable and resilient production systems
Through the development of resource-efficient processes, remanufacturing approaches and flexible production solutions, the activities within PTC contributes to more sustainable and resilient manufacturing. This includes reducing material waste, enabling decentralised production and supporting the green transition of industry.