One of the most interesting activities of the AMaTUC project for the scientists and researchers, consist in exchanging staff for a certain amount of time (from few days to few weeks). The organisation of these short-term secondments is very important for the scientific staff from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN) but also for their counterparts at Loughborough University (LbU) to efficiently transfer knowledge and receive tailored training  on topics relevant to additive manufacturing.

During Period 1, ten (10) Romanian scientists visited LbU accounting for 122 days of secondment while LbU staff send five (5) staff in Romania for a total duration of 45 days. The main aim of the visits was to share knowledge as well as being trained on SLS/SLM manufacturing techniques and computer-aided engineering and finite element modelling (CAE-FEM). During these secondments, TUCN staff strengthen links with LbU and they both developed new cooperation opportunities. Other benefits from the staff exchanges between TUCN and LbU are described below:

• In October 2016, the partner LbU organised a site visit, for TUCN staff, to the company “Dr. Martens”, producing customised shoes. It was the occasion to present them a case study of technology transfer where new AM applications could be developed at research level to fulfil the industrial needs of production companies.
  
• Another visit to a supplier of new AM equipment has been organised in order for the TUCN’s staff to get a better understanding of AM for composite material parts, made directly by 3D Printing. New joint research directions were established and TUCN purchased the newest type of 3D printer from the company RP Support Ltd. to test the new design ideas on how to build competitive structures for customised composite materials parts

• In February 2017, Prof. Campbell from LbU gave a training on the improvement of SLM/SLS processes capabilities at TUCN. The partners also  visited the Transylvania University of Brasov to discuss further cooperation with the university and Romanian industrial actors.
• The staff exchanges of TUCN’s staff had a beneficial effect on their research work. A number of scientific papers have been published, notably in the peer-reviewed journals: Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials and Studia Chemia.
• TUCN also filled a patent application, named “Procedure and composite material to produce customised synthetic wall tiles’.