• Developed with funding from the PNRR, the new lab integrates virtual design and real manufacturing within an educational structure for students and instructors, supported by state-of-the-art robotics and artificial vision solutions
• Comau Academy will provide educational autonomy for ITS Maker Academy through train-the-trainer programs and access to the LMS (Learning Management System) platform, as well as ensuring maximum scalability of the technological solution to meet future training needs
• The initiative responds to the growing demand for highly specialized profiles and strengthens the collaboration network between Comau and ITS ACADEMIES nationwide
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Bologna, October 9, 2026
The new D-Pack Lab, an advanced automation laboratory created by Comau for ITS Maker Academy, has been inaugurated in Bologna. Conceived as a Model Factory (a simulated enterprise), the center complements the institute’s educational programs to prepare students for the real-world needs of manufacturing environments.
Developed with contributions from PNRR funding dedicated to enhancing technical and vocational education, the initiative is part of a nationwide collaboration framework between Comau and Istituti Tecnologici Superiori (ITS Academies). The latter represent a qualified pathway into the workforce thanks to programs developed in close collaboration with the industrial sector.
Comau led the development of the D-Pack Lab as a systems integrator and technology setup curator, creating a fully interconnected simulated factory where individual operational phases—from design to production cycle, from chip-removal machining served by robots equipped with modern vision systems, to additive manufacturing and quality control—communicate within a single, continuous information flow.
To complement the technological infrastructure, Comau Academy ensures skill transfer and educational autonomy in managing the laboratory through dedicated enablement courses for ITS MAKER ACADEMY instructors. To ensure maximum efficiency and extendability of the cell, Comau provides the Institute with access to upskilling pathways for teachers on its LMS platform (Comau Web Academy), enabling flexible and certified training.
The inauguration event was attended by Giacomo Del Panta, Chief Customer Officer of Comau, and Stefano Pesce, Head of Business Development and Academy at Comau, alongside representatives from ITS Italy, the ITS MAKER ACADEMY Foundation, member companies, and the Emilia-Romagna Region.
“Comau’s collaboration with ITS MAKER Academy focuses on the value of technical education as a growth engine for young people and local businesses. ITS Academies serve as an effective bridge for transferring innovative knowledge. With the D-Pack Lab, we want to offer students the opportunity to engage with tools and working methodologies used in real production environments, supporting their training and professional growth while facilitating their entry into the job market.”
Giacomo Del Panta, Chief Customer Officer of Comau
“Comau Academy represents a strategic junction connecting real industry needs with education, accelerating the transfer of key skills and ensuring continuous, valuable updating essential for driving technological transformation“.
Stefano Pesce, Head of Business Development and Academy at Comau.
The inauguration of the D-Pack Lab consolidates a long-standing collaborative path that Comau Academy has been developing nationwide to support educational institutions, training centers, and ITS Academies in setting up high-application learning environments. Projects already operational include simulated factories for robotic welding, collaborative robotics integration for logistics management, lean manufacturing implementation using educational robotics solutions, and targeted automation for process control in the agrifood sector. This nationwide network of expertise will continue expanding in the coming months with the opening of a new technology center in San Ferdinando (Reggio Calabria).
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About Comau
Comau is a worldwide leader in delivering advanced automation solutions. The company designs and develops products and systems that help customers improve productivity, flexibility, and competitiveness across a wide range of industries – all while keeping sustainable production at the forefront. Comau also offers project management, consultancy services and, through its Academy, innovative training.
The company’s technology portfolio includes products and solutions for vehicle manufacturing, with strong competencies in batteries and e-Mobility, as well as cutting-edge robotics and digital solutions for a variety of sectors such as logistics, distribution and fulfillment, renewable energies and storage, shipyards, aerospace, heavy industry, food & beverage, pharma and more. Together with fully owned companies Automha and Invent, Comau’s end-to-end automation and intralogistics capabilities span manufacturing, storage, distribution, and material flow optimization. Automha specializes in intelligent, high-performance automated storage and retrieval systems, while Invent provides advanced picking and sorting technologies, material handling systems, and warehouse control software. Together, these complementary capabilities help optimize logistics operations and enhance distribution performance.
Comau is headquartered in Turin, Italy, Automha in Bergamo, Italy, and Invent in São Paulo, Brazil. The combined global footprint spans 9 innovation centers and 15 production facilities across 12 countries, supported by more than 4,000 employees worldwide.
www.comau.com | www.automha.com | www.invent-corp.com
PRESS CONTACTS
Giuseppe Costabile – Corporate Communication Manager
giuseppe.costabile@comau.com | Mob. +39 338 7130885
Monica Cavaliere – Corporate Communication
monica.cavaliere@comau.com | Mob. +39 3386684221
