KATZ

What KATZ does

KATZ (Kunststoff Ausbildungs- und Technologie-Zentrum) is a Swiss non-profit education and technology center for plastics technology, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Aarau, Switzerland. The organization operates as a Verein (support association) under the KATZ-Förderverein with approximately 200 member companies from the Swiss plastics industry, delivering vocational training, professional certification courses, applied research, and industrial learning factory services. The company serves Swiss plastics manufacturers producing high-tech plastic products for medical technology, precision engineering, and automotive sectors, as well as the adjacent workforce (purchasing, marketing, sales) needing materials literacy.

The core product portfolio centers on two flagship vocational programs — the 10-day Kunststoff-Fachmann/-frau KATZ® (covering materials, injection molding, extrusion, additive manufacturing, joining, design, and testing) and the multi-level Spritzgiessen S-course series (S1 Grundlagen, S2 Verfahrenstechnik, S3 Optimieren) — alongside a 5-module Kreislauf von Kunststoffprodukten program on circular economy. Course fees range from CHF 760 for preparation modules to CHF 6,500 for the flagship certification program. The Aarau facility includes a Technikum with industrial injection molding machines (approx. 100 tonnes clamping force), extrusion lines (5–50 kg/hour), testing equipment, and two learning factories: the Smarte Lernfabrik for Industry 4.0 training and the KATZ-Kreislauffabrik for industrial-scale plastics recycling research with sorting technology and de-inking capabilities.

Revenue is generated through course fees, recurring membership subscriptions (members receive a 10% discount), annual Swiss Plastics Symposium participation fees (CHF 50–320), applied R&D project funding (including Innosuisse Innocheck grants), and corporate sponsorship. The organization employs approximately 10 core staff led by CEO Dr. Rémy Stoll (since 2020), who led the strategic pivot toward circular economy. Distribution is delivered primarily on-site at Aarau, supplemented by corporate in-house training and inter-company courses (üK) for apprentices in collaboration with vocational schools (Berufsschule Aarau, IBZ/ipso).

Name

KATZ

Legal name

KATZ Kunststoff Ausbildungs- und Technologie-Zentrum

Website

https://katz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KATZ is a Swiss non-profit plastics training and technology center founded in 1992 in Aarau, delivering vocational courses, professional certifications, applied R&D, and learning factory services to approximately 200 member companies across the Swiss plastics industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastics Technology Training

akta.pro primary industry

Additive Manufacturing Education & Academic Programs (IMAAAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences, Workshops & Industry Events (AM Knowledge Sharing) (IMAAAJAL), 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH)

Keywords

• Plastics technology training
• Injection molding education
• Plastics vocational certification
• Circular economy research
• Industrial learning factory

Headquarters

HQ city

Aarau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course and Training Fees: KATZ generates revenue through course fees for its comprehensive educational offerings including foundational courses, practical workshops, specialized training programs, and certification exams. Pricing varies by course type, duration, and participant category (member vs. non-member).
2. Membership Fees (KATZ-Förderverein): Companies join the KATZ support association for network access, privileged use of the Technikum, reduced course fees, and visibility within the Swiss plastics industry. The association has approximately 200 member companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KATZ is a Swiss non-profit plastics technology training and applied research center that delivers vocational training programs (Kunststofftechnologen apprenticeships), industry-recognized professional certifications (Kunststoff-Fachmann KATZ, Spritzgiessfachmann KATZ, Einrichter KATZ), continuing education courses, and applied R&D services to the Swiss plastics industry. Its Technikum houses industrial-scale injection molding machines and extrusion lines, complemented by a Smart Learning Factory for Industry 4.0 training and the KATZ-Kreislauffabrik for hands-on circular economy / plastics recycling research.

Product overview

KATZ (Kunststoff Ausbildungs- und Technologie-Zentrum) is a Swiss non-profit education and technology center for plastics technology based in Aarau. Its offering is a portfolio of vocational training programs, professional certification courses, applied research, and industrial learning factories. The core products include two flagship vocational programs: the Kunststoff-Fachmann/-frau KATZ® (a 10-day intensive course across 8 modules covering materials, injection molding, extrusion, additive manufacturing, joining, design, and testing) and the multi-level Spritzgiessen S-Kurs series (S1 Grundlagen, S2 Verfahrenstechnik, S3 Optimieren) for injection molding professionals, each with corresponding certification exams (Einrichter KATZ® and Spritzgiessfachmann KATZ®). The Kreislauf von Kunststoffprodukten program is a 5-module (5-day) advanced course on circular economy covering product development cycles, recycling, LCA, bioplastics, and environmental improvement. Foundational courses include the 2-day Aufbau und Eigenschaften der Kunststoffe (AEK1) course. Beyond courses, KATZ operates two learning factories: the Smarte Lernfabrik (Smart Learning Factory) for digitalized, automated production training using real industrial equipment, and the KATZ-Kreislauffabrik (Circular Economy Factory) for hands-on recycling and reprocessing of post-consumer plastics. The company also offers the specialist Prozessentwicklung Spritzgiessen mit DoE course, the inter-company üK7 Automation course for apprentices, the annual Schweizerisches Kunststoff-Symposium, and applied R&D services including material testing, damage analysis, and engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kunststoff-Fachmann/-frau KATZ®

Quantifiable outcome

• Swiss plastics industry companies have multiplied their sales since KATZ establishment in 1992

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• SKZ (Kunststoff-Zentrum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026SKZ from Würzburg, Germany and KATZ from Aarau, Switzerland co-exhibit at Swiss Plastics Expo 2026 under the 'KONNEKT' theme. The partnership demonstrates networked production, qualification, and innovation between the SKZ model factory and KATZ smart learning factory. Live data streams from both facilities are combined to show validated production processes. Together they offer aligned training programs from basic education through specialized courses.
• FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKATZ collaborates with FHNW on various training programs including the 'Kreislauf von Kunststoffprodukten' certification. FHNW professors teach modules on life cycle assessment, biopolymers, environmental improvements, and circular economy.
• KUNSTSTOFF.swisscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss plastics industry association and KATZ partner. Association representatives serve on the KATZ Vorstand (board) to guide strategic direction.
• Swissmem AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Swissmem Academy for industry-relevant training aligned with Swiss MEM industry standards and certifications.
• Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for materials science and technology development in plastics applications.
• ETH ZürichstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ETH Zurich for advanced research and knowledge transfer in polymer science and plastics technology.
• Berufsschule AaraucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with vocational school in Aarau for the dual education system, providing practical training complementing theoretical classroom instruction.
• IBZ (ipso Bildungs AG)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for higher education in mechanical engineering with plastics technology specialization.
• Swiss Engineering (FGKS)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Swiss Engineering Fachgruppe Kunststofftechnik for professional development and standards.
• Swiss Plastics ClusterstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in the Swiss Plastics Cluster network for industry collaboration and market development.
• InnosuissestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch funding partner for innovation projects including Innocheck projects on mattress recycling (PUR foam quality assessment) and food-contact recycled PP (FCMrPP) development.
• Matratzen-AllianzstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKATZ participates in the Mattress Alliance pilot project in Canton Aargau to establish mattress recycling infrastructure. SORTEC Aarberg provides disassembly services in collaboration with JVA Witzwil.
• SORTEC Aarberg AGstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner for Innocheck project on mattress recycling. SORTEC performs disassembly and separation of mattress materials in collaboration with JVA Witzwil prison.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• FHNW - Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and KATZ academic partner. Provides theoretical modules on LCA, biopolymers, and circular economy that complement KATZ's hands-on vocational training.
• IBZ / ipso Bildungs AG: Swiss technical education provider (mechanical engineering specialization) and KATZ academic partner. Several KATZ staff teach at IBZ; comparable in delivering applied technical education to Swiss industrial workforce.

Regional players

• Swissmem: Swiss MEM industry association and KATZ partner, providing industry-aligned training through Swissmem Academy. Operates in the same Swiss market with comparable member-driven training programs but broader MEM industry focus.

Broad incumbents

• Empa: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, an active KATZ research partner. Broader incumbent covering advanced materials, but with overlapping polymer/plastics R&D and knowledge-transfer activities.
• Fraunhofer IPT: Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology with capabilities in automated production, robotics, and polymer processing. Comparable adjacent research/training player in Industry 4.0 production technologies relevant to KATZ's Smart Learning Factory.
• Fraunhofer LBF: Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability with strong polymer and plastics competence. Broader applied-research incumbent with overlapping capabilities in plastics testing, materials science, and Industry 4.0 research.

Direct peers

• Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid: German plastics technology institute offering training, R&D, and consulting for plastics processors. Directly comparable to KATZ's combined training-and-applied-research model serving an industrial member base.
• OFI - Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology: Austrian applied research and testing institute serving plastics, packaging, and materials sectors with training and certification programs. Comparable DACH-region peer with similar vocational training and industrial R&D offerings.
• SKZ - Das Kunststoff-Zentrum: Germany's leading plastics training, testing, and R&D center based in Würzburg. Direct strategic partner of KATZ via KONNEKT initiative, offering comparable vocational training, certification, and applied research services in injection molding, extrusion, and plastics technology.
• IKV - Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung: RWTH Aachen's plastics processing institute, conducting industry-focused R&D and training in injection molding, extrusion, and polymer processing. Closely comparable to KATZ's applied research and workforce development mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/katzch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KATZ