In Venice, a conference celebrating the first Italian licenses for Specialized sheet metal workers under UNI Standard 11966:2024 and recognized by Accredia.
The conference The Sheet Metal Worker Profession. Training, Certifications and Future Scenarios, held on 3 October at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice – and featured in our previous newsletter – was a unique event for many reasons. First and foremost, it placed metal working professionals at the centre of attention not as mere spectators in a discussion on construction, but as the true protagonists of the day. Secondly, it offered the opportunity to celebrate a historic milestone — the presentation of the first licences in Italy for UNI 11966:2024 Specialized Sheet Metal Worker.
Throughout the day, the sheet metal workers’ voices authentically conveyed the complexity and beauty of a craft that combines technical expertise with artisanal sensitivity. As they reminded us, each worksite tells its own story — a balance between material knowledge, adaptability, and dialogue with architects and clients. The sheet metal worker is not a simple executor, but an interpreter of the project, capable of communicating with designers and clients, translating ideas into matter, and giving tangible form to architectural vision.
All contributions highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue with Zintek and its technical support — available even remotely — as part of a virtuous synergy between craftsmanship and industry. This collaboration solves problems and nurtures technical knowledge and strengthens the overall quality of building.
A shared message emerged from all testimonies: training is the key to the future. What is learned through the Zintek Academy becomes valuable know-how to bring back to the workshop and pass on to the next generations, fostering a culture of skilled craftsmanship that renews itself over time.
The day culminated in the official presentation of the UNI 11966:2024 certificates, the first ever issued in Italy. The role of the construction sheet metal worker is now formally recognized by UNI, and certification marks an essential step towards the acknowledgment of professional competence.
Zintek supports craftsmen on this path through its Academy, the first institution in Italy certified to provide preparatory training for the exam validated by Accredia.
At its headquarters in Porto Marghera, the Zintek Academy offers outstanding facilities: a dedicated classroom, a 300-square-metre showroom featuring models and mock-ups, and a fully equipped workshop with professional machinery. Certified under UNI ISO 21001:2019, the Academy is unique in the metal industry landscape — a centre for training, research, and technical culture that places people at its core.
Investing in education today means investing in the future of the field — restoring dignity and appeal to manual professions that combine intelligence, creativity and responsibility. In many European countries, tinsmiths are highly respected professionals. Thanks to initiatives such as those promoted by the Zintek Academy, this awareness is returning to Italy: manual skill is knowledge, and knowledge, when certified, becomes value.
The atmosphere of the event was one of great participation and collective pride. In a world that moves fast, taking the time to listen to those who work with both hands and mind is a precious gesture — a reminder that the future of construction will always depend on them: the sheet metal workers, artisans of time and matter.
