Case study · Plastics and polymer
First Polymer Training Skillnet: injection moulding VR training
An injection moulding machine for VR training, built with First Polymer Training Skillnet for the polymer industry.
- Customer
- First Polymer Training Skillnet
- Sector
- Plastics and polymer
- Machine
- Injection moulding
- Result
- 260 learners, 1,017 sessions
The challenge
Only one or two trainees could use an injection moulding machine at a time, and a mistake could damage a mould worth €50,000 or more.
Learners also had to travel to the sites that housed the equipment, and every trial run used material.
The solution: an injection moulding machine in VR
Mersus built a replica of an industrial injection moulding machine, with a cutaway view of its moving parts, and three modes: Explainer, Practice and Exam. Explainer guides learners step by step with voice and visual cues; Practice allows unlimited repetition; Exam tests competence with randomised assessments before a learner progresses.
Learners use hand tracking on Meta Quest headsets and can train away from the machine.
Trainers see individual and group progress in real time, spot common weak points and use leaderboards; trainees can track their own improvement.
The results
First Polymer Training Skillnet runs the VR machine alongside physical sessions, so more learners get hands-on practice at the same time, with no risk to moulds and no material used.
The course Mersus built with First Polymer was the first in what is now the Injection Moulding Suite.
- 260learners trained in VR between December 2025 and April 2026
- 1,017training sessions across Explainer, Practice and Exam
VR is accelerating their learning, providing a deeper understanding of the machine, and embedding knowledge much more effectively.
Catherine Collins, Network Manager, First Polymer Training Skillnet, on learners using the VR machine