CourseRestoration & Classics Applications open

Automotive Marquetry Course: Premium Finishes

Online 300-hour course in automotive marquetry: premium finishes. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (deforestation-free products), Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (CITES, trade in protected species) and Rhino. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Describe the evolution and value of marquetry in the automotive sector.

02

Select legal and suitable veneers and substrates for each application.

03

Apply veneer cutting and marquetry composition techniques.

04

Glue and press with appropriate adhesives and processes.

05

Apply finishes resistant to light, temperature and humidity inside the cabin.

06

Restore original marquetry following minimum-intervention criteria.

07

Develop a marquetry project for a vehicle interior.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Automotive cabinetmaker who wants to specialise in Automotive Marquetry: Premium Finishes.
  • Wooden interior restorer who wants to specialise in Automotive Marquetry: Premium Finishes.
  • Premium finishes technician who wants to specialise in Automotive Marquetry: Premium Finishes.
  • Marquetry craftsperson who wants to specialise in Automotive Marquetry: Premium Finishes.
  • Interior workshop manager who wants to specialise in Automotive Marquetry: Premium Finishes.
  • Luxury finishes entrepreneur who wants to specialise in Automotive Marquetry: Premium Finishes.
  • Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter classic vehicle restoration.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (deforestation-free products)
  • Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (CITES, trade in protected species)
  • UNE-EN 204 (classification of adhesives for wood)
  • ISO 3795 (combustion of vehicle interior materials)
  • Directive 2004/42/EC (volatile organic compounds in varnishes)
  • Royal Decree 665/1997 (carcinogenic agents, hardwood dust)
Syllabus

6 modules · 300 h

  1. 1.1Tradition of cabinetmaking in the automobile
  2. 1.2Marquetry pieces in dashboards and panels
  3. 1.3Fine woods and their identification
  4. 1.4Grain, figures and symmetries
  5. 1.5Wood veneer and its thickness
  6. 1.6Marquetry and inlay
  7. 1.7Value of craftsmanship
  8. 1.8Documentation of the original design
  9. 1.9The marquetry toolkit
  10. 1.10Workshop: analysis of a marquetry panel
  1. 2.1Natural and reconstituted veneers
  2. 2.2Drying and veneer stability
  3. 2.3Thicknesses and their handling
  4. 2.4Glues: traditional and modern
  5. 2.5Substrates and boards
  6. 2.6Moisture and wood movement
  7. 2.7Cutting: blade, saw and laser
  8. 2.8Templates and patterns
  9. 2.9Veneer storage
  10. 2.10Practice: material preparation
  1. 3.1Cutting by element
  2. 3.2Cutting by stack
  3. 3.3Stringing and border inlays
  4. 3.4Shading with hot sand
  5. 3.5Fitting pieces and joints
  6. 3.6Composition of the design
  7. 3.7Four-way and book-matched symmetry
  8. 3.8Repairing lost pieces
  9. 3.9Figure control
  10. 3.10Practice: executing a motif
  1. 4.1Substrate preparation
  2. 4.2Glue application
  3. 4.3Flat and vacuum presses
  4. 4.4Counter-moulds for curved pieces
  5. 4.5Pressure and time
  6. 4.6Bubbles and their correction
  7. 4.7Trimming edges
  8. 4.8Sanding and flatness
  9. 4.9Checks after pressing
  10. 4.10Practice: veneering a curved piece
  1. 5.1Progressive sanding without cutting through the veneer
  2. 5.2Staining and enhancing the grain
  3. 5.3Pores and grain filling
  4. 5.4Layered varnishing
  5. 5.5Polishing and gloss
  6. 5.6Integration with the rest of the interior
  7. 5.7Protection from sunlight
  8. 5.8Repairing the finish
  9. 5.9Process records
  10. 5.10Practice: complete finish of a panel
  1. 6.1Restoration of damaged marquetry
  2. 6.2Grafts and replacement pieces
  3. 6.3Conservation of the original piece
  4. 6.4Cost and time of craftsmanship
  5. 6.5Client quotation
  6. 6.6Working with cabinetmaking workshops
  7. 6.7Common errors and losses
  8. 6.8Recommended tools
  9. 6.9Documented real cases
  10. 6.10Final project: restored marquetry panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Rhino, Inkscape, LightBurn, AutoCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for cutting and composing veneers, vacuum gluing and pressing, and dashboard finishing and varnishing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-driven final project:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, ciber-OT, DIH and compliance as core pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Restoration of damaged marquetry

Describe the evolution and value of marquetry in the automotive sector.

Grafts and replacement pieces

Select legal and suitable veneers and substrates for each application.

Conservation of the original piece

Apply veneer cutting and marquetry composition techniques.

Cost and time of craftsmanship

Glue and press with appropriate adhesives and processes.

Client quotation

Apply finishes resistant to light, temperature and humidity inside the cabin.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Automotive cabinetmakerWooden interior restorerPremium finishes technicianMarquetry craftspersonInterior workshop managerLuxury finishes entrepreneur
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualifications required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.

The course uses Rhino, Inkscape, LightBurn, AutoCAD. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

An SEIUM diploma on passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

Automotive Marquetry Course: Premium FinishesEnrol
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