Formnext 2019: Additive manufacturing inspires with best perspectives

28/11/2019

34,532 specialists and managers (2018: 26,919) were swept away by an impressive Formnext 2019. 852 exhibitors (2018: 632) made Messe Frankfurt the stage for the ever-increasing fields of application of additive manufacturing. The move to the modern and architecturally-sophisticated exhibition halls 11 and 12, which was due to strong growth, has thus proved its worth.

Companies such as 3D Systems, Additive Industries, Addup, Arburg, BigRep, Carbon, Desktop Metal, DMG Mori, Envisiontec, EOS, ExOne, Farsoon, Formlabs, GE Additive, HP, Keyence, Markforged, Materialise, Matsuura, Prodways, Renishaw, Ricoh, Siemens, Sisma, SLM Solutions, Stratasys, Trumpf, Voxeljet, Xerox, XJet and many others presented even more efficient new manufacturing technologies and advanced solutions for their integrated industrial use. With BASF, Covestro, Cubicure, Dyemansion, Evonik, Incus, LMI, Sigma Labs and others, numerous internationally established but also young companies presented world firsts along the entire process chain. These included, for example, new 3D printable materials that significantly expand the application range of additive manufacturing, for example, in the aerospace, automotive, and railway industries, as well as in tool and mold making. In the important field of post-processing, numerous exhibitors were also able to present innovations that further advance the industrial use of additive manufacturing.

An impressive track record

“Even in its fifth year, Formnext continues its impressive success story”, states Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at the organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “Additive manufacturing has definitely arrived in the industry. Together with our enormously dynamic industry, we will continue to accompany, support and advance this development as a trade fair organizer”.

The visitors were also enthusiastic about the development of Formnext and the numerous innovations of the exhibitors.

“Formnext is a one of a kind show in the entire world. There is no other place where you can go and meet companies from all across the additive value chain in Europe, United States, China and other market places. The amount of value that we get out of participating and the ROI of visiting is incalculable,” commented Haden Quinlan, Program Manager, Center for Additive and digital Advanced Production Technologies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Lee Bilby, from Bilby 3D in Australia, stated: “This Event is so worth traveling around the world for! I work in the 3D industry and there’s nothing like this in Australia. It’s a great opportunity to meet with our suppliers as they’re here on one spot but it’s also an ideal platform to get an idea of the technologies we haven’t heard of yet in Australia. Well worth the 32 hour flight! Formnext is awesome!”

Increasing interest from investors

For the industry, Formnext is an important business platform at which many companies record concrete business transactions directly on the exhibition floor. The still young world of additive manufacturing is also attracting more and more investors. At Formnext 2019, there was a significant increase in interest from venture capital companies and industrial companies who, for example, would like to become strategic partners for young companies. With the Start-up Challenge and the Start-up Area, Formnext in 2019 was again able to offer these companies an efficient trade fair platform to present themselves to an international trade audience and pave the way to a successful entrepreneurial future through contacts with investors.

Complete success for partner country USA

The USA was the first partner country to present itself at Formnext 2019. Visitors were able to experience a varied supporting program designed by the US Commercial Service and numerous important associations. The transatlantic AM Standards Forum, which took place for the second time at Formnext, further advanced the development of internationally uniform norms and standards for additive manufacturing. More than 50 US exhibitors presented themselves in the exhibition halls or at the US pavilion. “Formnext is very important for the industry and for US companies. This year the participation of US exhibitors grew by almost 40% compared to 2018, so that we could really show the variety of innovative products and services of American companies,” says Ken Walsh, Commercial Consul of the US Commercial Service.

At the same time, the number of US visitors grew by 25%.

High degree of internationality

With an impressive degree of internationality of visitors from 99 nations, Formnext has once again proven its position as the world’s leading trade fair for additive manufacturing and modern industrial production. Specialists and executives from various user industries were convinced by the latest developments in additive manufacturing and the ever-increasing range of applications.

The impressive visitor frequency and the high quality of the discussions were also praised by the exhibitors:

“With increased collaboration as a catalyst for innovation, Formnext represents a perfect opportunity to showcase our new solutions and technologies and to interact with potential customers and fellow travelers.”

Fried Vancraen, Founder and CEO Materialise

“We had an amazing show. It’s so good to see the AM community growing every year. As always we do not have to take our exhibition equipment back to Munich and are very proud that they found a home in Finland at our new customer 3D Formtech.”

Pia Harlaß, Head of Global Marketing & Corporate Communication at Dyemansion

2019 figures at a glance:

Exhibition space: 53,039 sqm

Exhibitors: 852

Visitors: 34,532

Conference participants: 925 participants (booked day passes)

Further information: www.formnext.com

Background information on Formnext

Formnext is the leading trade fair for Additive Manufacturing and the next generation of intelligent manufacturing solutions. It focuses on the efficient realization of parts and products, from their design to serial production. Formnext shows the future of innovative manufacturing. Formnext is organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. (formnext.com)

About Mesago Messe Frankfurt

Mesago, founded in 1982 and located in Stuttgart, specializes in exhibitions and conferences on various topics of technology. The company belongs to the Messe Frankfurt Group. Mesago operates internationally and is not tied to a specific venue. With 160 members of staff Mesago organizes events for the benefit of more than 3,300 exhibitors and over 110,000 trade visitors, conference delegates and speakers from all over the world. Numerous trade associations, publishing houses, scientific institutes and universities work with Mesago closely as advisers, co-organizers and partners. (mesago.com)

Background information on Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With more than 2,500 employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €718 million. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com

Background information on TCT (Content Partner)

Established in 1992, TCT Group’s mission is to accelerate design-to-manufacturing innovation. Through global trade shows, conferences, magazines, websites and digital products TCT delivers business-critical insights on the technologies that help manufacturers make better products, more quickly and cost-effectively. Through the TCT Awards TCT celebrates the most innovative products and applications across the design-to-manufacturing process chain. The TCT Group is owned by Rapid News Publications Ltd, part of Rapid News Group. (thetctgroup.com)

Background information on the Working Group Additive Manufacturing (Honorary Sponsor)

Within the Working Group Additive Manufacturing, about 150 companies and research institutes collaborate under the direction of the German industry federation VDMA. Here, plant engineers; component and material suppliers; industrial companies that work with metals and plastics; service providers in software, manufacturing, and processing; and numerous researchers all work toward the same goal: the industrialization of additive manufacturing techniques. (am.vdma.org)