Formnext is establishing itself as the industry meeting place for additive manufacturing. This year, 852 exhibitors (2018: 632 exhibitors) presented additive manufacturing solutions to a total of 34,532 visitors (2018: 26,919 visitors) on over 50,000 m² (2018: 37,231 m²) of exhibition space. Companies such as DMG Mori, EOS, Ultimaker, Materialise, Keyence, SLM Solutions, Stratasys and Trumpf presented innovations along the entire additive manufacturing process chain to interested visitors, from the design and development of additively manufactured components, materials and machines to post-processing and quality assurance.

High level of interest in additive manufacturing

There is great interest in additive manufacturing. The manufacturing process is increasingly finding its way out of its niche. Some application examples at Formnext also showed that additive manufacturing has arrived in the industry. Whether tools, structural components or filter systems for shipbuilding, the technology offers many advantages that some sectors such as tool and mold making, the aerospace, automotive and railway industries are already taking advantage of. The manufacturing process is also becoming increasingly popular in the medical and dental sectors.

The fact that additive manufacturing is gaining in importance is also shown by Formnext's move to exhibition halls 11 and 12, which the trade fair occupied on both levels. Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt: "In its fifth year, Formnext continues its impressive success story. Additive manufacturing has definitely arrived in the industry. Together with our enormously dynamic industry, we as trade fair organizers will continue to accompany, support and drive this development."

Increasing interest from investors

The increasing interest of investors, who are becoming more and more attracted to the still young world of additive manufacturing, shows that this development will continue. At the trade fair, for example, there was a significant increase in interest from venture capital companies and industrial companies who, for example, would like to become strategic partners of young companies.

However, Formnext is also an important business platform for the industry, with many companies directly concluding concrete business deals

The next Formnext will take place from November 10 to 13, 2020.