The Formnext 2018 exhibition set new records at several levels and contributed to the dynamics of the entire industry with numerous world premieres. The leading international exhibition for additive manufacturing and cutting-edge industrial production set an impressive new record in terms of visitor numbers. 26,919 specialists and managers attended Formnext on 13 – 16 November 2018 in Frankfurt am Main, surpassing the already strong figures for the previous year – this time by 25percent.
For four days, Formnext 2018 served as a guiding light for modern production technology and additive manufacturing around the world. The Formnext 2018 exhibition set another record in terms of exhibitor numbers, with a total of 632 exhibitors from 32 countries. Visitors were able to discover solutions and inspirational ideas along the entire process chain that they could use to make their own production more efficient. Besides a wide range of forward-looking innovations, Formnext 2018 also showed how additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0 are increasingly merging to generate intelligent, automated production processes.
Companies such as 3D Systems, Arburg, BigRep, EOS, HP, Multec, OR Laser, Stratasys, Trumpf, and Voxeljet presented numerous world premieres along the complete process chain.
Formnext shows cutting-edge manufacturing industries
“Formnext has undergone exceptional development,” states Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President for Formnext at event organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt. “With its unparalleled level of innovation, the event provided a vibrant trade fair experience for everyone involved. In the context of an extremely dynamic sector, Formnext provides a roadmap for the evolution of cutting-edge manufacturing industries.”
Visitors were also impressed by the high quality of the innovations and exhibits.
“The show continues to be the benchmark for AM events. With regards to networks and technology it is globally leading”, commented Simon Marriott, Company Director at imcrc in Australia.
Innovation and business relevance
As well as being packed with innovations, Formnext is also an important business platform. The countless business deals and machine sales concluded at the exhibition drive the evolution of the entire industry. The event also provides up-and-coming companies with an opportunity to meet important investment and business partners. And with its extensive program of supporting events, Formnext is also the place to be for newcomers.
Individual companies from all sectors of the manufacturing industry learn how to harness the potential offered by additive manufacturing. At the transatlantic “AM Standards Forum” organized for the first time in conjunction with the U.S. Commercial Service, experts from Europe and the United States discussed international developments in production standards.
During the international “TCT conference @ Formnext”, around 850 experts from the world of AM exchanged their current experiences and knowledge.
An impressive international presence
Drawing 49percentof its audience from outside Germany, Formnext 2018 solidified its status as the leading international trade fair for additive manufacturing and modern industrial production. The variety on offer at Formnext attracted specialists and managers from numerous world-renowned companies. These included representatives from leading OEMs and suppliers in the sectors of aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, medicine technology, dental industry, mechanical engineering and the building and architectural sector.
Exhibitors praised the high level of visitor traffic and the remarkable quality of the discussions:
As Ilaria Guiccardini, Marketing Director Roboze (IT) noted: “Formnext and the industry have developed. This year, we had both more and better qualified visitors. People know already our products and ask for concrete solutions. At Formnext, we touch the future of industrial manufacturing.”
“Every year, Formnext is getting better than the year before. It is the place to be,” enthused Rick Fulop, CEO and Co-Founder of Desktop Metal (USA).
Looking ahead to 2019: New halls and USA as partner country
Next year’s Formnext on 19 – 22 November 2019 will be held in Halls 11 and 12 at the Frankfurt exhibition grounds for the first time. In another first, a guest country – the United States – will be showcased at Formnext 2019. The USA has a long tradition in the area of additive manufacturing and is one of the most important exhibitor nations. The extremely active start-up scene there has produced a series of worldwide young companies that have enjoyed international success in recent years. “The USA is one of the world’s leading suppliers and users of additive manufacturing technology – a fact that we took into consideration when choosing our guest country,” states Sascha F. Wenzler. An extensive promotional program and various country specials, among other things, are in the pipeline.
Formnext 2018 in figures:
Exhibition space: 37,231 square meters (gross)
Exhibitors: 632
Visitors: 26,919
Conference participants: 849 participants (booked day passes)
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. The conference set to take place alongside the exhibition will also highlight the latest trends and issues in additive manufacturing, along with clever ways in which it can be integrated into process chains in industrial production. The conference’s content is designed by Rapidnews/tct. Formnext is organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. (Formnext.com)
Background information on 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 140 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 2,400 employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €669 million. Thanks to its far-reaching ties with the relevant sectors and to its international sales network, the Group looks after the business interests of its customers effectively. A 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. With its headquarters 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:
https://www.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html https://festhalle.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
Background information on TCT (Content Partner)
Since 1992 the TCT Group’s mission has been to accelerate the adoption of 3D technologies for design, development and manufacture across all industry sectors. Through events, publications, websites and digital products TCT delivers business-critical insights on 3D printing, additive manufacturing, CAD/CAE, metrology and inspection, as well as traditional manufacturing processes such as molding, casting and CNC machining. The TCT Group is owned by Rapid News Publications Ltd (rapidnews.com), part of Rapid News Communications Group. (thetctgroup.com)
Background information on the Working Group Additive Manufacturing (Honorary Sponsor)
Within the Working Group Additive Manufacturing, more than 120 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)
Source: Mesago Messe Frankfurt
