At Plast 2026, ideas become real prototypes: 3DPlastLab launches its "call for ideas"

Not merely a showcase for additive manufacturing, but a place where ideas take shape, are printed, discussed and put to the test in front of the industry. This is the philosophy behind the new "call for ideas" launched by 3DPlastLab, the Plast 2026 format dedicated to innovation in thermoplastic materials and additive technologies, scheduled from 9 to 12 June at Fiera Milano, Rho (Milan). With this initiative, 3DPlastLab further strengthens its identity as an open, interdisciplinary laboratory – consistent with the "Lab" in its name, which is not merely a label but a precise statement of intent: to create a space for concrete dialogue between design, research, advanced manufacturing and the new generation of innovators.

The aim of the call is not simply to gather concepts or visionary ideas, but to select concrete, achievable and technologically sound projects capable of interpreting innovation from three different perspectives: process innovation, design innovation and product innovation. The call is open to designers, researchers, students, start-ups, university spin-offs, makers and young professionals working with thermoplastic materials, additive manufacturing and advanced design. Projects will be assessed not only for their originality, but also for their functional and aesthetic quality, coherence with additive manufacturing processes, innovation in the use of materials and production approaches, sustainability, prototyping feasibility, and potential industrial, social and cultural impact.

From all submissions, a panel comprising the 3DPlastLab organising team, Indexlab, Gimac and eXgineering, together with industrial partners HP and Nuovamacut Bechtle PLM, will select up to ten projects. The chosen concepts will be turned into physical prototypes with the technological support of the partner companies and displayed throughout the event within 3DPlastLab. For the selected creatives, this will be far more than seeing their project brought to life. During Plast 2026, they will have a dedicated space to present their idea, engage with companies, designers and international operators, and explain the technological journey behind the development of their concept. This is one of the most compelling aspects of the call: creating a genuine exchange between those who develop ideas and those who possess the tools, expertise and production capabilities to transform them into concrete applications. A mechanism that makes 3DPlastLab not merely an exhibition space, but an accelerator of connections between research and industry.

At a time when the additive manufacturing sector is undergoing rapid evolution – driven by new materials, automation, artificial intelligence and computational design – the call also aims to serve as a privileged observatory on the emerging languages and sensibilities of the new generation of designers. The experimental dimension remains central, but always grounded in a solid technological and production base. For this reason, industrial feasibility will play a fundamental role among the evaluation criteria: the objective is to maintain the high cultural and technical standard of the initiative, encouraging projects capable of genuinely engaging with the manufacturing world. The call will remain open until 3 June 2026.

All information and the application form are available at: www.indexlab.it/3dplast