Frankfurt hosts the additive manufacturing from all over the world

With an impressive 50 percent increase in the number of exhibitors compared to last year, formnext powered by tct 2017 continues its strong growth trend. The formnext exhibition, which is scheduled to take place for the third time on November 14-17, 2017 in Frankfurt am Main, also sets new standards thanks to its strong international presence, exceptional variety of global market leaders, and sheer density of innovations from areas along the entire process chain. A multifaceted and innovative program of supporting events provides extra added value.

With 393 registered exhibitors two months before the trade fair opens its doors, formnext 2017 has already surpassed the figures of last year’s successful event by around 50 percent. The exhibition space is also set to expand by more than 50 percent - from 15,500 to around 27,000 square meters. “With this extremely impressive growth, formnext underscores its status as the leading international conference and exhibition for additive manufacturing and the next generation of intelligent production solutions,” states Sascha F. Wenzler, vice president for formnext at event organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt. “In a highly dynamic market, formnext has its finger right on the industry’s pulse and provides the solutions required to meet current and future challenges”.

An impressive international presence

Under the theme “international exhibition and conference on the next generation of manufacturing technologies,” formnext boasts an impressive international presence of around 49.6 percent, with participating companies from 33 countries. The top countries in terms of exhibitors are China (accounting for 14.7% of international exhibitors); the USA (10.2%); France and Great Britain (each with 9.6%); Spain (7.1%); and the Netherlands, Austria, and Russia (each with 6.1%).

Featuring the global elite of additive manufacturing

In 2017, formnext will once again present the global elite in additive manufacturing, including 3D Systems, Additive Industries, Arburg, BigRep, Concept Laser, Dassault, Envisiontec, EOS, Formlabs, FIT, HP, Keyence, Materialise, O.R. Laser, Prodways, Renishaw, Ricoh, Sisma, SLM Solutions, Stratasys, Trumpf, Voxeljet, XJet, and, for the first time this year, Desktop Metal, and the GE “AM family” will be together under the same roof for the first time. An array of highly innovative young AM companies from all across the world will be showing off their latest developments, as well. Visitors to formnext will be treated to numerous world and European premieres as well as technology-driven product developments.

An even stronger process chain

“We are proud of the fact that we have been able to expand into more specialized fields along the process chain,” says Sascha Wenzler. formnext will also be showcasing some of the world’s most sophisticated technology in various other industry sectors. Featuring global innovation leaders like Basf, Böhler Edelstahl, Heraeus, Höganäs, Linde, LPW, Sandvik, and Airbus subsidiary APWorks, the lineup in materials will be even stronger than it was last year.

From the mechanical engineering industry, first-rate representatives from the likes of DMG-Mori, Hage, Hermle, Matsuura und Sodick will be in attendance and will present, among other things, the latest developments in hybrid machines. Finally, formnext will be expanding further in measurement technology and postprocessing (Faro, Joke, Nikon, Wenzel, Werth Messtechnik, and more), as well as in software - with Additive Works, Altair, Dassault Systèmes, IKOffice, MachineWorks, Sigma Labs, and others.

A cutting-edge program of supporting events

As of 2017, formnext’s new conceptual sponsor, the VDMA’s Working Group Additive Manufacturing (AG AM), will also be supporting the continued successful development of the exhibition. The AG AM will also be in attendance with its own booth, featuring a range of exhibits from its members.

In the Start-up Challenge, promising young companies will also be recognized and have their chance to exhibit at formnext in an area bearing the same name. With the theme “Fusion - Intelligent Combinations in 3D Printing,” the purmundus challenge at formnext 2017 will recognize creative companies who enrich our lives with their ideas for products and developments in 3D printing.

Double the number of presentations at the formnext conference

Following the huge success of previous years, the formnext powered by tct conference will present the future of additive manufacturing for the first time on two stages in parallel, on all four days of the event. The conference will therefore feature twice as many presentations as before, while showing the applications, developments, and findings of leading international industrial companies and research institutions such as Airbus, Deutsche Bahn, Honeywell, Premium Aerotec, and Volkswagen. The formnext 2017 conference is an international think tank that provides exceptional added value to participants.