Formnext has reimagined its conference design to meet the increasing demand for more in-depth opportunities to share knowledge and ideas about the Additive Manufacturing sector. From 2023, it will feature three stages dedicated to current and future applications, technologies, and relevant metatrends. With the new Application, Industry, and Technology Stages, the world's leading trade show for the next generation of manufacturing technologies and AM technologies is significantly expanding its program of supporting events and taking the trade show experience to a new level. Those interested in contributing can now apply to Formnext.
The different stages, which are freely accessible to all trade show visitors and stakeholders, provide an excellent insight and overview of the AM industry’s most important issues. These include exciting applications from a range of industries such as medical technology, aerospace, and construction. In addition, exhibitors at Formnext will showcase the latest technologies. There will also be in-depth discussion and exploration of important overarching issues such as sustainability, skills shortages, and financing by leading experts and executives in presentations and panel discussions.
A cross-industry and cross-technology approach
For Formnext, the new-style conferencing program is the next logical step in the evolution of the trade fair and will further promote the important exchange between technology suppliers and users. “This will allow us to better meet the industry demand we experienced last year, while creating even more space for discussion and transfer of knowledge and experience,” explains Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at event organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. Across the different stages, the Formnext conference program will also present the entire process chain in all of the major industries and provide a complete horizontal and vertical representation of AM manufacturing.
A focus on applications
On the Application Stage, exciting applications from various industries will be grouped into different areas, each with four 20-minute presentations. These will cover, amongst others, mechanical and plant engineering, the automotive industry, aerospace, medical technology, electrical engineering, tool and mold making, and automation. This will shed light on the entire process chain for each industry, from materials, pre-processing, and additive production to post-processing and quality assurance.
Interdisciplinary exchange
The Industry Stage will focus on promoting interdisciplinary exchange between industry experts and sector representatives. Current, seminal
issues, such as sustainability and digitization, will be presented in a keynote address, explored in greater depth in Expert Insights, and further debated during a panel discussion. The agenda also covers key AM topics such as intellectual property, DfAM (Design for AM), business
opportunities, startups, and funding, as well as current issues of crosssector importance, such as cyber security, skills shortages, and supply chain resilience. In addition, the Industry Stage will tackle questions around new emerging technologies such as bioprinting, as well as the 3D Printing of food and pharmaceuticals, and will have a role in bringing global business issues and Additive Manufacturing together.
An in-depth approach to the process chain and the AM offer
The dynamic development of generative technologies is also constantly leading to novel solutions from manufacturers and throughout the process chain. These will be showcased by Formnext exhibitors on the Technology Stage. On each day of the show, there will be a morning and afternoon session featuring innovations from the fields of materials, preprocessing, AM production, and post-processing.
