Formnext 2024 concluded after its week-long show in Frankfurt
Formnext came to a close on the 22nd, wrapping up the annual manufacturing show in Frankfurt. Several premiers and unveilings that will shape the immediate future of additive manufacturing (AM) were introduced to the public and wider industry. The potential applications of AM were also expanded at the show.
Lectures and events took place to give attendees more knowledge about wider industry issues and topics, accompanying the 864 exhibitors present to showcase their companies and products. Formnext was not limited to Germany exhibitors either, as 61% came from abroad and the show itself was partnered by Australia. Adding to this, 48% of expert speakers came from abroad.
Additive manufacturing has a broad range of applications, including medical, dental, packaging, automotive, mechanical engineering, architecture, and aerospace.
Formnext played host to a range of premieres and innovation announcements across the entire process chain, creating openings for additive manufacturing uptake in new markets and industries going forward. Sustainability and innovation remained top of the agenda for this year's show.
Here is what the attendees had to say.
Sascha Wenzler and Christoph Stüker spoke on the topic of Formnext’s success.
Sascha Wenzler, vice president of Formnext at event organiser Mesago Messe, said: “With an unparalleled variety of innovations and leading minds from the AM industry, it shows how modern production technologies can be used to drive companies and ultimately the economy forward.”
Christoph Stüker, vice president of Formnext, said: “In close collaboration with the dynamic AM community, Formnext brings the industry together, constantly defines new areas of application, and brings technologies to industrial maturity. In this way, the exhibition provides crucial momentum and demonstrates how innovative solutions can be developed even in challenging times.”
Exhibitors also commented on the volume of innovations on display.
Artur Gutwin, construction at Hailo Wind Systems & Co. KG, said: “My visit to Formnext has shown me that additive manufacturing offers ever greater possibilities. The quality of components and surfaces, the speed of printing and the variety of materials are constantly increasing. And let’s not forget to mention: The diversity of exhibitors is also growing continually.”
Anand Kumar Venkataswamy, managing director of Additive Industries Pvt Ltd, said: “This is the first time I experienced Formnext. It was fantastic to see all the development and advancement in 3D Printing technologies and support services. It feels like the global market is booming.”
Axel Marckwardt, application engineer at Binder Dental, said: “We’ve been attending Formnext for many years and are still able to take away many new impressions and insights. We’ve once again improved our expertise and made new contacts. This fair is superbly organized and fun. Even after these many years, it's still always worth a visit.”
Meanwhile, Carl Michael Binder, managing director at Binder Dental, added: “This Formnext has been incredibly impressive, providing us with exciting insights into other industries and beyond”.
Visitors were impressed with the strong international presence on display.
Norbert Gall, head of marketing at Lithoz, said: “Here we met exactly the people we had hoped to meet! We enjoyed numerous high-level discussions with new international users from the industry, both by appointment and spontaneously. This is further proof that Formnext is the 3D Printing industry's most important touchpoint for users worldwide.”
Shaun Wootton, head of communications at Colibrium Additive, said: “As always, Formnext is the platform for showcasing innovation, collaboration and the power of the additive ecosystem. We’re proud to have the show as the foundation of our marketing and communication strategy every year – it is the destination to do business, meet our peers and make new connections.”
Sandy Sirotic, territory sales manager at Atomization and Equipment, said: “We were pleasantly surprised by the number of visitors and the noticeably full aisles from the very first day. And also by the high quality of the often very cooperative meetings that will support our business. We have also been able to strengthen our existing customer relationships – something that is all the more important in difficult economic times.”
Rounding off the event, Haarburger spoke about the importance of connectivity throughout the industry and what the future may hold.
Petra Haarburger, president of Mesago Messe Frankfurt, said: “Especially in turbulent times, it is essential that people in the industry talk to one another. That’s why we are steadily building the Formnext brand into an AM and technology Hub and creating opportunities to obtain information, take part in events, and network through a wide range of formats in order to boost the entire industry.”
