Formnext 2025 is held in Frankfurt am Main on November 18-21
Formnext, a trade fair for Additive Manufacturing and the next generation of production, is commemorating its 10th birthday by expanding its event program
Along with the formats attendees have come to expect, three stages, showcases, seminars and events, the Formnect Awards, and a featured partner country, Spain, the new additions include trade fair tours, live AM shows, and interactive features.
Christoph Stüker, vice president of Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt, said, "By expanding our event program, we're addressing current developments in the world of Additive Manufacturing. The range of industrial applications grows every year, and more and more people are gaining access to this innovative technology. At the same time, the AM industry is demanding ever more economical, but also more specialised solutions."
Three stages
Each year, experts come together to discuss current and future technologies, applications, and trends in the AM and wider production sector.
On the Application Stage, a range of innovative additive applications will be discussed, such as individual orthoses, jewellery, watches, rocket engines, robot components, pipelines, and spare parts for wind turbines, with a focus on economic efficiency.
The Industry Stage is dedicated to the topics affecting the AM industry, including sustainability, the industrialisation of AM, and "Design for AM". The Technology Stage is for exhibitors to present their latest innovations.
Conference topics
The Industry Stage will also feature a keynote speech, followed by a panel discussion examining AM developments over the past decade and looking ahead.
Another panel on mergers and acquisitions will discuss current consolidation movements in the AM world, as well as regional, national, and international initiatives that will be presented.
A particular strength of AM across all relevant industries, decentralised production, will play a prominent role in this year's stage program. Among several advantages, this trend has particular potential for rethinking supply chains. A significant component of this process is the growing significance of relatively inexpensive 3D printers.
The 2025 Formnext stage program will also be dedicated to the opportunities and challenges "democratising AM" presents, particularly from the perspective of medium to small-sized companies.
Knowledge for beginners and experts
The Discover3DPrinting seminars, held in cooperation with the Aachen Centre for Additive Manufacturing (ACAM), will take place on the Application Stage. Newcomers to AM will be able to gain an overview of the field and key insights, complemented by DeepDives into large-format plastic 3D Printing, the rise of DED technology, data-driven design, and scaling 3D Printing on the Technology Stage.
New formats
The new additions for Formnext 2025 include guided tours focused on post-processing. The tours, led by AM and industry experts, will take around an hour and a half and will take place in German on Wednesday, 19 November, and in English on Thursday, 20 November, from 2 pm. The meeting point will be located in the foyer in front of Hall 12.0. Advanced registration is not required, but participation is based on a "first-come, first-served" basis.
Two more components of the supporting program include "Show and Telling Live", a livestream set to be provided by 3D Printing Nerd, a YouTuber and content creator, on Tuesday afternoon in Hall 11.0, and the Ultimate Additive Quiz Show on Wednesday evening on the Technology Stage.
Showcases
The special showcases at Formnext 2025 will delve deeper into AM applications in specific industries. At Additive4Industry, the VDMA's AM working group will present AM applications from the mechanical engineering sector. The BE-AM Symposium and corresponding showcase will cover developments in 3D Printing in the construction industry. The AM Art Space, organised in cooperation with Sutosuto, will focus on combining Additive Manufacturing and art. The AM Innovation and Standards Summit at Formnext, taking place the day before the trade fair on November 17, in cooperation with ASTM International, will focus on international norms and standards. The keynotes will explore industry-specific approaches, success stories, and challenges in the qualification and certification of AM.
In the Start-up Area and the Young Innovators joint booth of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, young, innovative companies will present themselves and make contacts. These firms will also be introducing themselves at a Pitchnext event on the Industry Stage on November 18.
The Career Area in Hall 11.0 will have information on current job opportunities in AM, as well as openings posted to the Job Wall. Attendees can receive career advice and have professional headshots taken on November 20.
Formnext Awards
The Formnext Awards will honour innovative young companies, groundbreaking technologies, and sustainable business ideas in six different categories. The finalists' ideas will be on the Formnext website and at Formnext itself. Attendees are invited to participate in online voting to decide the winners. The results will be announced during an award ceremony on the Industry Stage on November 20.
Formnext 2025 is held in Frankfurt from November 18-21
