Having taken off to become the world’s leading exhibition for additive manufacturing and modern industrial production in recent years, Formnext continues this development at a record pace in 2019. In March, 518 exhibitors have already registered for Formnext this year. This is another significant increase compared to the same time the year before. As such, the amount of space that Formnext 2019 will cover has already exceeded the final size of Formnext 2018.
In addition to enlarging booths of existing exhibitors, Formnext has managed to attract 147 new exhibitors. An impressively high proportion of the exhibitors debuting at Formnext in 2019 are international (64 percent), with companies from China, the United Kingdom, the USA, and the Netherlands being the most strongly represented.
Growth along the entire process chain
Formnext has recorded strong growth along the entire process chain. The new exhibitors include international groups such as 3M Advanced Materials, Bosch Rexroth, Covestro, Evonik, Mitsubishi, and thyssenkrupp Materials. They will showcase their additive manufacturing solutions at Formnext. In addition, many young and innovative companies from around the world are represented, as well as long-established medium-sized companies such as Peter Lehmann and August Rüggeberg, and industrial clusters such as Bayern Innovativ and Leichtbau BW.
The post-processing area has developed considerably, which is key to the continued industrial development of additive manufacturing. “Here, many companies from traditional industrial sectors have seized market opportunities and developed very exciting products and technologies,” says Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President for Formnext, Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “In addition to growth in other sectors, Formnext can also further expand the process chain and explore the different areas in more depth.” Formnext reflects the development that sees additive manufacturing in industry often integrated into a multi-stage manufacturing process, in which several manufacturing processes are linked and combined. “We demonstrate various manufacturing processes, at the heart of which is additive manufacturing,” comments Wenzler.
World’s 3D-printing elite in Formnext Frankfurt
Due to the huge growth, Formnext 2019 will take place in Halls 11 and 12 for the first time, the most modern part of the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. The high-quality and elegant architecture of the two halls, combined with the modern and spacious entrance building Portalhaus, provide a very special setting for Formnext. In both halls, Formnext will occupy the lower and upper levels. “When deciding where to place exhibitors, we continue our approach of mixing things up, which has proven successful in recent years and has resonated well with exhibitors,” states Heike Pfab, Formnext Team Leader for Sales at Mesago Messe Frankfurt.
The unprecedented development of the exhibition underscores its prominent position as a leading international exhibition for additive manufacturing and modern industrial manufacturing processes. From November 19 to 22, all the world elite in industrial 3D printing will once again be showcasing in Frankfurt.
Sector growing by 20 percent annually
Formnext’s dynamic growth is within an industry that has been rising in double digits for years and has now reached a volume of over 10 billion euros. Various market researchers and industry experts are forecasting continued high growth of around 20 percent annually over the next few years.
In order to attract even more target visitor groups, the exhibition is expanding its Discover3Dprinting seminar series. This is aimed at medium-sized companies wishing to enter additive manufacturing; and is organized in cooperation with ACAM Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing; for example at the international exhibitions IFFA, PCIM, SPS, and of course Formnext. The event is therefore bringing innovations from additive manufacturing to other user industries that can benefit from them.
Partner country USA
In 2019, the USA will become the first partner country to be represented at the exhibition. During the event, there will be special highlights for American guests. A diverse program awaits Formnext’s visitors on the partner country stage of the U.S. pavilion; including a discussion panel of renowned speakers. Following a successful launch in 2018, the “AM Standards Forum” is scheduled again this year; organized in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service.
Established events are being continued and expanded; such as the Start-up Challenge, the ideas competition “purmundus challenge”; the AM4U platform with a wealth of career opportunities, and the BE-AM Symposium; which focuses on additive activities in the construction industry. In addition, the high-quality conference program organized by Formnext’s content partner; TCT, will once again address current trends and developments in additive manufacturing in 2019; while bringing together thought leaders and users of additive manufacturing from various industries.