Formnext 2023 Represents Full Breadth of AM Ecosystem

Formnext 2023, held Nov. 7-10 in Frankfurt, Germany, reminded the AM and manufacturing industries that Formnext is the international destination for AM technology — 59% of exhibitors and 50% of attendees were international. With so many new people in the AM industry, AMT brought this event to North American audiences through the IMTS+ miniseries “Adventures with: Travis, Bonnie & Debbie,” featuring interviews with AM industry leaders. Like IMTS, Formnext is a show where conversations and technologies build lasting friendships, form long-term business strategies and find solutions. 

The series kicks off with a warm welcome from the series’ hosts Travis Egan, AMT chief revenue officer; Debbie Holton, principal at Converge Consulting; and me, Bonnie Gurney, AMT vice president – strategic content and partnerships. Key takeaways are in these episodes:

• Sascha Wenzler, vice president of Formnext Mesago Messe Frankfurt, speaks on the numbers — attendance exceeded expectations with a record 859 exhibitors and 32,851 visitors. Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtCommunity
   
• Peter Rogers, CEO of Layered Ltd. in Japan, says that “Formnext is ‘Cheers’ because everyone knows your name. There is nowhere else I’d rather be. The show opens your eyes to the full breadth of the AM ecosystem.” Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtCheers
   
• David Burns, principal and founder of Global Business Advisory Services, observes AM benefits everyone through design freedom, innovation velocity or sustainability. He sees co-dependencies of an advanced, integrated digital manufacturing technology supply chain. Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtIntegrate
   
• Claudia Rupp, director of global marketing and communications at EOS, says service providers are seeing steep growth because OEMs are taking a more calculated approach to investments. She is looking forward to Formnext Chicago in 2025 and “inspiring other companies with the examples they can see.” Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtMarket
   
• Kristin Mulherin, director of additive manufacturing technology at Hubbell and president of Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP), offers advice for newcomers. “It’s important to make sure you learn about all of the options to assign the right application to the right technology. Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtNewcomers
   
• Makino has entered the additive market with its first machine, and Tim Fleischhauer, senior R&D engineer, introduces the new AML 500, which combines LMD and 5-axis technology for high-speed printing, repair and coating. Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtFirst
   
• John Laureto, AM Americas business manager at Renishaw, discusses how AM fits into a production supply chain and provides an overview of the RenAM 500Q Ultra system, which can double the speed of a standard quad-laser DMLS solution. Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtSupplyChain
   
• Jay Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Haddy, discusses the importance of bringing the newer generations and advanced manufacturing together. “We need to take a mature show like Formnext and make sure it’s available to a U.S. audience,” such as through the Additive Manufacturing Sector, accelerated by Formnext, at IMTS 2024, Sept. 9-14, 2024, and Formnext Chicago, April 8-10, in 2025. For those who want to travel, Formnext 2024 runs Nov. 19-22, 2024, in Frankfurt. Watch at IMTS.com/AdvfnxtNextGen

  Adventures With

  Tune in to all the “Adventures With:” episodes from Formnext, SPS and EMO on IMTS+ at IMTS.com/AdventuresWith to catch the latest from the additive manufacturing, automation and industrial manufacturing communities around the world.