Formnext Forum Austin Successfully Kicks Off North American Event Series

Formnext Forum Austin, the first Formnext event held in the United States, offered two full days of conference programming dedicated to industrial additive manufacturing (AM), drawing more than 1,000 attendees. Jointly organized by AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology and Gardner Business Media, the publisher of Additive Manufacturing Media, the event was licensed by Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH as an extension of Formnext, the leading international trade show for industrial 3D printing.

The inaugural and future Formnext Forum events take the place of Additive Manufacturing Media’s established Additive Manufacturing Conference, which last took place in September 2022. The Formnext Forums are designed to be bigger and more expansive events.

The three-day Formnext Forum Austin saw leaders from across the globe exchange AM innovations through hands-on factory tours, expert-led technical sessions and more than 80 technology displays featuring leading product and process equipment suppliers.

Along with sessions on additive end markets, production applications, AM technology and design for additive manufacturing (DFAM), the event also included many networking opportunities and The Cool Parts Showcase area displaying contest finalist parts. The event focused on AM for industrial production with the conference program content considering the entire workflow of AM for production. It encompassed not just 3D printing technology but also design and postprocessing as well as the organization changes necessary to thrive with additive.

During the event, attendees received many glimpses into the potential of industrial 3D printing. Visitors could see real-life examples of advanced AM applications throughout the expo and at AMT’s Emerging Technology Center, featuring innovations from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Development Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (MDF at ORNL), and Additive Manufacturing Media’s The Cool Parts Showcase.

According to organizers, a core value of Formnext is building community and that connection was present throughout a variety of networking experiences which included live music, lively interactions and some only-in-Austin hospitality.

“What sets Formnext apart from other additive manufacturing events is the focus on the individual. A focus defined as the formnext Additive Manufacturing ‘fAMily,’” says Rick Kline Jr., Gardner Business Media president. “It is the largest industrial 3D printing event in the world, but each visitor — exhibitor, attendee, sponsor, speaker — is made to feel part of the event and part of the industrial additive manufacturing community. We are honored to have expanded the family with the successful launch of Formnext Forum Austin and could not be more excited about the future of Formnext in North America.”

Following Formnext Forum Austin’s successful debut, the Formnext North American event series continues at IMTS 2024 in the Additive Manufacturing Sector accelerated by Formnext set for Sept. 9-14, 2024, in Chicago. After that, the launch of Formnext Chicago takes place April-10, 2025, at McCormick Place, Chicago.

“Worldwide, the Formnext brand is known to be the showcase for highly professional Additive Manufacturing technologies alongside the whole process chain. It’s the hub for the fAMily where the experts of the AM community meet, exchange and drive this fascinating technology further,” says Sascha F. Wenzler, vice president, Mesago Messe Frankfurt. “With the mother event in Frankfurt, Germany, Formnext + PM South China in Shenzhen, Formnext Forum in Tokyo and now Formnext Forum Austin and Formnext Chicago coming in 2025, we cover the most relevant AM markets globally. The forum in Austin was an excellent launch for starting the Formnext story in the U.S. on our road map to Chicago.”

For more information on the Additive Manufacturing Sector accelerated by Formnext at IMTS 2024, visit the IMTS website. For more information on Formnext Chicago 2025, visit FormnextChicago.com.

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• For more highlights from Formnext Forum Austin, listen to this episode of AM Radio. Sessions and conversations at the first U.S. Formnext event highlighted the complete additive manufacturing ecosystem, sustainability, the importance of customer education, AM user journeys and much more.