Formnext Modifies Awards Program, Now Recognizing Excellence in Six AM Categories

Formnext has developed a new iteration of its previous awards format, the Formnext Awards, in order to raise the profile of the talent and ideas coming from individuals and companies in additive manufacturing (AM) that are developing new technologies, founding companies and opening up new applications.

The awards will be presented across six different categories, including young innovative companies, sustainable business ideas and pioneering technologies. Applications are now open and can be submitted at formnext.com/awards.

Since the very first Formnext in 2015, the Formnext Start-up Challenge has honored and promoted innovative, creative companies. Event organizers say that, as the world’s leading AM trade fair, Formnext has played a key role in ensuring that new technologies find their way onto the market, thus supporting the development of the entire AM industry.

Through its new Formnext Awards, Formnext is taking this commitment even further. International entries in each of the six categories will be evaluated by a panel of prestigious judges. Submissions for the Start-up Award close on August 9, 2024, while the remaining categories are open until Sept. 6, 2024. The panel includes representatives of well-known companies, investors, associations and research institutes.

The Formnext Awards will recognize the following categories:

• Start-up Award supported by AM Ventures: young, inspiring companies with viable business models.
• Rookie Award: young individuals with promising business ideas who have either not yet founded a company or who launched less than a year ago.

The panel for the Start-up and Rookie Awards includes Arno Held (AM Ventures), Alex Kingsbury (nLight), Professor Peter Mayr (TU München), Dr. Sascha Schwarz (TUM Venture Labs) and Michael Petch (3D Printing Industry).

• Sustainability Award supported by Renishaw: AM applications and products evaluated on the basis of their product life cycle.

The panel: Professor Kristian Arntz (FH Aachen), Dr. Mohsen Seifi (ASTM International), Sherri Monroe, (Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association - AMGTA).

• Design Award: exceptional AM design and AM products assessed on the basis of aesthetic and functional considerations.

The judging panel includes Thomas Lück (cirp), Duann Scott (BITS to ATOMS) and Professor Oliver Tessmann (TU Darmstadt DDU Digital Design Unit - Digital Design).

• (R)Evolution Award supported by 3D Printing Industry: products, technologies or services demonstrating exceptional innovation and particular added value for the user.

The panel  includes Dr. Melissa Orme (Boeing), Dr. Mandaná Moshiri (The LEGO Group) and Dr. Maximilian Binder (BMW Group).

• AMbassador Award: outstanding individuals or organizations who have had a unique impact on the industry and users through innovative training and education approaches, projects, r their personal advocacy.

The panel: Irene Skibinski (VDMA Additive Manufacturing Association), Haden Quinlan (MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Ralf Anderhofstadt (Daimler Truck AG | Daimler Buses GmbH).

The finalists will be selected by the panel of judges, and the overall winners will be chosen at Formnext, with the help of the public vote. The winners will be presented at the award ceremony on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

The finalists’ submissions and exhibits will be showcased at Formnext with the event’s on-site and online visitors given the opportunity to vote for one of the finalists in each of the six categories and thus help determine the final result. In addition to the Formnext Award trophy sponsored by Voxeljet and designed by SUTOSUTO, the winners will also receive prize packages, which consist of cash and noncash prizes as well as communication and marketing activities.

“It’s not just start-ups and new companies who benefit from exchanging ideas, showcasing their businesses, and networking with potential customers, partners and investors. Therefore, rather than only supporting our AM newcomers, we now want to reach out to the growing diversity of the AM industry through our Formnext Awards as well and recognize the achievements of an even broader range of disciplines,” says Sascha F. Wenzler, vice president for Formnext at organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “With our new awards, we also want to honor and promote achievements beyond the existing product categories.”

For the submission form and more information, see formnext.com/awards.

Upcoming Formnext Events:

• Formnext — Nov. 19-22, 2024
• Formnext + PM South China, Shenzhen, China — August 28–30, 2024
• 2024 Formnext at IMTS Chicago, USA — Sept. 9-14, 2024
• Formnext Forum Tokyo, Japan — Sept. 26-27, 2024
• Formnext Chicago, USA — April 8–10, 2025