02.12.2024 • News • Additive manufacturing • Events • trade show

Formnext 2024 showcases new approaches to more sustainable, effective, and flexible production

With numerous groundbreaking world premieres and innovations, the exhibition provided crucial momentum for the future evolution of industrial production.

Formnext 2024 took place from 19 – 22 November 2024. It once again made Frankfurt the global center of Additive Manufacturing and the latest production technologies. The expansion of the range of applications for industrial 3D Printing and the emergence of faster, more cost-effective AM production also played a major role. This was evident not only in the presentations by the exhibitors and this year’s partner country Australia, but also in the extensive supporting program of lectures and events.

Positive atmosphere leads to a spirit of optimism (Source: Mesago / M. Kutt)

Impression from the first day at Formnext (Source: Mesago / M. Jaquemin)

Impression from the first day at Formnext (Source: Mesago / M. Kutt)

Despite a challenging economic environment and global uncertainties, Formnext 2024 has further confirmed its leading position. With 864 exhibitors (of whom 61 % were international), Formnext set new standards once again. The event showed clearly how Additive Manufacturing is increasingly gaining in importance in a wide range of industries. The 34.404 experts and executives (of whom 48 % were international) that Formnext welcomed as visitors this year are proof of this.

The broad applicability of Additive Manufacturing across numerous industries was strikingly demonstrated by the multifaceted supporting program and the various showcases. Visitors were able to discover pioneering solutions to help them optimize and future-proof their production processes.

With a multitude of world premieres and exciting innovations along the entire process chain, Formnext exhibitors helped pave the way for an even wider range of applications for Additive Manufacturing in the future. For manufacturers of AM systems, productivity was at the top of their innovation agenda, which was reflected in new solutions in the field of automation or specialized systems for particular applications. At the same time, the sustainability megatrend continued to play a prominent role – from the exhibition stands, which were printed from sustainable materials, to facilities for material recycling.

Formnext 2024 has significantly expanded its already extensive supporting program once again. Numerous showcases focused on user industries ranging from the dental and medical sectors to the packaging and construction industries and mechanical engineering. Key trends, technologies, and applications were discussed in the extended multistage program with three presentation stages that were freely accessible to visitors.

The revamped awards format, which allows visitors to vote and awards prizes in six different categories, became a trendsetting feature of Formnext 2024. The winners received their awards at a ceremony held on 21 November: Axolotl Biosciences (Start-up Award), Oryx Medicals (Rookie Award), Fraunhofer IGCV (R(E)volution Award), Siemens / 3D-PROCESS research consortium (Design Award), Ceratizit (Sustainability Award) and AM of Bones University of Stuttgart (AMbassador Award).

Formnext 2024 once again attracted a high proportion of international visitors (48 %). Next year’s installation is scheduled to take place from 18 – 21 November 2025 in Frankfurt.