From Rookie to Ambassador: New Formnext Awards recognize excellence in six different AM categories

Since the very first Formnext in 2015, the Formnext Start-up Challenge has honored and promoted innovative, creative companies. The world’s leading AM trade fair 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 9 August 2024; the remaining categories are open until 6 September 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: Arno Held (AM Ventures), Alex Kingsbury (nLight), Professor Peter Mayr (TU München) and Dr. Sascha Schwarz (TUM Venture Labs), 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 panel: Thomas Lück (cirp), Duann Scott (BITS to ATOMS), 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: Dr. Melissa Orme (Boeing), Dr. Mandaná Moshiri (The LEGO Group), 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, or 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 21 November 2024.

The finalists’ submissions and exhibits will be showcased at Formnext. Formnext’s on-site and online visitors will have 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 unique Formnext Award trophy sponsored by Voxeljet and designed by SUTOSUTO, the winners will also receive attractive prize packages. These consist of cash and noncash prizes as well as extensive 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,” explains 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.”

Applications can be submitted now. For the submission form and more information, see formnext.com/awards.