“Formnext Connect offers an important platform for the AM community to efficiently showcase new products, exchange ideas, and discuss projects and business before the end of the year, even in times like these,” says Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
Exhibitors include top global players from the world of additive and equipment manufacturing, such as 3D Systems, Additive Industries, Arburg, Carbon, EOS, Formlabs, GE Additive, HP, Markforged, Materialise, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Renishaw, Siemens, SLM Solutions, Stratasys and Trumpf. Some will be premiering their groundbreaking new products at Formnext Connect. Virtual exhibitors will also include many major companies from the entire process chain: Autodesk, BASF, Covestro, Dyemansion, Evonik, H.C. Starck, Heraeus, Höganäs, Oerlikon, Postprocess, as well as research institutes such as Fraunhofer Institute IPT, ILT, and IAPT and other innovative companies in the fields of design, materials, hardware, software, post-processing, and quality assurance. Formnext Connect 2020 also provides an opportunity for the global start-up community to present itself and engage with users or potential investors.
Digital visitors can expect a host of fascinating panel discussions on a wide range of topics from the AM world. For more detailed information, there will also be a number of sessions targeted at specific groups as well as roundtable discussions, which may also be organized and offered by exhibitors. These will provide an opportunity to explain technological developments in more detail, for example.
Connecting potential business partners through AI
AI-assisted matchmaking software will be used to offer suggested business contacts on the basis of the information and preferences supplied by exhibitors and visitors. “Our focus of connecting participants, who have questions, with expert exhibitors was a deliberate choice. This allows a direct exchange and brings the greatest possible added value for the participants,” explains Wenzler.
Professional exchange on additive manufacturing remains essential
Even as a virtual event, Formnext Connect is still of great importance to exhibitors from the AM world. “Formnext is the leading trade fair for the AM community and thus provides a vital opportunity for us to engage with new and existing customers,” says Florian Bautz, CEO German RepRap GmbH. “We consider it an absolute must to participate in Formnext Connect as an effective, virtual platform for presenting our solutions and maintaining a dialog with the community.”
Dr. Karsten Heuser, VP Additive Manufacturing at Siemens Digital Industries, also considers Formnext Connect the most important AM platform for expanding the company’s own network and showcasing innovations. According to Heuser, “There is a lot of work ahead of the Additive Manufacturing community as demand increases for robust, productive and industrial additive manufacturing production in the “New Normal” manufacturing world”. Under the slogan “Partnering for the next step to industrialize additive manufacturing @ Formnext Connect”, Siemens is working intensively on various formats to collaborate with partners and customers. Whether it’s an expert-to-expert exchange on the Formnext Connect platform or by preparing for live broadcasts to showcase the latest pioneering achievements for the AM Factory of the future. “We are all keeping our schedules free for the 3 days in November and look forward to seeing everyone again – even if only virtually,” Heuser continues.
Formnext Connect will run from 10 to 12 November 2020. Find out more at: www.formnext.com/connect
Background information on Formnext
Formnext is the leading trade fair for Additive Manufacturing and the next generation of intelligent manufacturing solutions. It focuses on the efficient realization of parts and products, from their design to serial production. Formnext shows the future of innovative manufacturing. Formnext is organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. (formnext.com)
About Mesago Messe Frankfurt
Mesago, founded in 1982 and located in Stuttgart, specializes in exhibitions and conferences on various topics of technology. The company belongs to the Messe Frankfurt Group. Mesago operates internationally and is not tied to a specific venue. With 160 members of staff Mesago organizes events for the benefit of more than 3,300 exhibitors and over 110,000 trade visitors, conference delegates and speakers from all over the world. Numerous trade associations, publishing houses, scientific institutes and universities work with Mesago closely as advisers, co-organizers and partners. (mesago.com)
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With more than 2,600 employees* at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €733 million*. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*preliminary figures 2019
Background information on TCT (Content Partner)
Established in 1992, TCT Group’s mission is to accelerate design-to-manufacturing innovation. Through global trade shows, conferences, magazines, websites and digital products TCT delivers business-critical insights on the technologies that help manufacturers make better products, more quickly and cost-effectively. Through the TCT Awards TCT celebrates the most innovative products and applications across the design-to-manufacturing process chain. The TCT Group is owned by Rapid News Publications Ltd, part of Rapid News Group. (thetctgroup.com)
Background information on the Working Group Additive Manufacturing (Honorary Sponsor)
Within the Working Group Additive Manufacturing, about 150 companies and research institutes collaborate under the direction of the German industry federation VDMA. Here, plant engineers; component and material suppliers; industrial companies that work with metals and plastics; service providers in software, manufacturing, and processing; and numerous researchers all work toward the same goal: the industrialization of additive manufacturing techniques. (am.vdma.org)