Formnext gives outstanding ideas for modern production the stage they deserve with the new Formnext Awards!
What are the Formnext Awards?
The AM world shines thanks to talented, motivated people who continue to advance the technology and thus drive the entire industry. It’s therefore only fitting that their ideas should receive the time in the spotlight they deserve – for the good of the industry and the forward-thinking development of modern production as a whole.
The AM sector continues to evolve in increasingly complex ways and expand into new areas of expertise. That means it’s time for Formnext to step up its own efforts to recognize excellence in 6 very relevant key topics.
"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, 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.“
Finalists & voting
This year, for the first time, the Formnext Awards will honor young innovative companies, sustainable business ideas and groundbreaking technologies in six different categories. And you can help to select the winners!
+++Voting is possible for all categories until Thursday, 21 November, 2024 at 12:00 p.m., with the audience vote counting as an additional jury vote +++
Formnext visitors can experience all the finalists and their presentations at the Formnext Awards showcase (Hall 11.0, Stand F61). The announcement of the winners and the award ceremony will take place on Thursday, 21 November, from 4:20 p.m. on the Industry Stage (Hall 11.0, D72). Save the date now.
In addition to the unique Formnext Award trophy designed by SUTOSUTO and sponsored by Voxeljet, the winners will also receive attractive prize packages sponsored by 3D Printing Industry, AM Ventures, Cirp, Renishaw and Trumpf.
Start-up Award
supported by AM Ventures
The Start-up Award honors young, inspiring companies with viable business models.
The finalists
AM Craft
AM Craft Group offers small series of 3D-printed interior components for aircraft.
3D-printed interior components for aircraft
AM Craft is an EASA authorized Part 21G aviation supplier that leverages expertise in polymer Additive Manufacturing, design, airworthiness certification, and a distributed production network to ensure customers have the right part, at the right time, in the right location. We design printable parts to solve supply chain problems such as frequent breakage or long lead time.
Once that problem has been solved for one airline, the design lives on in our digital warehouse ready to be produced again for any customer facing a similar challenge.
AM Craft’s distributed production network combines in-house manufacturing and independent local production partners under a unified certification umbrella to bring flight part production to the point of need.
Headquartered in Riga, Latvia, AM Craft operates in major aviation hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia serving a global customer base.
Amsight
With its software, amsight promises to reduce the costs of AM quality management by 70 percent.
Quality management and analytics in industrial 3D Printing
The amsight software redefines quality management and analytics in industrial 3D Printing. The award-winning software reduces the quality management costs by 70 % through automation of quality management tasks as well as its unique AI-based process optimization capabilities.
Axolotl Biosciences
Axolotl Bioscience has developed TissuePrint, a research-grade, xeno-free bio-ink for 3D printing of human tissue models.
Research-grade, xeno-free bio-ink for 3D Printing of human tissue models
TissuePrint is a research-grade, xeno-free bioink designed for printing human tissue models. It has been shown to maintain high levels of cellular viability post-printing (>90%) and can be used with a wide variety of delicate cells such as: pluripotent, endothelial, cardiac, mesenchymal, and spermatogonial cell types.
While other inks on the market are only compatible with one type of bioprinter – ours have been optimized for use on multiple types of bioprinters. TissuePrint has been beta-tested for years to maximize customer ease-of-use, and therefore greatly reduces the time and money costs associated with creating home-made bioink formulations. All of our products are quality tested for sterility and reliability.
micro factory 3DSolutions
micro factory 3DSolutions specializes in the development of resin-based SLA 3D printers.
Development of resin-based SLA 3D print
micro factory 3DSolutions GmbH specializes in developing resin-based SLA 3D printers with full process. Our flagship product, a fully automated MSLA 3D printer, streamlines the entire printing process, including washing and post-curing, ensuring user safety and reducing manual labor. Designed for precision, speed, and flexibility, the printer enables the production of high-quality dental models and audiology applications and many more. With validated materials and established pilot partnerships, micro factory offers a reliable solution for all aiming to enhance efficiency and maintain consistent output.
micro factory is pioneering in Resin-based 3D Printing by launching a desktop machine that automates printing, washing, and curing. Our innovation enhances safety by containing hazardous materials and offers scalability for mass production, all managed via cloud connectivity.
Key Features
- Our unique desktop-sized machine combines all three steps of the MSLA 3D Printing process, offering unparalleled convenience and safety.
- Beyond automation, our proprietary technology fully encloses the printing process, protecting you from harmful materials.
- Our Cloud-based platform enables you to manage print jobs from anywhere, at any time. Coupled with our full automation, you can set your projects and forget them, as our machine handles it all.
- micro factory also isn’t just a one-off wonder. It’s designed for scalability. Build your own print farm and transition effortlessly from prototyping to mass production.
- With closed-loop sensor monitoring, we ensure maximum process reliability.
- With a machine prize of less than 30.000€ micro factory sets standards for affordable production setups.
Supernova Additive
With Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM), Supernova Additive has developed a process that can process highly viscous materials with up to 1,000,000 cP.
Producing short and mid-sized batches without the need for expensive tooling or molds
At Supernova, we are pushing the boundaries of technology and materials to deliver manufacturing excellence to factories worldwide. Our solutions offer a cost-effective approach for producing short and mid-sized batches without the need for expensive tooling or molds, eliminating significant upfront costs. Our offering is based on our proprietary technology, Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM), capable of processing materials up to 1,000,000 cP, breaking through the limitations that have long held 3D Printing back.
After two years, we are excited to announce the successful conclusion of our Technology Adoption Program. We’ve achieved significant milestones, such as collaborating with 20 innovative companies, developing high-quality and cost-effective solutions, and creating a material portfolio with thermoplastic properties. Building on this success, we’re proud to unveil our first VLM Production Platform at Formnext 2024.
Our technology is able to unlock an unparalleled range of material properties for different applications across diverse vertical markets, including Automotive, Aerospace, Footwear and Defense & Space. Our materials portfolio, unmatched by any other AM technology thanks to its ability to process high viscous materials, ranges from rigid composites that combine mechanical and thermal properties to functional elastomers with properties comparable to EPDM or silicones.
Rookie Award
The Rookie Award honors bright minds with promising business ideas who have not yet founded their company or who founded it less than a year ago.
The finalists
Enki Interdentalis
Enki Interdentalis has developed a customized 3D-printed dental splint that uses a water-air mixture to remove food debris and plaque from the interdental interdental spaces and thus improve oral hygiene.
Customized 3D-printed dental splint simplifies and enhances oral hygiene by using a unique water-air mixture
At Enki Interdentalis, we are developing an innovative solution to clean your teeth. Our customized 3D-printed dental splint simplifies and enhances oral hygiene by using a unique water-air mixture to remove food particles and plaque from interdental spaces. This method offers a faster, easier, and more efficient cleaning experience than traditional dental floss or interdental brushes.
The technical design of the Enki system is divided into three main components, each contributing to the overall functionality and efficiency in cleaning the gaps between your teeth (interdental spaces).
The 3D-printed splint is crucial to the cleaning effectiveness. Each splint is a custom design based on a patient’s dental scan. The splint features a carefully crafted channel system that distributes pressure evenly across all interdental spaces. We optimize the design through fluid-mechanical simulations and physical prototypes.
The nozzles – which line the inside of the splint facing the teeth – play a vital role in the safety and efficiency of the cleaning process. The orientation and shape of the nozzles lead to precise spray angles and are tailored to reach interdental spaces effectively without damaging the surrounding gum tissue. The nozzle design also enables easy cleaning, preventing calcification and other forms of contamination.
The water-air compressor works in close coordination with the channel system and nozzles of the Enki splint. The compressor is specifically engineered to generate microdroplets from a water-air mixture, delivering higher momentum than just a water jet stream. These accelerated droplets act like projectiles driven by an airstream, applying targeted pressure to penetrate biofilm, effectively removing it by concentrating force in key areas.
With a combination of these three components, the Enki system will clean all interdental spaces of the user in just three seconds. This will be especially valuable for caregivers and dental professionals working with patients who are unable to floss their teeth due to physical limitations.
Enki Interdentalis at Formnext Awards Showcase: Hall 11.0, F61
Fidentis
The young company FIDENTIS has developed a multi-material Additive Manufacturing solution including a robotic arm that produces prostheses based on a digital model.
A multi-material Additive Manufacturing solution based on the metal powder bed fusion process
Tooth loss is a widespread disease of civilization, and the number of well-trained dental technicians is declining. However, high-quality restorative solutions for the remaining dentition are still often handmade, which makes them very expensive and inaccessible.
These telescopic dentures consist of two different metal alloys underneath the veneer, which makes their production so complicated: a cobalt-chromium alloy for stability, and a gold alloy to ensure a secure fit in the patient's mouth.
Industrial production of dentures is currently limited to low-cost solutions such as clasp dentures or non-precious metal restorations. With many dental technicians retiring and an aging population, Europe is facing a gap in the supply of high-quality dentures.
We have developed a multi-material Additive Manufacturing solution based on the metal powder bed fusion process, which enables the simultaneous processing of two (and more) different alloys in a single component. A robotic arm is used to insert the additional materials into the powder bed. Extensive expertise also includes the laser and scanning parameters to fuse the different materials and produce fully dense, high-fidelity parts. Thanks to a fully integrated digital process chain, the functional surfaces of the printed dental telescopes are automatically processed on the basis of a single data model.
We create synergies with dental technicians, improving their efficiency and allowing them to focus on their core activities. The dental technician designs the prosthesis, we receive a digital model, manufacture the prosthesis and send it back to the dentist for finishing and delivery. This automated, made-to-order process reduces production time, increases laboratory throughput and eliminates unprofitable steps.
Oryx Medicals
Oryx Medicals is developing an innovative, additively manufactured aortic valve that is set to revolutionize the treatment of aortic valve stenosis.
Additively manufactured aortic valve designed to revolutionize the treatment of aortic valve stenosis
Oryx Medicals is developing an innovative, additively manufactured aortic valve designed to revolutionize the treatment of aortic valve stenosis. Our product is a 3D-printed, patient-specific mechanical heart valve that combines the durability of traditional mechanical valves with the benefits of the minimally invasive Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure.
Traditional mechanical heart valves require open-heart surgery (SAVR), which is highly invasive and risky, especially for older or less healthy patients. Although mechanical valves have a long lifespan, the surgical procedure presents significant challenges, including extended recovery time, higher costs, and lifelong anticoagulation therapy. On the other hand, biological valves can be implanted using the less invasive TAVI procedure but have a much shorter lifespan, often requiring re-operations within 10 years.
Our solution bridges this gap. The Oryx Medicals valve can be implanted using TAVI, offering a long-lasting, minimally invasive option that significantly reduces recovery time and the risk of complications. By using advanced Additive Manufacturing technologies, our valves are not only durable but also patient-specific. Each valve is tailored to the individual’s anatomy, enhancing the fit and performance while reducing potential complications such as leakage or thrombosis. The customized design is based on medical imaging data, allowing precise adaptation to each patient’s unique cardiovascular structure.
Key features of our product include:
- Long lifespan: Like traditional mechanical valves, our valve is designed to last a lifetime, significantly reducing the need for re-operations.
- Minimally invasive implantation: The valve can be implanted via the TAVI procedure, avoiding the risks and complications of open-heart surgery.
- Patient-specific design: The valve is 3D-printed to match the patient's specific anatomy, optimizing fit and function.
- Improved recovery and reduced costs: Faster recovery times and reduced hospital stays translate to lower overall healthcare costs and less strain on the healthcare system.
The Additive Manufacturing process enables us to create complex structures that mimic the physiological behavior of natural heart valves, improving both biocompatibility and hemodynamic performance. This ensures that the valve operates more efficiently, reduces mechanical stress on blood cells, and minimizes the risk of thrombosis or hemolysis.
Sustainability Award
supported by Renishaw
The Sustainability Award recognizes AM applications and products beyond the pure production phase based on their full product life cycle.
The finalists
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes contributes to a reduced environmental impact in the energy sector with additively manufactured components for gas turbines.
Social and Environmental LCA on Gas Turbine components made by Additive Manufacturing (L-PBF technology) in Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, as an energy technology company, is committed to achieve a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from own operations by 2030 and net zero by 2050, respect to 2019 baseline.
This ambitious initiative involves transforming the production of gas turbine components, transitioning from traditional casting methods to advanced Additive Manufacturing techniques. This shift not only aims to enhance the efficiency and durability of gas turbines but also represents a critical step in reducing environmental Impact within the energy sector.
By pioneering these innovative approaches, Baker Hughes is setting a benchmark for sustainability and technological advancement in the industry. This work focused on Gas Turbine components made by Nickel based alloys in investment casting, with the purpose to analyze them with a comparative LCA between casting and additive technology.
The main challenge of the project was to evaluate the environmental and social performance of background processes, finding main drivers and negligible parameters to simplify decision maker's choices. Moving production to Additive Manufacturing can reduce CO2e emissions by 16% to 38%, depending on the application. L-PBF technology can positively Impact both new and service units through upgrades. The same approach could be applied to any casting components, beyond the gas turbine sector.
This work addresses four among the seventeen United Nation sustainable development goals (SDGs): affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and finally climate action (SDG 13).
Investing in the assessment, reporting, and enhancement of a product's environmental and social performance propels companies toward energizing sustainable changes.
Ceratizit
CERATIZIT has developed a unique process for the binder- and sinter-based additive manufacturing of hard metals.
Unique process of binder- and sinter-based Additive Manufacturing of cemented carbides
CERATIZIT Austria GmbH in Reutte, Tyrol, Austria, has developed a unique process of binder- and sinter-based Additive Manufacturing of cemented carbides. Cemented carbide, a composite of particularly hard but fragile tungsten carbide particles bound by ductile metal, such as cobalt, is an extreme material that is used when even the hardest steels fail in cutting tools or wear parts applications. However, the outperformance is offset by a complex process chain that also results in high CO2 emissions.
While the Austrian federal state of Tyrol already produces more sustainable energy than it consumes (source: www.statistik.at), the CERATIZIT Group uses 100% renewable energy, and its goal is to be CO2 neutral by 2025 (1). We have also commercialised the first cemented carbide grade ‘upGRADE CT- GS20Y’ that is made from >99% reprocessed materials, thus reducing the material-related CO2 footprint by 65-80%.
Thanks to our in-house developed FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) process, we benefit from all the advantages of Additive Manufacturing in terms of material savings resulting from printing near-net shape and inner hollow structures. Looking at our example of a kneading paddle, 91% of the raw material is saved compared to conventional forming from a pre-sintered block. Since the process can be used to print all conventional grades, it is also possible to print upGRADE, resulting in a total CO2 reduction of more than 95%.
This breakthrough in the grade portfolio also enables Additive Manufacturing for cutting applications which could not be served until now. The possibility of printing inner structures offers additional potential for new functionalities. In the specific case of the kneader, it can be flooded with thermal fluid to enhance temperature control upon the kneading process.
Because of the very high density of the material, ranging from approx. 14 to 15 g/cm³, the resulting weight reduction aids in terms of transportation and applications with high kinetics, such as stamping, milling, moving valves, etc., to reduce the CO2 footprint of post-production in related processes. The very high wear resistance enhances the weight-to-lifetime ratio, making it more efficient and productive.
Since conventional grades are used, reprocessing of scrap can be done very efficiently. Within the CERATIZIT Group, recycling is done by direct re-use, re-use after burnout of organic components, Zinc-reprocessing of sintered scrap and chemical recycling of any contaminated scrap. Within the FFF process chain, we reclaim nearly 100% of the material.
(1) By 2025: Carbon neutral, emissions reduced by 35%
By 2030: Combined reduction of 60%
By 2040: Net zero, emissions reduced by 90%
Stratasys
With its J850 TechStyle, Stratasys enables the holistically sustainable production of high-quality footwear in the luxury segment.
Holistically sustainable production of high-quality footwear in the luxury segment
At the heart of our sustainability commitment is a collaborative, data-driven approach that prioritizes the needs of our users in implementing 3D Printing solutions.
We are excited to share insights from our recent Sustainability Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), titled “Comparative Analysis: 3D Material Jetting vs. Traditional Methods for Designing Luxury Goods.”
This study evaluates the use of Stratasys’ J850 TechStyle™ for producing 1,600 units of a luxury footwear applique by Dyloan Bond Factory, part of the Pattern Group.
Conducted by Reeves Insight and peer-reviewed by the Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing (ACAM), the study highlights how Additive Manufacturing can significantly reduce emissions and conserve resources compared to traditional injection molding.
The fashion industry faces serious environmental challenges, and companies are eager to innovate while minimizing their impact on the planet. With the support of Stratasys technology, Dyloan and the Pattern Group are streamlining their supply chains, improving emissions, and reducing reliance on natural resources for better sustainability outcomes.
Key findings from the LCI include:
- Electricity Reduction: 64.3% lower electrical consumption.
- Emissions Reduction: 25% fewer emissions compared to traditional methods, saving one metric ton of CO2e during production.
- Supply Chain Optimization: Reduced from four technologies to one, cutting down on logistical impacts.
- Material Savings: 49.9% savings on stock material and 50% less material used in the final product.
- Water Conservation: Over 300,000 liters of water saved, primarily from eliminating paper-backed materials.
These results demonstrate the potential of Additive Manufacturing to advance sustainability in the fashion industry, with no compromise on innovation and elegance.
Design Award
supported by cirp
Additive Manufacturing provides an unrivaled degree of design freedom. To merely apply AM for aesthetical purposes, however, is short sighted. By identifying concepts that take into account aesthetical and functional aspects, the Design Award is bound to highlight the importance of smart and ingenious design for AM.
The finalists
ILEK, ISW, University of Stuttgart
ILEK and ISW Institutes (University of Stuttgart) contribute to the implementation of low-carbon technologies in the construction industry with advanced and sustainable design solutions.
Marinaressa Coral Tree demonstrates the potential of using AM in fabricating lightweight concrete structures
The Marinaressa Coral Tree is a 3.2 m high filigree concrete structure designed for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023. It demonstrates the potential of using Additive Manufacturing in fabricating lightweight concrete structures, particularly their formwork, to improve their sustainability and resource efficiency.
The design solution is a topologically optimized construction detail of the transition zone from flat slab to column via a capital, whose weight has been reduced by distributing the material according to the stress state under load. Using computational design and optimization techniques, this was materialized as a spatial lattice aligned along the main stress trajectories to minimize cross-sections and maximize stiffness.
For the sustainable production of this structure, recyclable formwork technology has been developed. It is based on powder bed 3D Printing of a specially developed water-soluble mixture of silica sand and organic binder (dextrin). This combination allowed us to produce spatially complex, filigree geometries while avoiding waste during production. During 3D Printing, the binder in the powder mixture is activated by a jet of distilled water fed through a DoD print-head and immediately cured by infrared heaters.
In this way, the formwork becomes geometrically stable and is able to withstand the hydrostatic pressure of the concrete during pouring and curing. At the same time, the formwork remains water-soluble and can be easily washed off during demolding and recycled. Thus, 56 sand formworks for 9 concrete modules were produced on a specially designed 3D printer with a powder bed volume of 1000 x 700 x 450 mm3.
Then they were assembled, the reinforcement and connecting elements were integrated and the formworks were cast. After concrete curing, the formworks were washed off with water and the sand-binder mix was dried, pulverized and reused within the same production cycle.
This technology has allowed us to explore innovative structural forms such as stress-oriented spatial lattices and achieve a lightweight structural solution with 60% material savings without manufacturing waste. The design approach is based on the integration of computational design and optimization with additive manufacturing from the earliest stages of design development. This helps achieve lightweight, design solutions that can be realized with minimal environmental footprint, contributing to the decarbonization of the construction industry.
ILEK, ISW, University of Stuttgart at Formnext Awards Showcase: Hall 11.0, F61
Quorum Orthopedics
Quorum Orthopedics revolutionizes prosthetics with a customizable, ergonomic solution through MJF printing.
The Quatro – a revolutionary new design that showcases the transformative power of AM
Quorum has developed a patented new product called “The Quatro.” The Quatro is a revolutionary new design that will allow a user to have additional adjustability, comfort, performance and efficiency that is not available with existing sockets. A socket refers to the portion of a prosthesis that fits around and secures an individual's limb and to which prosthetic components, such as a foot, are attached. There are a lot of existing prosthetic sockets that are effective at capturing and stabilizing a residual bone. However, the same rigidity and control makes it tougher for many patients to don their socket. Many amputees spend over ten minutes struggling to attach a socket to a swollen limb.
The Quatro addresses this problem by utilizing “longitudinal compression” to better secure the device to a patient’s limb. What this means is we use vertical pads, located around the device to compress in and out, through the turn of a dial. A patient can wake up in the morning, when limbs are often swollen and unable to fit in traditional rigid sockets, and simply turn the dial to increase the allowable volume of the Quatro. They can insert their limb and secure the device in as little as twenty seconds.
Our project reimagines the capabilities of additive manufacturing by combining cutting-edge design aesthetics with optimized functionality. The concept centers around an innovative socket mechanism, designed to offer maximum adaptability to user needs and requirements. By utilizing advanced geometric algorithms, our design allows for easy customization, ensuring an ergonomic fit for diverse users while minimizing material waste.
The core element of the design is its modular structure, which supports a wide range of configurations to accommodate various medical conditions and treatment stages. The design not only provides enhanced patient comfort but also significantly improves the manufacturability and economic feasibility of socket solutions through the use of 3D Printing technologies.
Key advantages include: lightweight materials, volume adjustability, consistent manufacturing, and customization of design and features.
We believe that this design showcases the transformative power of Additive Manufacturing, not only in terms of aesthetic creativity, but also in solving real-world challenges efficiently and sustainably.
Quorum Orthopedics at Formnext Awards Showcase: Hall 11.0, F61
Siemens / 3D-PROCESS research consortium
Technologies of Siemens for innovative reactor design for more sustainability in the chemical industry.
3D-PROCESS research consortium:
Evonik Operations GmbH (consortium lead), Hanau, Germany
Siemens AG, Munich/Berlin, Germany
INERATEC GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Innovative reactor design and AM – to make chemistry more sustainable
Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables innovative chemical equipment designs that, so far, have been impossible. In the publicly funded BMWK project 3D PROCESS, researchers and engineers from university, startup and industry developed digital workflows and AM-made solutions which save energy & resources.
Use cases from various fields of chemical processes prove the versatility and performance of AM-made devices:
- Chemical synthesis of complex molecules, e.g. for active pharmaceutical ingredients, becomes more sustainable.
- NewEnergy applications, such as fuel and basic chemical synthesis, using pressurized hydrogen-containing feeds, benefit from highly integrated functionality.
- Sophisticated scientific research equipment examines catalysts during operations at high temperatures & pressure.
- Software-based shape generators with generative design engines and optimizer-driven parameterized CAD models create individualized parts within minutes.
Fully functional 3D printed objects benefit from complex internal designs and built-in features at no additional cost. The metal part consists of one single alloy: Multi-function with mono-material simplifies recycling and lowers end-of-life costs.
Strong, corrosion-resistant alloys ensure process safety and exact reaction conditions, even for highly reactive reaction mixtures. Fast Additive Manufacturing of such equipment can help to increase supply chain resilience.
The digital design workflow, from thermodynamic process models through shape optimization based on CAD or Generative Design concepts, including AI and 3D multi-physics simulation, adapts function and size, allowing for custom-made individualized solutions for each specific chemical process.
Hierarchic functionality from 50 µm to 50 cm is digitally tailored by architectured materials, e.g., defined-porosity metal.
The optimization of chemical processes towards more energy-efficient systems is now possible with smaller downstream units. This allows to use fluctuating renewable power in decentralized plants as raw material for CO2-based chemicals at a pressure of 50 bar or above for high yields through thermodynamic equilibrium.
Despite fewer solvents and reduced cooling duty, exact thermofluidic geometries enable a minimum of side reactions: Less by-products mean less purification effort and better use educts.
AM reactors are key to a more economic and environmentally friendly chemical production where co-creation plays a major role – and form follows function.
(R)Evolution Award
supported by 3D Printing Industry
Exceptional, groundbreaking products, technologies or services that offer particular added value for the user are awarded by the (R)Evolution Award.
The finalists
AMsystems
AMSYSTEMS promises to achieve high resolution and productivity at any build volume with the patented design of its MLP modules by combining multiple tightly focused laser beams.
Multi-Laser Patterning (MLP) module – a revolution in exposure technology
The Multi-Laser Patterning (MLP) module is the flagship product from AMSYSTEMS, a revolution in exposure technology. The patented design of our MLP modules exploits the combination of multiple tightly focussed laser beams, to provide both high resolution and high productivity at any size build volume. These modules empower resin printing OEMs to create the next generation of industrial machines, capable of high quality, high volume production.
Powered by precision, at the heart of every MLP module is an octagonal prism that makes our process possible. But this heart doesn’t beat, it spins. Sitting on high-speed air bearings, the spinning of this polygon allows the laser from each diode fired through it to obtain a surface scanning speed of over 20 m/s, whilst maintaining a perpendicular interaction with the resin surface. With 20-micron spots on the resin surface, our precise encoders and nanosecond laser response times ensure we accurately and repeatedly target only the locations we desire.
Designed with scalability in mind, MLP modules can be easily combined to cover larger build areas whilst maintaining the productivity and resolution that makes them special. Each module is individually calibrated to allow for accurate alignment between adjacent units.
Our dedicated software enables easy integration into existing process flows, allowing OEMs to adopt MLP technology without requiring complex changes to their build file generation practices.
AMSYSTEMS is collaborating with leading OEMs to bring this innovative solution to market. A first‑generation machine utilising MLP technology from one of our development partners can be found in our section of the Brainport Development stand at Hall 12.1 C59.
The Multi-Laser Patterning modules are just the beginning of the journey for AMSYSTEMS. Our mission is to drive the industrial adoption of 3D Printing, to grow existing markets and unlock profitable new business cases. Further offerings from our roadmap will range from exploring different spot sizes and wavelengths, to tackling rapid recoating, to advancing automation and process control, capitalising on our further patented technologies in these areas.
With the Multi-Laser Patterning module, AMSYSTEMS is setting the stage for the future of industrial-scale 3D Printing. OEMs and end‑users can find us at Formnext or connect with us online, through our website or LinkedIn, to be part of this revolution.
AMSYSTEMS at Formnext: Hall 12.1, C59 and at the Formnext Awards Showcase: Hall 11.0, F61
Fraunhofer IGCV
Fraunhofer IGCV: The new three-material processing technology using powder bed fusion enables the production of battery cell housings made of aluminum, copper and ceramics in a single production step.
Three-material processing technique using powder bed fusion
Our new patent-pending three-material processing technique using powder bed fusion allows the production of battery cell housings made from aluminum, copper, and ceramic—all within a single manufacturing step. This innovative approach enables the creation of geometrically complex housings, offering unparalleled flexibility in design and production.
By combining multiple materials in one process, we simplify the manufacturing chain and eliminate the need for traditional methods such as molding and stamping. This not only streamlines production but also reduces the assembly requirements. Our process is particularly suited for small-batch production, allowing cell developers to quickly adapt designs during early development stages without investing in new tooling. This agility is crucial in the fast-paced progress of next-generation battery cells, where rapid prototyping and design adjustments are essential. By enabling faster iterations and shorter lead times, our technique accelerates the path from design to market, helping to bring new battery technologies to life.
The capability to process ceramics as electrical insulator material alongside conductive metals by multi-material powder bed fusion is a unique aspect of our technique. A comparably high ceramic density is achieved without the need for high preheating, ensuring the structural integrity of the final product. While the current process still involves a relatively long build time and requires post-processing through milling, the benefits of design flexibility and supply agility make it a powerful alternative to traditional methods. This innovation holds the potential to transform how battery cell housings are manufactured, paving the way for more advanced, customizable, and efficient energy storage solutions.
With our submission for the (R)Evolution Award, we aim to share this groundbreaking technology with a global audience, showcasing its potential to redefine the standards in Additive Manufacturing. We believe this process marks a significant step in the evolution of battery cell production, unlocking new geometric possibilities in energy storage design. This multi-material process suits applications requiring composites with tailored electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, including energy storage, electronics, aerospace, and biomedical devices. It allows for custom components, supporting advanced circuits, lightweight structures, and implants.
Fraunhofer IGCV at Formnext: Hall 11.0, D31 and at the Formnext Awards Showcase: Hall 11.0, F61
Toolcraft
Toolcraft has developed a method for the efficient removal of support structures in metallic 3D-printed components using dry ice blasting.
Efficient removal of support structures in metallic 3D-printed components using dry ice blasting
The dry ice blasting system will revolutionize the market. Competitors who continue to rely on manual methods will face increasing pressure, as these processes are becoming outdated, especially in industries like aerospace and semiconductors. For our customers, this means a significant optimization of workflows.
Previously, manual removal of support structures was time-consuming and led to quality inconsistencies, negatively affecting production line efficiency. Our system now industrializes this process, making it efficient and nearly human-free, reducing bottlenecks and quality issues, and boosting overall productivity. While our system can reduce cycle time by up to 15 minutes per part, its real value lies in the process reliability and ergonomic improvements.
The system is revolutionary, radically transforming the removal of support structures. It replaces the laborious, risky manual methods with a semi-automated process, improving ergonomics and reliability. Evolutionarily, it refines existing technologies for enhanced performance.
Unlike other market solutions that use chisels and compressors, risking part damage, our dry ice blasting system offers a major advancement. It replaces manual, strenuous methods with a partially automated process, reducing physical strain and enhancing ergonomic conditions while minimizing part damage.
No special knowledge is needed for the dry ice blasting system, the operator should be able to fully operate the system within a week.
The system enhances economic and social sustainability by automating and streamlining production, thus reducing time and costs and boosting competitiveness. It also improves workplace ergonomics by minimizing physically strenuous tasks, leading to a better work environment. After a prototype, the improved 2.0 version has been operational for almost a year. We already use it in ongoing production for support structure removal.
AMbassador Award
For a relatively new technology like Additive Manufacturing it is important to have individuals or initiatives that pave the way and speed up the adoption of the technology. The AMbassador Award honors individuals or organizations who provide real impact on the industry through training and educational programs or their personal advocacy.
The finalists
3D Printing Nerd
3D Printing Nerd: Informs a broad global audience about AM and shows how everyone can get involved in the next industrial revolution with his entertaining YouTube show.
A show that aims to inspire and educate, telling the story of Additive Manufacturing
3D Printing Nerd is a show that aims to inspire and educate while having fun. For over five years the show has travelled the world telling the story of Additive Manufacturing. From restoring history in Malta to creating the next level of energy production with Siemens, from 3D Printing in outer space with NASA to teaching celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris how to print, the show has run the gambit of all things additive.
Every single week an episode of 3D Printing Nerd airs and gives viewers around the globe a view into the future. Episodes range from tutorials on software or machine walk throughs, to massive builds, to interviews with the experts and veterans of the industry. The show works with education programs helping them get access to resources that allow their programs to grow and thrive. 3D Printing Nerd also works with several non-profits and every year, teams up with Seattle Children’s Hospital to help raise funds for their programming.
Currently the show 3D Printing Nerd tapes in a 3,000 sq ft stage with multiple sets and also houses a fully functioning print farm. Guests from all over fly in to join Joel Telling, the host of the show and bring in their unique story of additive.
The show also works with all of the events around the world, bringing in new audiences to additive and giving them a chance to meet the companies and engineers that are pushing the industry forward. From LIVE shows from the floor of Formnext to hosting a game show in Manchester at SMRRF, 3D Printing Nerd is giving everyone a chance to participate in the next Industrial Revolution… as it’s happening first hand!
3D Printing Nerd is telling the story of additive like never before and bringing in millions each year into the world of manufacturing. It’s been my honor to produce this show and also work with one of my best friends as we get to travel the world and tell this very important story as its taking place.
You can experience 3D Printing Nerd live at Formnext on 19 November 2024, 3 – 5 p.m. in hall 12.1., C10 or follow him on YouTube.
Stanley Tong
Stanley Tong has developed a corporate tailored additive curriculum, built a network of cross company subject matter experts, and made additive technology accessible to thousands in his lab for one of the world’s biggest automakers
Custom catered training program for one of the world’s largest automakers
“Bridging the chasm” of Additive Manufacturing adoption is often limited by a lack of proper education in an organization. Stanley used education as a tool to educate a workforce on the scale of several thousand. Stanley has developed and executed an integrated strategy for using education to scale Additive Manufacturing adoption at one of the world's largest automakers. In this strategy, he wrote and developed a corporate tailored additive curriculum, built a network of cross company subject matter experts, and made additive technology accessible to thousands in his lab.
Partnering across industry, he gathered both support and props for use in his video based curriculum. Working with a video producer, he wrote a custom curriculum catered to the needs of the company, its primary additive users types, and aspirational additive users. The video series focused on multiple levels of additive education, from simple polymer prototypes to serial production use metals, involving real examples from various areas of the company to ensure it was relevant and relatable to the target audiences. The curriculum will be rolled down in multiple areas of the company, and piloted to 2,000 employees in 2024 and will scale to several thousand more in 2025.
To support organic growth, he also designed and led an Additive Manufacturing education program that partnered engineering leaders from across the company with additive mentors for a year. In this program, these leaders went through a custom catered training program to teach the ins and outs of industrial 3D printing in an automotive lens. This knowledge exchange armed both the additive team with a new understanding of application requirements, but also gave cross functional leaders a better understanding of how Additive Manufacturing was helpful to them. They brought this newfound knowledge back to their teams to become a trusted source of additive know-how and built technology credibility in new areas.
Lastly, leading a team and Additive Manufacturing operation, he made prototyping quick and easy to access for thousands of employees. With his team, they redesigned the Do It Yourself (DIY) 3D printing lab to make the training, certification, and data management process an online, self-paced, process that takes less than an hour, giving people access to use industrial machines in almost no time at all. With this lowered barrier to entry, it made it possible for people to enter the lab with a problem and leave on the same day with a solution, leading to a large increase in lab usage and independent additive engagement.
These three systems work intertwined to drive technology adoption from both the top down and bottom up, ensuring Additive Manufacturing use remains both effective and culturally engrained. Large scale adoption, such as this, drives the industry forward by creating more users and advocates for the technology.
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart has developed innovative dental bone grafts together with dentists from Freiburg University Hospital.
The development of innovative dental bone grafts designed to address bone defects
Our project, in collaboration with dental surgeons from the University Clinic Freiburg, focuses on the development of innovative dental bone grafts designed to address bone defects, such as those caused by peri-implantitis disease.
The project encompasses the formulation of novel ceramic-filled resins and the design of high-precision bone implants, optimized for DLP Stereolithography. We develop new bone implant designs and refine the parameters for Additive Manufacturing to achieve superior resolution and print quality.
Beyond fabrication, our research extends to post-processing, where we optimize steps such as the cleaning of intricate trabecular pores and identifying the most effective thermal treatments, including debinding and sintering using DTA/TG analysis, to produce defect-free, pure ceramic implants.
Once we fabricate the implants, our partners in the University Clinic Freiburg conduct rigorous biocompatibility tests to evaluate cell-material interactions and ensure the implant’s safety and effectiveness. These tests include live/dead staining, WST-1 cell proliferation assays, and LDH cytotoxicity assays.
Throughout the project, we document our findings with SEM and digital light microscopy, rheological data, surface topography graphs, XRD results and lists of optimum printing parameters. Our results are shared with students through master's and bachelor's programs in lectures and training, and with industry partners (e.g., Rahn AG, Chemische Fabrik Budenheim, BYK) and dental surgeons, contributing to the broader adoption of advanced Additive Manufacturing in bone regeneration application. Additionally, we publish our findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals, ensuring the dissemination of our research to the wider scientific community.
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