Formnext Awards – setting the stage for AM progress

Positioning Spain’s AM industry on the global stage and fostering connections with industry leaders

Naiara Zubizarreta is Director of ADDIMAT, the Spanish Association for Additive Manufacturing. Since 2015, she has been leading the strategy and growth of Spain’s AM ecosystem, shaping a strong community that today brings together more than 100 members. Under her leadership, Spanish AM has gained international visibility through her presence at international conferences, the organization of joint booths at Formnext, strategic collaborations in Europe (AM-Europe), and strong representation in policy and standardization forums. Her role involves promoting collaboration, driving initiatives that support research, workforce development, and technological advancement. Today, Spain is one of Europe’s fastest-growing AM markets and will showcase this momentum at Formnext as Partner Country 2025.

This year, ADDIMAT celebrates its 10th anniversary. Being a finalist of the AMbassador Award means a recognition of this journey and collective achievement. It is also an opportunity to amplify Spain’s voice in the global AM community, foster collaboration across Europe and beyond, and inspire the next generation of women to lead the manufacturing sector.

The project is developing a data-driven, technology-focused education strategy for Additive Manufacturing that intelligently connects industry needs, immersive learning formats, and labor market analysis.

My PhD (Dr.-Ing.) project proposes a comprehensive, technology-enhanced, and data-driven methodology for Additive Manufacturing education that directly addresses Industry 4.0 skill requirements. Its novelty lies in combining four dimensions: (1) systematic analysis of industrial needs, (2) modular and flexible curricula design, (3) immersive AR/VR applications to teach complex concepts such as DfAM and PBF process, and (4) data-driven monitoring through NLP analysis of thousand of job postings. This integration creates a unique feedback loop that ensures content is always updated with current and emerging skills. By merging structured pedagogy, advanced digital technologies, and labor market intelligence, the initiative represents a novel, scalable, and transferable blueprint that not only strengthens AM education but also serves as a model for other fast-evolving advanced manufacturing fields.

The IHK certificate program closes a key qualification gap in Additive Manufacturing and provides hands-on expertise across the entire process chain – without academic entry requirements.

Technological advances and the increasing relevance of additive manufacturing processes in a wide range of industries are leading to a steadily growing demand for qualified specialists. Additive manufacturing (AM) is considered a key technology of the future – but so far, there is a lack of structured concepts for sound professional qualification. Therefore, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Würzburg-Schweinfurt and the SKZ are jointly offering a practical course leading to the qualification of “Certified Industrial Technician in Additive Manufacturing.” The recognized IHK degree is aimed at those who are interested in gaining a comprehensive overview of additive manufacturing. The further education program covers the entire 3D printing process chain – from the materials used and their processing to design and procedures to complementary topics such as energy, hydraulics, and occupational safety. This prepares participants for the practical requirements of the industry. In many places, knowledge acquisition still takes place informally, through trial and error or with the help of online sources such as YouTube videos and forums. Officially recognized educational formats have not been available until now. With the Certified Industrial Technician in Additive Manufacturing (IHK), we are setting a unique nationwide precedent for securing skilled workers and, for the first time, closing the knowledge gap at the intermediate education level, based on DQR level 6. The practical and industry-oriented continuing education program, which has no academic entry barriers, can be completed part-time over two years while working. The program takes into account both the dynamic technological environment and the diversity of additive processes. The close integration of education and research results in an innovative offering that enables skilled workers and companies to build AM expertise in a targeted and sustainable manner—a decisive contribution to actively counteracting the shortage of skilled workers. Two compact practical weeks round off the training program: one takes place at SKZ with a focus on additive manufacturing with plastics, the second at AMbitious with a focus on metal 3D printing. In addition to the theoretical content, the focus is on process-reliable application, in-depth understanding of materials, and industrial implementation. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce expands the curriculum to include topics such as business organization and production management, while also offering graduates the opportunity to pursue further studies. The training concept marks a shift away from purely academic formats toward practical expertise. An interdisciplinary team of 19 experts ensures that the content is technologically up-to-date and of high quality. In this way, the continuing education program makes a lasting contribution to the innovative strength of the industry.

Grabbit is a project designed for people with hand impairments, combining design, technology, and sustainability. Three distinct shapes enable exercises, hot and cold applications, and adjustable resistance.

Grabbit was developed from a strongly human-centered perspective. The project is aimed at people with hand problems and combines design, modern technology and sustainability into simple and tangible solutions. The starting point was very personal. My grandmother struggled to pick up small objects like coins or needles, and my grandfather, after a stroke, could only use his hand in a limited way. During my research it became clear that many other people are affected, including those with Parkinson’s disease, rheumatism, arthrosis, aging-related weakness or injuries. To better understand these needs, I visited senior centers and worked closely with physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Their feedback helped me to develop Grabbit step by step, to test it and to refine it in a targeted way.

Additive Manufacturing is the key to Grabbit. TPU lattice structures, produced with SLS, create resistance that adapts to pressure and open up new training possibilities for different medical conditions. PA12, manufactured with MJF, forms the bayonet lock that precisely connects the 3D-printed parts with ash wood. The wood adds warmth, sustainability and a pleasant tactile quality that contrasts with the technical character of the plastics. Together, these elements create an aesthetic that avoids the stigma of medical devices and turns the products into everyday companions.

The IKM Flux Vaporizer is a newly developed LNG evaporation solution that uses generative design and Additive Manufacturing to more than double measurement accuracy.

To solve this, Jiskoot Solutions for IKM brought together a multidisciplinary consortium including EOS, Valland, and ToffeeX. The team used advanced digital tools such as thermo-fluid topology optimization and computational fluid dynamics to design flow channels that maximize heat transfer and mixing while minimizing losses. Generative design techniques then produced an organic, fully self-supporting structure that integrates lattice elements to hold vacuum-based insulation.

The result is a compact, sculptural component that could only be produced by additive manufacturing. It is both visually striking and highly efficient, delivering more than double the measurement accuracy of legacy devices. Field trials at Equinor’s Melkøya LNG plant in Norway confirmed the performance, with operators reporting a “massive improvement in stability” of energy measurements.

In Kenya, the Limb Kind Foundation and HP used 3D printing to create custom prosthetic sockets that were fitted free of charge for children. This project demonstrates how modern technology can restore mobility.

These sockets, fabricated abroad and transported to Kenya, were assembled by our prosthetists and fitted to children free of charge. This innovative approach not only restored mobility and independence to children but also demonstrated how advanced technology can open new doors for sustainable, accessible prosthetic care in underserved communities.

The INOV.iQ project demonstrates how Additive Manufacturing and digital injection molding technology are revolutionizing toolmaking: a 3D-printed metal mold tool reduces weight, saves energy, and shortens cycle times.

The INOV.iQ project demonstrates how advanced engineering, and Additive Manufacturing can transform traditional injection moulding. In collaboration with ENGEL, we developed a fully metal 3D-printed mould tool specifically for a 100-ton injection moulding machine with the full iQ solutions set, designed specifically for ultra-thin parts with wall thicknesses as low as 1 mm.

imes-icore introduces CORiTEC Mythos, the world’s first fully automated hybrid manufacturing system that combines additive coating with precision 5-axis milling and grinding. It enables multi-material restorations with the highest precision.

The fully digital CAD/CAM workflow drastically reduces manual steps, shortens production times, and enhances process reliability. Mythos processes up to seven materials – including ceramics, composites, polymers, and zirconia – setting new benchmarks in efficiency, sustainability, and reproducibility.

Laempe Mössner Sinto has developed a 3D printing system for high-volume production of sand cores. The solution offers a high level of automation, energy efficiency, and enables complex core geometries for the foundry of the future.

The integrated solution covers the entire process chain: raw material storage, molding material preparation, printing process, automated desanding, cleaning and measuring of the cores. In collaboration with R. Scheuchl GmbH, a high degree of automation has been achieved, significantly reducing manual e􀆯ort. The system is complemented by the specially developed “Laempe Printing Wizard” software with functions for slicing, scaling and flexible adaptation of print jobs.

Sustainability & future

3D printing enables optimized core geometries and improves the carbon footprint of cast parts. Examples include heat exchangers, electric motor housings, and water jacket cores for combustion engines, which achieve up to 15% lower fuel consumption. In addition, an inorganic binder is used that does not release harmful gases during printing or in the casting process. With a view to e-mobility and alternative drive systems, the demand for additive cores will continue to rise. At the same time, shorter printing times, more economical drive systems, and energy recovery are ensuring lower energy consumption. Laempe's 3D printing is thus a central component for core production in the future.

FIDENTIS has developed the world’s first commercial multi-material additive manufacturing solution for dental technology. The system enables fully automated, digital production of telescopic prostheses.

FIDENTIS changes this paradigm by digitizing and automating the process. With a qualified PBF-LB/MM process on an industrial AM platform, alloys such as CoCrMo and gold can be fused with micrometer precision. This enables patient-specific prosthetic frameworks with friction fit engineered directly into the build, eliminating manual adjustment. At the same time, the process reduces precious metal consumption, ensures reproducibility, and opens the door to scalable production of the highest quality prosthetics.

3DMyMask develops custom silicone masks for premature infants based on 3D scans and Additive Manufacturing. The solution reduces air leakage by up to 60%, improves fit, and enhances comfort.

The project is driven by a clinical–industrial alliance that connects medical validation, technological innovation, and industrial expertise. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona provides clinical insight and testing; Digifab, the Additive Manufacturing Node of the Catalan Society of Technology, anchors the development within the IAM3DHUB ecosystem; and strategic partners including Lynxter, Shining 3D, Elkem, 3Deus, and SiOCAST strengthen the technological foundation.

3DMyMask represents a scalable, clinically relevant, and technologically advanced solution that positions neonatal care at the forefront of personalization and innovation. Ultimately, it is a call to give the most fragile patients the innovation they deserve. Neonates and preterm infants, too often left behind in technological progress, must be heard and supported from the very first breath.

Tesseract Technologies is developing linear motors for large-format FDM 3D Printing that replace belt drives. The result: greater precision, speed, and reliability.

Conventional linear motors are extremely expensive, often costing thousands of euros per motor, and deliver industrial-grade sub-nanometer precision that far exceeds the needs of additive manufacturing. That’s why we built our own motors from the ground up: cost-efficient, accessible, and tailored to the unique requirements of 3D printers. This approach has enabled us to cut costs by 5 to 10 times.

We are already piloting our technology with several 3D printer manufacturers and will showcase our motors at Formnext in the Startup Area, where we look forward to connecting with more manufacturers and strategic partners.

Our ambition is clear: to accelerate the shift from traditional to additive manufacturing by making high-performance linear motion technology accessible to every 3D printer maker.

Curious to experience the strength of linear motors firsthand? Join us for an arm-wrestling match with our motors at the Startup Area (Hall 11.0, booth D62A).

Allonic is revolutionizing robotics manufacturing with 3D Tissue Braiding – a technology that enables fully automated growth of complex, movable robot bodies directly from functional fabrics.

We are developing a highly automated software + hardware platform where complex mechanisms can be designed quickly and effectively, with machinery that "grows" fibrous, durable functional tissues directly on a few pre-manufactured parts, and outputs a fully functional robotic body. No need for assembly – just connect your actuators and deploy.

Biomotion is making 3D bioprinting as reliable and accessible as industrial manufacturing – enabling reproducible cell models, faster drug research, and scalable therapies without animal testing.

This innovation enables pharmaceutical companies and CROs to move beyond traditional 2D cell cultures toward advanced 3D cell culture models that better mimic human biology. By standardizing complex workflows, Biomotion accelerates preclinical research, reduces variability, and supports the global shift toward animal-free testing. Beyond drug discovery, our technology also addresses clinical workflows in advanced therapy manufacturing, making next-generation living implants accessible, scalable, and ready for real-world applications.

nureo develops 3D design tools that automate engineering tasks and generate production-ready designs for Additive Manufacturing within minutes.

OsseoLabs develops AI-powered, personalized implants for orthopedics and facial surgery—using 3D printing, bioresorbable magnesium, and clinically validated precision to achieve better outcomes with fewer procedures.

PERFI Technologies enables ultra-fast, sustainable point-of-care production of highly personalized medical devices with its patented VAM technology—eliminating layers, support structures, and solvents.

The VAM unit also features an automated, solvent-free post-processing system that recovers and reuses uncured resin in a closed loop, drastically reducing material waste and chemical footprint. Our proprietary resin system has been pre-validated for biocompatibility, enabling safe, direct-to-patient use. By combining precision, speed, and sustainable post-processing, PERFI’s patented technology makes on-site production of highly customised devices user-friendly and available on demand.

Continuum Powders recycles aerospace waste into high-quality metal powders, creating a near-zero-emission circular economy for Additive Manufacturing through its M2P platform.

Through our proprietary Greyhound Melt-to-Powder (M2P) platform and OptiVantage quality framework, we reclaim certified aerospace-grade scrap and convert it into high-performance alloys such as Ni718, Ti64, CoCr F75, and M247. This process not only ensures powders meet the rigorous specifications required by aerospace, defense, energy, and industrial manufacturers, but also creates a closed-loop, circular economy for critical materials.

Our powders are already being qualified and deployed across a range of additive manufacturing platforms—including binder jetting, laser powder bed fusion, and directed energy deposition—ensuring accessibility for OEMs, service bureaus, and end-users alike.

EOS reduces waste and emissions in metal AM by over 90% with a new filtration system that neutralizes reactive particles, recovers powder, and sustainably lowers costs.

EOS addresses this issue with a new and innovative filtration system that neutralizes these by-products directly within the process. The next-generation recirculation filter system transforms highly reactive particles into stable metal oxides – making them safe for disposal or even suitable for recycling. At the same time, reusable powder is recovered from the waste stream, significantly reducing material consumption

Sustainability project by Smart Materials 3D: From organic waste to high-quality materials for 3D Printing.

The developed materials include:

• OYSTER: made from oyster shells, rich in calcium carbonate, with a unique ceramic-like aesthetic.
• PINE: based on PEFC-certified pine wood flour, offered in seven natural tones with a non-plastic finish.
• CORK: sourced from Mediterranean cork oak forests; lightweight, insulating, and 100% recyclable.
• COFFEE: contains 18% recycled coffee grounds collected from local cafés, with no added pigments and a natural aroma.
• ALGAE: includes over 15% dried spirulina, offering a rustic, organic look without synthetic coloring.