Text: Thomas Masuch, 5 December 2024
As the world's largest trade fair in the space, Formnext is a reflection of the entire AM industry. Before this year's event, one exciting question was on many people’s minds: how would Formnext and the AM industry continue to evolve and present themselves in economically challenging times? After all, manufacturers and users of AM technology are under increased pressure to operate economically and earn money. They are not alone in the economic world, however; many other industrial sectors are currently experiencing something similar. At Formnext 2024, the industry proved to be pragmatic, optimistic, and – as always – extremely innovative.
Takeaway 1: Robustness of the industry
In the months leading up to this year’s trade fair, there had been numerous critical assessments as to whether the AM sector was still on a healthy growth path. The business figures of some large, listed AM players gave cause for pessimism. In the run-up to Formnext 2024, we researched the notion that the situation is much better than many social media posts indicate (see article). The final proof of the robustness of this innovative industry was provided by the mood on the trade fair floor: clusters of visitors formed at many booths, with new technical innovations captivating more of them by the minute. Some AM systems even featured signs informing visitors about the sale of exhibits. “We had a super-strong trade fair and shared our knowledge on an even more sophisticated level. We also generated even more contacts and leads than last year,” reports Andreas Langfeld, president for EMEA and APAC at Stratasys.
Takeaway 2: The importance of Formnext for the AM world
The atmosphere at the trade fair, the array of innovations on display, and the excellent visitor numbers have once again shown how important Formnext is for the entire industry as a platform for business, networking, cooperation, and the sharing of knowledge. As the world's largest AM trade fair, it provides indispensable impetus for the further development of many companies and innovations. “Especially in uncertain times, trade fairs are even more important for exchanging information and improving competitiveness,” attested Rainer Lotz, EMEA president at Renishaw, during the press tour at the start of Formnext.
Takeaway 3: A positive mindset in challenging times
Nevertheless, it was also noticeable at Formnext that the AM sector is not immune to the challenging situation in many (user) industry sectors. However, the somewhat tougher (or simply changing) times were not necessarily seen as a negative omen. “It is becoming more difficult to expand, raise funds, and so on. But the struggle for survival makes people more creative,” reported Arno Held, managing partner at AM Ventures, during a panel discussion on the topic of start-ups. A material developer from the USA took an even more pragmatic view: “It's good that things are becoming more sober, so you can get straight to the point in many discussions.”
Takeaway 4: The importance of user industries is shifting
The automotive industry was previously one of the strongest user industries in AM, but Formnext 2024 made it clear that this sector is currently not experiencing the rosiest of times (see our report on the development of the AM industry). This was evident in the (subjectively) fewer applications on display from this industry; instead, 3D-printed applications from the aerospace sector were showcased at a huge number of booths. They ranged from heat exchangers (DMG Mori), various interior solutions (Stratasys, together with AM Craft), and various connecting elements from many exhibitors to satellite antennas (Addup), engines and corresponding components (AMCM, Trumpf, and numerous others) and large-format lamination tools (Caracol) or drones. Finally, the medical sector always has a strong presence at Formnext, and that tradition continued with many innovative applications at this year’s trade fair. These included aligners, crowns, and implants from the dental sector as well as various orthoses, implants, and medical models.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Part 2 (to follow):
Takeaway 5: The range of applications continues to grow
Takeaway 6: Higher productivity, lower costs
Takeaway 7: Stronger competition from the Far East
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