Sustainability, creativity and cost efficiency

30 October 2024

Recent social media reports on the state of the AM world might easily give the impression that industrial 3D printing is on the brink of collapse. The reports tend to use the share prices of listed AM companies as an indication of the situation in the sector as a whole. And because the share prices of most listed AM companies have been falling for some time, so the reasoning of these so-called analysts goes, the sector must be doing badly. 

However, gaining a realistic picture of the AM world is not so straightforward. And genuine industry experts are far more optimistic about the situation, as our market report shows. What’s more, it reveals that the fall in share prices is largely the result of too high expectations.

While the situation in the AM sector may no longer be quite so euphoric, it is still positive, as can be seen from the anticipated attendance figures for the upcoming Formnext alone. By the end of September, 844 exhibitors had registered from around the world, more than half from outside of Germany, again making Frankfurt the global powerhouse of additive manufacturing from 19-22 November. It is already clear that many of the innovations are aimed at enabling specific new applications and making production more efficient and less costly. My impression is that the industry is combining an increased focus on cost efficiency for customers with the creative spirit that is part of its DNA. These two factors are key to becoming established as a still young technology in industrial production.

Sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role and ranges from recycling filament spools to the use of sustainable materials such as coffee grounds and olive pits. Above all, sustainability is about taking a holistic approach throughout the life cycle of a product and not just focusing on taking action in one area and leaving it at that. Here too, Formnext’s supporting program of events offers valuable knowledge for numerous industries from medical technology to plant engineering and the construction industry. 

This magazine offers a foretaste of the innovations and product premieres that await you at Formnext. More will be revealed at Formnext. I hope you will find it inspiring and look forward to meeting you in person in Frankfurt. 

Sincerely,

Sascha F. Wenzler
Vice President Formnext