Formnext Connect Conference Goes Virtual for AM Industries in 2020
The Formnext additive manufacturing trade fair will take place virtually for the first time in its history from 10th to 12th November.
The event will showcase a series of new digital services from leading manufacturers and include a series of online activities. These will include exhibitor presentations, intelligent matchmaking with all participants supported by AI, live webinars, and more.
The Formnext Connect event banner. Image courtesy of Formnext Connect.
Five Years of Growth
The Formnext event was first started in 2015 to bring under one roof the innovations and additive manufacturing issues. The exhibition examines different aspects of this industry, exploring, for example, the entire range of materials used in additive manufacturing, from polymers to metals and others.
Every process step is also analyzed at Formnext, from state-of-the-art industrial production up to series production. The event brings together experts from various industries, from automotive to aviation and aerospace, construction and architecture, and more.
Formnext participation has grown steadily over the past five years. The first edition of the event in 2015 saw 203 exhibitors presenting their work in 14,028 sqm to 8,982 visitors.
Formnext 2019 exhibition. Image courtesy of Formnext.
Last year’s edition welcomed 852 exhibitors in 53,039 sqm and received 34,532 visitors.
The Formnext Connect Event
This year, to enable social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19, Formnext is going digital-only with its Connect event. Organized in partnership with various high-end partners like ACAM and BE-AM Symposium, Formnext Connect will feature different activities for participants.
Multimedia exhibitor and product profiles will be available, together with face-to-face contact possibility and AI-supported matchmaking and video meetings. Formnext Connect will also offer interactive, entertaining supporting programs with live streaming and connections to additive manufacturing leaders worldwide.
The event’s Main Stage broadcast will see live moderated expert talks, panel discussions, and interviews. As per Formnext tradition, various awards will be given at the event. Formnext Connect will announce the winners of the purmundus challenge, Start-up Challenge, and the AM Ventures Impact Award.
Product Innovation in 3D Printing
A total of 200 exhibitors have confirmed participation in the Formnext Connect Event at the time of writing, and applications are still open. Bosch, AMETEK, and Siemens are only some of the industry leaders that will showcase new products and share their progress in the field of additive manufacturing at Formnext Connect.
Siemens, in particular, has already revealed its lineup for the event, under the motto “Partnering for the next step to industrialize Additive Manufacturing.”
A 3D model concept. Image courtesy of Siemens.
The company said it would present solutions aimed at the industrialization of additive manufacturing under the umbrella of its Digital Enterprise Portfolio.
All activities conducted by Siemens at Formnext Connect will be organized as part of Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Summit and will include innovations and highlights around its latest partnerships. Siemens also confirmed it would reveal the inauguration of a virtual Additive Manufacturing reference factory for selective laser at the event.
The new project will see the deployment of 3D laser-sintering technologies with polymers and will become part of the company’s digital Additive Manufacturing Experience Center.
For more information about Formnext Connect and free access tickets, check the event's website.
