Held in Frankfurt am Main from 16 – 19 November 2021, the exhibition featured a series of world premieres throughout the entire process chain, demonstrating the ever-expanding fields of application for additive manufacturing and its impressive potential for the future. Exhibitors and attendees also offered solutions to urgent and important future issues, such as decentralized production, secure process chains, efficiency, and sustainability.

Over the four days, the event once again turned Frankfurt am Main into an international center of innovation for global additive manufacturing and modern industrial production. Formnext 2021 saw impressive exhibitor numbers, with more than 600 exhibitors from 36 countries. 17,859 specialists and executives from 76 nations had the opportunity to experience Formnext over three levels of the ultra-modern exhibition halls 11 and 12 of the Frankfurt exhibition grounds (11.0., 12.0. and 12.1), covering a total floor space of 30,000 square meters.

The exhibitors and extensive supporting program of events demonstrated the wide range of possibilities offered by industrial 3D printing for numerous user industries. Visitors were able to discover innovative solutions that they could use to make their own production more efficient and sustainable. Above all, attendees clearly relished the opportunity to finally meet one another and interact in person once again. The event was held under the highest ‘2G’ safety conditions, meaning that only those fully vaccinated against or recovered from Covid-19 were allowed to attend.

Companies such as 3D Systems, Additive Industries, Addup, Arburg, BigRep, Carbon, Cubicure, Desktop Metal, DMG Mori, Dyemansion, EOS, Evonik, ExOne, Farsoon, Formlabs, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, GE Additive, HP, Incus, Keyence, Markforged, Materialise, Nexa3D, Renishaw, Ricoh, Siemens, Sigma Labs, Sisma, Stratasys, Trumpf, Voxeljet, XJet and many more demonstrated their innovative additive technologies, showcasing advanced solutions for the future of industrial manufacturing. Established companies such as BASF, Covestro, Hexagon, Höganäs, Sandvik, as well as a large number of innovative start-ups presented a series of world premieres throughout the entire process chain; from manufacturing technologies through to materials, software, and post-processing solutions.

“Formnext has once again shown itself to be the highlight of the year for the AM industry. After the significant challenges we faced last year, this year both the number of exhibitors and visitors in attendance surpassed our expectations,” commented Sascha Wenzler, Formnext vice president at organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “It has shown once again just how important Formnext and face-to-face meetings are for this innovative industry, which develops technologies at a rapid pace and is keen to share these with investors, partners, and customers. It was clear that Formnext had been eagerly awaited by the entire industry.”

Successful launch of the ASTM Standards Forum

On the day prior to Formnext more than 120 participants attended the premiere of the first ASTM Standards Forum, supported by the USCS, ISO and Formnext. This successful launch underlines the importance of trans-atlantic efforts to create joint standards. The Standards Forum will be back in 2022.

Visitors were also impressed by the fair’s development and the atmosphere in the exhibition hall. “You can feel that everybody was waiting to meet again personally.” states Andrea Buccelli, CEO at AMD Engineering. “It is really impressive to see how many new machines, materials and applications had been launched during the show.”

Also Shamil Hargovan, managing director of STS Capital Partners International Inc. drew a positive conclusion. “I think that was a particularly important und special Formnext because it felt like a big reunion. If you have an industry like ours which is growing rapidly, these personal contacts are very important.”

The visitor attendance exceeded the exhibitors’ expectations and the high quality of discussions: “We prepared our solution for two years. Formnext was the place to launch it and we continously had visitors at our booth who came with a real purpose and application in mind. Formnext is the right to place to show and discuss technology and commercialize it,” says Pete Hansford, business development director, Wayland Additive.

Alessio Lorusso, CEO and founder of Roboze from Formnext’s partner country 2021 Italy, was also pleased with his company’s participation: “We had a great Formnext, more visitors than we expected, and the quality was definitely high, because whoever decided to come was really determined and straightforward. So, very qualified visitors. We are extremely satisfied with this edition.”

From the perspective of Frédéric Le Moullec, Sales Director at AddUp, the event fulfilled the companies objectives: “We were pleased to meet the AM industry in person again, and as a French company to see many existing customers again, especially from Germany. We were also able to show our technology to many new interested parties and had contacts from industrial companies from almost all sectors at the booth.”

Formnext not quite over yet

For those who were unable to attend Formnext due to travel restrictions or the current situation, Formnext Digital Days on 30 November and 1 December 2021 offer the opportunity to discover the innovations and future developments online. Formnext’s exhibitors value the extended reach of the digital format:

“After four successful days at Formnext 2021 in Frankfurt, we are really looking forward to extend the trade fair and getting in touch with our customers also digitally within the Formnext Digital Days this year,” says Damien Buchbinder, Head of Product Management Additive Manufacturing at Trumpf.

“Formnext 2021 was a great success for EOS and we very much welcome the opportunity to extend this important opportunity for industry exchange further through Formnext Digital Days. Formnext Digital Days give both us, the exhibitors, and visitors the opportunity to explore the content presented in greater depth and focus on additional areas,” says Markus Glasser, SVP EMEA at EOS

In addition to business matchmaking and a comprehensive directory of AM solution providers, international attendees can expect a full program including live keynotes, panel discussions, and interviews.

The next Formnext will take place in Frankfurt am Main from 15 – 18 November 2022.