In its 5th year, the formnext 2019 in Frankfurt is proof positive of the boom surrounding the still fledgling world of additive manufacturing.
With an increase of almost 35% more exhibitors and just under 28% more visitors compared with last year, the formnext is the fastest growing trade fair and quite rightly the global innovation centre of additive manufacturing and its processes.
Whereas in 2018, a total of 632 exhibitors presented themselves over an area of approx. 37,000 m2, this year it was 852 exhibitors spread over 53,000 m2. The number of visitors also increased from just under 27,000 to 34,500.
Impressions, trends & highlights – a visit at the formnext 2019
Interview with Dr Christoph Wadenpohl, managing director of Hosokawa Micron Powders GmbH, at the formnext 2019.
The trends at formnext 2019 – from prototypes to series production
Successful up to now in the manufacture of prototypes, additive manufacturing has meanwhile arrived in industry. The hype of the past years has given way to the solution-oriented use of 3D printing processes.
The formnext 2019 demonstrates that under consideration of the processes and procedures, additive manufacturing can constitute an alternative or supplement to conventional processes.
A considerable plus of exhibitors presented real-world and effective solutions which when integrated into the upstream and downstream processes, make additive manufacturing economically efficient.
Formnext 2019 – prospects and challenges
As experts for the processing and grinding of ultrafine powders for use in additive manufacturing, we often see ourselves faced with very specific demands and challenges. Dependent on the application, the resultant material needs to exhibit a number of properties which are not necessarily found in the original material. Especially when it comes to the 3D printing of plastics, for which the plastic needs to be ground to an ultrafine powder, the technical possibilities of grinding are limited by the conflicting requirements. And this is where materials scientists are faced with the challenge of trying to square the circle.