3D Pioneers Challenge 2024 – Announcement of the finalists

This year, the 3D Pioneers Challenge (3DPC) is entering its ninth round and brings with it exciting innovations. For the first time, the “Industrial” category will be introduced, which focuses on promising technologies in the traditional manufacturing industry – with a special focus on sustainable solutions.

The event will take place as part of the Rapid.Tech 3D trade fair in Erfurt, which will provide a stage for additive manufacturing technologies for the twentieth time from May 14 to 16, 2024 and provide decisive impetus for the industry. The focus of this year’s competition is on the “Collaborative Mindset”. The aim is to promote projects that develop innovative methods, materials and processes and thus create new opportunities for business, industry and sustainable action.

Participants from all over the world, including students, universities, start-ups and established industrial companies, submitted their entries in a total of eleven categories. The selection of the 43 finalists from 25 countries and five continents presented the jury with major challenges, supported by new sponsors of the 3DPC such as BASF AM Forward, Hewlett Packard and IAM3DHUB.

“Responsible production through the use and development of sustainable materials and circular processes is a clear focus for the finalists of this year’s 3D Pioneers Challenge”, said the organisers Simone and Christoph Völcker comment on the exhibition of the finalist projects.

One outstanding example of this is WILLOWPRINT, a young start-up from Germany that develops printable material from wood waste. Their first products, fully compostable seating, show how innovation and the circular economy can go hand in hand. BOSCH will also be presenting an innovation that combines injection molding technology and 3D printing to repurpose industrial waste, paving the way for closed-loop production cycles.

Once again, the 3D Pioneers Challenge 2024 promises to be a melting pot of innovation, taking the possibilities of 3D printing to new dimensions while always keeping an eye on the environment and the future of the technology.