From May 13 to 15, 2025, additive manufacturing experts met in Erfurt for the 21st rapid.tech 3D. The combination of specialist congress, exhibition and networking platform offered around 170 exhibitors and speakers a high-quality environment for discussing the latest developments and industrial applications. The close spatial integration between the exhibition and lecture halls, which promoted direct dialog between science and industry, was particularly praised.
One focus of this year’s event was on standardization in regulated industries. Qualified AM GmbH presented its cross-platform solutions for the qualification of additive manufacturing processes. Company founder Gregor Reischle emphasized that reliable regulatory standards are essential in order to establish AM in safety-critical industries such as medicine and aviation.
Italian company Ginger Additive presented a cost-efficient solution for architectural and industrial applications with a pellet-based large-format printer. The focus is on sustainable material processing and scalable production. At the same time, the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena presented research projects on micro applications such as photonic components and bio-inspired filter systems.
In addition to the exhibitions, technical deep dives took place directly at the stands as well as topic-specific expert tables. Topics discussed included automated production processes, standardization issues and industry-specific challenges in the AM sector. Keynotes provided insights into the AM strategies of major industry players such as MTU Aero Engines and Turkish Aerospace. Among other things, they addressed economic efficiency and process reliability when integrating AM into existing production chains.
The next rapid.tech 3D is scheduled for May 2026. In view of the diverse fields of application, from medical technology to aerospace and defense technology, Erfurt remains a central meeting place for technology-driven progress in additive manufacturing.
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