The Formnext 2025, held from 18 to 21 November in Frankfurt am Main, clearly showed how strongly 3D printing has shifted towards industrial applications. Between powder bed systems, wire-based DED systems and large-format polymer printers, the focus was less on individual parts and more on complete, digitally networked process chains – from design and simulation through to automated post-processing.
“The last ten years have been characterized by enormous technological development. Additive manufacturing is no longer just a promise for the future, but a reality in numerous industries,” said Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “But with progress come new challenges. And this is precisely where Formnext comes in: it showcases solutions to further industrialize AM, make supply chains more flexible, and make the technology more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises.”
Petra Haarburger, Managing Director of Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH, adds: “Formnext demonstrates how important it is not only to make progress visible, but also to jointly drive the transformation of industrial manufacturing. Entirely in the spirit of our claim: Driving Technologies by connecting bright minds.”
Christoph Stüker, Vice President Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH, outlines: “Formnext has shown that it is far more than a trade show – it is a driver of ideas and home to a global, constantly growing fAMily.”
For its tenth anniversary, the trade show recorded 38,282 industry professionals and managers, 47 percent of them from abroad, as well as 804 exhibitors. Many manufacturers showcased machines based on new process variants or combinations of existing methods, such as hybrid systems with milling and printing units or equipment for highly filled thermoplastics and fiber-reinforced thermoset composites. These were complemented by specialized materials tailored to defined temperature windows, conductivity or fatigue strength, specifically targeting niches in aerospace, medical technology and energy technology.
“This is my first visit to Formnext and I wanted to learn as much as possible and make valuable new contacts. I found a wide range of companies – from small and medium-sized businesses to large key players: everyone is represented here. It was particularly exciting to see how diverse and in-depth the technologies are. I’m already looking forward to coming back next year,” said Phillip Chang, Product Developer, Mobile Outfitters
“At Rodin Cars we produce high-performance sports cars, and since additive manufacturing is a key element of our process, both in research and development and in the production of end-use parts, we absolutely wanted to attend Formnext to explore what the international industry has to offer. We are thrilled and inspired by what we’ve seen. Formnext presents an overwhelming variety of opportunities for our business,” said Michael Blair, Additive Technician, and Andrew Murton, Mechanical Design Engineer, Rodin Cars
“At Formnext, my team and I see year after year what is currently driving the industry. Everything that’s new can be seen here first! The breadth represented here, from small companies to global corporations and across the entire process chain, is truly impressive,” said Frank Zimmer, Staff Engineer Industrial, TE Connectivity GmbH
The trade show aims to demonstrate how AM can be further industrialized and integrated into flexible supply chains, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Managing Director Petra Haarburger emphasized that the focus should not only be on new machines, but also on the shared dialogue about how production environments can be concretely reshaped.
“As the world’s first developer of the shape-memory aligner, we have been present at Formnext every year since 2019. Strong partnerships and the momentum we have consolidated at the trade show have significantly supported our rapid growth. Today, at Formnext we find a growing number of technologies for real-world applications that are changing our lives and will drive the next phase of global 3D printing innovation. That’s why Formnext is the ideal place to present our portfolio,” said Sim, Un seob, CEO/ President, Graphy
“We have the impression that Formnext is even better attended this year than last year. We experience an enormous rush of visitors already in the morning and spend the entire day in intensive and productive discussions. The new offerings such as the Guided Tours, in particular, have provided us with great added value!” said Stefan Krzykowski, Sales Manager Region South Austria/Switzerland & Area Sales Manager, MHG Strahlanlagen GmbH
“We decided to participate at Formnext for the first time to present our new technology for thermoset composites. It has become clear that Formnext is the place to showcase advances in additive manufacturing!” said Gabriele Natale, CEO, moi composites
“3D Systems greatly values the continuous support provided by Formnext – their efforts enable us to make a lasting contribution to additive manufacturing year after year and to engage with decision-makers as well as trade visitors,” said Cassie Harris, Global Tradeshow Manager, 3D Systems
The exhibition program was complemented by awards, technical presentations and guided tours on topics such as sustainable materials, series production and AI-assisted process monitoring.
The next Formnext has already been scheduled: from 17 to 20 November 2026, Frankfurt is once again set to become the meeting place for industrial 3D printing processes.
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