Formnext Chicago: The expansion of the 3D printing event into the US market

With Formnext Chicago, Mesago Messe Frankfurt is now bringing its established trade fair concept to the USA, one of the largest markets for additive manufacturing (AM) in the world. From April 8 to 10, 2025, Formnext Chicago will showcase the entire industrial process chain for additive manufacturing.

“We see a huge potential for companies in the USA that have not yet come into contact with additive manufacturing (AM) or are not taking advantage of this technology,” explains Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext. “Our focus is on the various user industries to which we want to offer solutions. In this way, we are bringing the possibilities of additive manufacturing even more broadly to the industry and intend to promote AM technologies and significantly increase the business contacts of our exhibitors.”

With the establishment of Formnext Chicago, Mesago Messe Frankfurt is pursuing a strategy of establishing local formats in relevant AM markets, based on the successful parent event in Frankfurt. Alongside Formnext + PM South China in Shenzhen and the Formnext Forum in Tokyo, Formnext Chicago is a further step in this expansion strategy.

Formnext Chicago is organized in cooperation with the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and Gardner Business Media. AMT organizes IMTS, the largest manufacturing trade show in North America, while Gardner Business Media is a leader in machining, plastics processing and other manufacturing technologies.

“Formnext recognized the relevance of the US market for the AM industry early on and announced the premiere of its Chicago event in 2021 for 2025. The global growth of the AM community is proof of the great demand for this successful format. Other providers such as Rapid + TCT confirm our assessment of the potential of the local AM industry and are now holding their event at the same time as Formnext Chicago,” says Douglas Woods, President AMT.

The AM Users Group meeting will also take place in Chicago at the same time as Formnext Chicago. Despite the proximity of the two events, Sascha F. Wenzler still sees potential for synergies between AMUG and Formnext Chicago.

The AMT President is nevertheless positive about Formnext Chicago in 2025: “We see Formnext Chicago as a great opportunity for the US application industries because it covers the entire additive value chain, from material suppliers to software and AM systems to post-processing and quality assurance. This clearly sets the new format apart from existing 3D printing and rapid prototyping events in the US market.”

Doug Woods adds: “There is always competition, especially in the USA. And in a market as large as the United States and with a technology as important as additive manufacturing, there is room for more than one format.”