Winners of the Formnext Awards 2024 announced

Formnext 2024 honored outstanding innovations and personalities in additive manufacturing with the Formnext Awards, which were presented for the first time. Winners were recognized in six categories for setting standards in the areas of technology, sustainability and design. The winners included both established institutions and young start-ups.

Among the winners was the Canadian company Axolotl Biosciences, which received the Start-up Award for its xeno-free bio-ink for 3D-printed human tissue models. The ink makes it possible to maintain a high level of cell viability and thus supports research in biomedicine. Oryx Medicals also received the Rookie Award. The team impressed the jury with a patient-specific 3D-printed aortic valve that is intended to improve the treatment of aortic valve stenosis using minimally invasive procedures.

Ceratizit received the Sustainability Award for an innovative process for the additive manufacturing of hard metals. The approach reduces raw material consumption by 91% and lowers the carbon footprint by 95%. The Design Award went to Siemens for a sustainable reactor system for synthesizing active pharmaceutical ingredients that drastically reduces the use of energy and solvents.

The Fraunhofer IGCV presented a particular technical breakthrough, winning the (R)Evolution Award for a process for processing multiple materials in powder bed fusion. The technology enables the production of complex battery cell housings in a single production step and offers considerable flexibility for the development of new cell generations.

The AMbassador Award was presented to the University of Stuttgart, which impressed with new ceramic materials and precise implants for the dental sector. The project promotes the development of optimized bone grafts and relies on production using DLP stereolithography.

The prizes were awarded at Formnext by both an expert jury and a public vote.