Forget Formnext, focus on Formnow

When the AM industry regroups at events like Formnext – which was recently held in Frankfurt, Germany, as it always is – there often seems to be a cloud of despondence. Sentiments like ‘nothing new’ or ‘same as last year’ circulate repeatedly. Of course, not everyone feels this way, but you likely know what I’m talking about.

Indeed, some major players like Velo3D, Nexa3D, Raise3D, and Desktop Metal were not present in any significant capacity. Greenwashing runs rife among PR teams, stocks are down for the most part, and intellectual property is being stolen in real time. Additionally, Frankfurt can be a harsh city to handle, especially during the winter months. All of these are valid concerns, and it would be impractical to ignore them.

However, it feels equally – if not more so – impractical to place this negativity above the incredible applications that this technology, and the industry more broadly, is enabling. Entire companies have been built off the back of this technology – many of which were only conceivable thanks to the existence of 3D printing. The success of these companies and their almost immeasurable impact are all thanks to the growth and advancement of the AM industry.

Entire business models built off the back of metal AM

Domin and Conflux Technology aren’t the only companies fully embracing the power of metal additive manufacturing as a core enabler of their businesses, but they are two exemplary case studies. Interestingly enough, both founders – Michael Fuller from Conflux and Marcus Pont from Domin – emphasized how their companies are not AM companies but are rather companies leveraging (heavily) AM to produce products for niche segments.

Domin is a UK-based developer and producer of high-performance hydraulic systems. They didn’t even have a booth at Formnext because the AM industry itself is not of primary importance to the company. Their focus is on delivering cutting-edge hydraulic solutions, and additive manufacturing is the means to achieve that end. If the industry were to go bust and their machine provider – Renishaw, based only 30 minutes away – could no longer offer the aftermarket support they rely on, it would be relevant. However, such a level of ‘industry failure’ is unlikely and does not warrant concern.

The company uses metal AM to create hydraulic components that are more efficient, lighter, and more compact than their traditional counterparts. By utilizing AM, Domin can produce complex internal geometries that allow for optimized fluid flow – reducing energy losses; lightweight components without compromising on strength; and design tailored parts for specific applications, which would be impossible or cost-prohibitive with traditional manufacturing methods.

Similarly, Conflux Technology, an Australian company, specializes in the design and production of advanced thermal management solutions, particularly high-performance heat exchangers. Utilizing two in-house metal 3D printing systems from EOS, Conflux leverages the capabilities of AM to produce heat exchangers with complex geometries that maximize thermal efficiency.

The company’s use of metal AM allows for the production of intricate designs to improve heat transfer rates; smaller, more efficient heat exchangers save space and reduce system weight; and, of course, faster turnaround times from design to final product accelerate development cycles.

Bioprinting everything from skin grafts to brain cells

If the examples set by Conflux and Domin don’t excite you, then let’s look toward the world of 3D bioprinting. During the event, we sat down with Dr. Stephanie Willerth, co-founder of Axolotl Biosciences, for a longer-than-anticipated conversation about why and how her company is producing 3D printing bioinks.

Think about this: while you’re having conversations around poor company performance and unexciting developments, Axolotl Biosciences is literally changing the medical world in the booth next door to you. Such is the nature of this industry.

Axolotl Biosciences specializes in developing high-quality bioinks designed to print human tissues. Their innovations have profound implications for regenerative medicine, drug testing, and personalized healthcare. By enabling the printing of everything from skin grafts to brain cells, they are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine.

“Machine manufacturers don’t make any money”

The issue is not necessarily the approach of the developers but rather the economy in which they are operating, which often rewards inferior quality systems that need to be replaced regularly, over innovation and long-term value.

Machine manufacturers in the AM industry often struggle with profitability due to intense competition and a race to the bottom on pricing. The very noticeable increase in the number of Chinese AM companies, and their booth sizes, at Formnext is cause for further concern – if you are a non-Chinese AM machine manufacturer. However, trade restrictions and stronger crack-downs on technology imports and exports may protect these companies from the threat of the more affordable, and increasingly high-quality, machines produced by these Chinese companies – for now.

Here to stay

AM is here, today, to continue empowering creative entrepreneurs to change the world. If your entire AM company-based portfolio of stocks is down, it might be worth diversifying into companies that are adopting AM instead. Forget about what’s coming up ‘next’, and rather focus on what we have now. The market doesn’t always reward true value, and it’s not a stretch to say that the real innovation is happening right under our noses, often unnoticed.

While industry events may sometimes feel repetitive or underwhelming, the real story lies in the transformative impact that AM technology is having across various sectors. From aerospace components that are lighter and stronger to medical breakthroughs that can save lives, the applications are both diverse and profound.

The true measure of success isn’t always reflected in share prices or flashy booths. It’s in the tangible, real-world changes that companies are making by leveraging AM, today. The future of AM isn’t just in the next big innovation – it’s in the cumulative advancements and applications unfolding across the world, every day. AM technology has already changed the world in unimaginable ways, and we are reaping the resulting benefits, right now.