Your guide to Formnext 2018 announcements

Formnext 2018 is off to a more than promising start this week. Having kicked off the morning of November 13th, the additive manufacturing event is already demonstrating its leading and influential place within the industry.

With announcements coming out from companies across the industry almost every hour, it can be easy to miss the latest updates. We’re compiling a brief guide and overview of the latest stories from Formnext to help navigate the incoming news.

New Processes

EOS introduces one million diode LaserProFusion AM technology for polymers

Polymer and metal AM industry leader EOS continues to drive the industrialization of additive manufacturing (AM) and will present its newest solutions at this year’s Formnext. With LaserProFusion, EOS introduces a revolutionary technology for polymer additive manufacturing: nearly one million diode lasers melt the material, building up the part layer by layer.

Stratasys reveals details about upcoming LPM metal printing technology

3D printing giant Stratasys has used Formnext 2018 as a platform to reveal more details about its Layered Powder Metallurgy (LPM) technology currently under development. The process, which was first disclosed earlier this year, is being developed to improve the speed, cost and facility of 3D printing metal parts for short-run applications.

New Hardware

3D Systems introduces new DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350 metal 3D printers

With all eyes on Formnext, 3D Systems has taken the event as an opportunity to announce two new metal 3D printers: the DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350. The machines, the latest additions to the company’s DMP metal 3D printing range, were developed to fulfill volume production of critical components for industrial applications in the aerospace, healthcare and transportation industries.

Modular Sintratec S2 SLS 3D printer debuts at Formnext

Sintratec, a Swiss manufacturer of SLS 3D printers, is debuting its new Sintratec S2 3D printer for the first time at Formnext 2018. The new selective laser sintering system is designed for prototyping as well as for small- and medium-sized series production.

EnvisionTEC introduces Perfactory P4K 3D printer with industry-first 4K projector

3D printer company EnvisionTEC has launched the industry’s first DLP 3D printer with a true 4K projector. The Perfactory P4K, which is being showcased at Formnext 2018 in Frankfurt, also uses artificial intelligence. EnvisionTEC believes the new projector’s resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels puts the Perfactory P4K in a class above other DLP 3D printers.

Desktop Metal announces major updates to its Production System 3D printer

Formnext 2018 kicked off this morning and companies from across the AM spectrum are making the most of it. Desktop Metal is the latest company to release a piece of exciting news: it has announced a number of major advancements to its Production System metal 3D printer for mass production.

BigRep presents new PRO and EDGE 3D printers with MXT technology

German 3D printer manufacturer BigRep will be showcasing some brand new products at Formnext this week, including two new industrial 3D printers. The two machines, the BigRep PRO and the BigRep EDGE, are based on the company’s new and proprietary MXT Extrusion Technology.

3DCeram Sinto introduces new CERAMAKER 900 and metal+ceramic capabilities

3DCeram-Sinto is presenting the new CERAMAKER 900 3D printer, the next, larger and more automated evolution of the original ceramic 3D printers based on FCP (fast ceramic production) technology (a type of stereolithography).

Sisma shows off sleek and fast EVERES DLP 3D printers at gala event in Frankfurt

On the evening of day-one at the formnext 2018 show in Frankfurt, Italian high-end 3D printer (and jewelry machinery) manufacturer Sisma invited a select number of journalists and industry players to an exclusive event to present the new EVERES ZERO and EVERES UNO 3D printers.

LSS Laser-Sinter-Service launches RAPTOR 3D printer series at Formnext

Germany-based LSS Laser-Sinter-Service GmbH has introduced its new RAPTOR series 3D printer at Formnext 2018. The new machine series aims to drive industrial adoption for laser-based powder bed fusion technology for polymers.

New KODAK Portrait 3D printer launches at Formnext 2018

Kodak has launched its KODAK Portrait 3D printer at Formnext 2018 in partnership with Smart International, Kodak’s global brand licensee for all things 3D printing. The new desktop 3D printer, targeted at the professional market, offers such features as dual extrusion, an enclosed all-steel structure and more.

New Software

Materialise announces Magics 23 software and new 3D printing materials

Materialise has announced the release of its Magics 23 software platform for increased productivity and efficiency for 3D printing. The company says the software update will enable manufacturers and businesses to scale up their operations, utilize resources more efficiently and bring manufacturing costs down.

AMFG presents new automation software tools at Formnext 

AMFG, a UK-based specialist in automation software for additive manufacturing, is unveiling its new Post-Processing Scheduling and digital QA management solutions for its AM workflow software at Formnext this week. The new solutions will enable users to further automate post-production planning for 3D printed components.

Siemens to demonstrate industrial advancements in AM

Siemens will be showcasing its Digital Enterprise portfolio of seamless integrated solutions for additive manufacturing under the banner “Industrialize Additive Manufacturing” at Formnext 2018, the lead exhibition for additive manufacturing (AM), in Frankfurt, Germany.

GE Additive teams up with Autodesk to streamline metal AM workflow

As part of its updated software strategy, GE Additive is teaming up Autodesk to streamline the metal 3D printing process through the development of an integrated workflow software for GE Additive systems. The workflow will combine the Autodesk Fusion 360 platform with GE Additive Build Preparation interfaces.

New Materials

DuPont introduces 3D printing filaments reinforced with carbon, glass

DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers, a global business unit of the DowDuPont Specialty Products Division, has introduced new 3D printing filaments at Formnext 2018. Using the “ultralow shrinkage technology” of DuPont’s Zytel specialty nylons for 3D printing, the new grades address the industry needs for stiffer and stronger materials.

DSM unveils two high-performance materials for 3D printing structural parts

DSM, a global purpose-led science-based company today announced two major product launches that will help accelerate adoption of 3D printing into mainstream production. With Somos PerFORM Reflect, DSM once again demonstrates its leadership in high-performing materials for additive manufacturing.

AP&C to begin production of aluminum alloy F357 powder in 2019

AP&C, a GE Additive company, has announced that it will begin production of aluminum alloy F357 powder in Q1 2019 with customer deliveries expected from April 2019. Aluminium alloy F357 powder will be produced using AP&C’s proprietary Advanced Plasma Atomization (APA) at its recently expanded facility in Saint-Eustache, Canada.

BASF announces new partnerships and AM materials at Formnext 2018

BASF 3D Printing Solutions (B3DPS) has unveiled a range of new AM-related products, including new photopolymer and laser sintering materials, at Formnext 2018 in Frankfurt. The company is also marking the AM industry event with the announcement of several new partnerships, including Origin, Photocentric and Xunshi Technology.

Stratasys to unveil elastomer solution and new materials at Formnext 2018

Putting additive manufacturing to work across critical rapid prototyping, custom tooling and part production processes, Stratasys is bringing to market advanced elastomers and enhanced materials for its leading FDM and PolyJet machines.

XJet announces new alumina technical ceramic and support material

XJet Ltd., the company behind the NanoParticle Jetting (NPJ) technology for ceramics and metals, has announced a new ceramic material for its AM system: alumina. 

ACEO presents electrically conductive silicone rubber materials for 3D printing

German chemical group WACKER and its 3D printing division ACEO have unveiled electrically conductive silicone rubber materials for 3D printing applications. The materials were developed to the meet the market need for electrically conductive elastomers with high-temperature resistance.

Z3DLAB announces availability of titanium ZTi-Powder and ZTi-Med materials for AM

Z3DLAB SAS, a French AM company specializing in nano-structured advanced materials, has announced the availability of two nano-structures titanium powders enriched with 1% nano zirconia. The materials, ZTi-Powder and ZTi-Med, were developed as an alternative to existing titanium grades that have been around since the 1950s.

New Partnerships

Volkswagen installs Additive Industries MetalFAB1 at Wolfsburg plant

Car manufacturer Volkswagen and 3D printing company Additive Industries have entered into a long-term partnership. The deal will see the two companies 3D print advanced tooling and spare parts for the Volkswagen Group.

GKN partners with PostNord to revolutionize logistics for 3D printed parts

GKN Powder Metallurgy, a leading innovation development partner of the manufacturing industry, today announced a partnership with PostNord AB, the leading supplier of communication and logistic solutions to, from and within the Nordic region.

HRE Wheels, GE Additive develop first 3D printed titanium wheel

HRE Wheels and GE Additive today unveiled the first titanium wheel created using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) — a 3D printing technology that uses metal wire or powder as a raw material — as well as announcing a formal partnership.

HP reveals new partnerships and new MJF applications at Formnext

Though HP arguably made its biggest splash of the year in September when it announced its Metal Jet 3D printing technology, the influential company has saved some exciting tidbits for Formnext as well.

DMG MORI invests in Indian 3D printing company INTECH

At the Formnext 2018 show in Frankfurt, DMG MORI is announcing that it is boosting its already far-reaching global presence in metal additive manufacturing (AM) by taking a 30% stake in the Indian company, INTECH, a developer of software for AM, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

EOS and GKN Powder Metallurgy team up for metal AM

GKN Powder Metallurgy has just announced a partnership with metal 3D printing company EOS at Formnext 2018. Working together, the companies have reportedly developed a new, high-productivity laser metal 3D printing process that is faster and cheaper than existing solutions on the market.

Air Liquide and Additive Industries deepen partnership for AM gas supply

Additive Industries, the Dutch metal additive manufacturing company, has announced a professional partnership agreement with French industrial gas supplier Air Liquide. The companies, which made the announcement at Formnext this week, will intensify their existing long term collaboration to push forward industrial AM.