---
title: "Formnext to launch inaugural Defence Summit in November 2026"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/formnext-to-launch-inaugural-defence-summit-in-november-2026/
date: 2026-07-01
modified: 2026-07-01
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "Formnext, the international exhibition for additive manufacturing and modern production technologies, will host the first Formnext Defence Summit on November 17, 2026, alongside its main exhibition running November 17-20 in..."
categories:
  - "3D Printing Events"
  - "Formnext"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Formnext-Defence-Summit-2026-640x360.jpg
word_count: 470
---

# Formnext to launch inaugural Defence Summit in November 2026

[Formnext, the international exhibition for additive manufacturing and modern production technologies](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/formnext/), will host the first Formnext Defence Summit on November 17, 2026, alongside its [main exhibition running November 17-20 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany](https://www.voxelmatters.com/event/formnext-2026/). 

The summit is organized in partnership with the Additive Manufacturing Defence Network (AMDefNet), a group working to build a European AM strategy for the security and defense sector, Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH, the organizer of Formnext, reported.

The new event will center on the role of industrial 3D printing in supply and value chains, and its contribution to more resilient, flexible and high-performance structures for security among European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, Mesago said.

![Formnext to launch inaugural Defence Summit in November 2026](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Formnext-2025-exhibits-340x191.jpg)Formnext 2025 exhibits

AM has taken on rising importance for defense applications as manufacturers and militaries look for ways to shorten supply chains and produce parts closer to where they are needed. 

Martin Huber, a founding member of AMDefNet, said: “Additive Manufacturing offers distinct advantages for the security and defence industry, enabling more resilient supply chains, shorter response times, and flexible, demand-driven production all the way to decentralized manufacturing solutions. As such, AM is increasingly becoming a strategic factor in security-related scenarios.”

Dr. Sascha Hartig, a founding member and board director at AMDefNet, said close collaboration among stakeholders is needed to set common standards.

“A close exchange between industry, technology drivers, politics, and the military is essential for European security. Only through dialogue can we effectively develop the necessary requirements, quality standards, and frameworks for cybersecurity and resilient supply chains,” Hartig said.

The summit will bring together representatives from the military, government, industry and academia to address supply chain management, procurement, logistics, training, standardization, digitalization and data management, with a focus on industrial applications and supplier structures in the defense and security space.

Sascha Wenzler, vice president of Formnext, explained the show’s positioning as a connector between the two sectors. “As the international hub for Additive Manufacturing, Formnext unites key players from technology, industry, and diverse application areas. It provides the ideal platform to foster closer dialogue between the AM industry and security-related sectors,” commented Wenzler.

Petra Haarburger, president of Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH, said the summit gives the sector a dedicated space of its own: “Additive Manufacturing is a key technology for modern industry. With the Defence Summit, we are providing a dedicated platform to highlight the importance of AM for industrial applications in the security-related sector and to promote professional dialogue.”

The Formnext Defence Summit will take place on the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds and is open to participants from EU and NATO member states. The program includes keynote talks, expert presentations and a panel discussion. Additional details and pre-registration are available at [formnext.com/defencesummit](https://formnext.mesago.com/frankfurt/en/expo/program/defencesummit.html).

[Formnext 2026 has already attracted over 500 global exhibitors](https://www.voxelmatters.com/over-500-exhibitors-from-around-the-globe-register-for-formnext-2026/), and [submissions for its awards program are currently open](https://www.voxelmatters.com/formnext-opens-submissions-for-2026-awards-program/).