Formnext 2024, towards a more stagnant market?

Another Formnext closed its doors last Friday at Messe Frankfurt. For four days, the entire additive manufacturing community gathered in the four halls of the show, looking for the latest innovations, trends and applications. Of course, the 3Dnatives teams were present to collect all this information and take the temperature of the market. This year, it is clear that metal was very present on the exhibitors’ stands: from 3D printed parts to machines and post-processing solutions, there is no doubt that the technology is finding its way to many manufacturers. We have also seen an increasing emphasis on qualification solutions for 3D printed parts, a boom in the DED process and a proliferation of pellet systems.

Overall, Formnext 2024 was the showcase for several interesting launches, but we are still waiting for more: have we reached a certain glass ceiling that could indicate the stability of the sector? Or can we see it as a stagnating market? In any case, this is the feeling that permeated the aisles of the show, which included more and more Asian exhibitors. It’s time to take stock of Formnext 2024!

The show organizers had announced more than 850 exhibitors and we were not disappointed: according to a press release from Messago, there were 864 solution providers from all over the world. Even if there were more exhibitors than in 2023, it is clear that the stands were less impressive than in previous years. There were no double-decker stands, no more shared spaces, no more pavilions. In short, the booth space has been reduced for many companies.

But that doesn’t mean others didn’t take advantage: while several exhibitors had smaller booths this year, others stuck to the maxim that bigger is better. These included stands for Bambu Lab, BLT, Caracol and Supernova. Overall, we were less concerned about demonstrations: the market is industrializing and has chosen its positioning. In terms of visitors, the show attracted 34,404, or 4.7% more than last year.

Asia gains market share

It’s hard not to notice the growing number of Asian exhibitors this year. Some of them even opted for large stands, allowing them to present a wide range of machines and applications. To give you an idea, there were some 150 Asian exhibitors, including 101 Chinese, while the United States only had 53. The question then arises as to how this will translate in terms of competition in Europe and in North America, how incumbent manufacturers like EOS, 3D Systems and Stratasys will react to players like Farsoon and BLT, and whether companies like Anycubic, Creality, Bambu Lab and Elegoo can seriously worry brands like Raise3D, UltiMaker and Prusa.

During a conversation with some visitors to the show, the message was clear: “We now have access to cheaper Asian machines offering the same level of quality and repeatability, so we inevitably wonder whether or not to invest,” said a car manufacturer. A German industrial machinery manufacturer added: “We see that the additive manufacturing market is stagnating, but at the same time, Asia is growing and starting to eat into our market share. The next few years will be decisive in whether or not this trend is confirmed. You have to stay attentive. » 2025 will therefore be an interesting year for the 3D printing sector, and we will see if Formnext 2025 confirms our predictions.

Quality control of 3D printed parts

Another trend seen at Formnext this year was the number of solutions on display for controlling the quality of 3D printed parts and testing material properties. There appears to be an increasing focus on adopting additive manufacturing and scaling it up at scale. Additionally, the goal is to produce final parts, whether in series or not. Depending on the sector, they must meet more or less strict requirements. It is therefore essential to check that they are fit for purpose and meet expectations, which requires quality control.

As we strolled through the aisles of the show, we noticed that a good number of exhibitors were focusing on this stage of the value chain. GrindoSonic, for example, has developed a machine to measure vibration resonance in 3D printed parts, which can then be converted to analyze mechanical properties. Imprintec has also designed a 3D optical measurement solution to characterize the mechanical properties of a part, such as tensile strength, ductility or elasticity curve.

Richard Freemen, principal engineer for metal fabrication and heat treatment at the Performance Review Institute, explained: “It’s great to be at Formnext as we have seen great interest from additive manufacturing suppliers to learn more about certification and quality control in the aerospace sector. It’s in additives that we’re really seeing growing demand.”

In addition to material testing and part quality control machines, numerous software solutions were presented at the show. The goal remains the same: users need reliable tools to ensure reliable, high-quality, repeatable printing. This will allow them to improve their productivity. And that’s what it’s all about. On its stand, Siemens presented several tools to integrate additive manufacturing and use it more simply. The company was talking, for example, about “Click and Print” logic with its Partbox solution.

Machines and materials at Formnext 2024

Turning now to the machines and materials we saw at this year’s event, there is no doubt that the metal is indeed used by many industries, including aerospace. Many exhibitors presented dedicated solutions, with applications to prove it. We have dedicated an article to this subject, as well as a video on metal solutions. Many new players were also present, such as the French ADDIMETAL which exhibited its K2-2 binder projection solution for the first time. Open to the public, it has a printing volume of eight liters and is positioned between smaller machines dedicated to research and production solutions. We particularly appreciated the modular design of the machine, with its exposed mechanics and its print head covering a large part of the plate in a single pass.

The DED market is growing, with numerous robotic arms capable of depositing successive layers of material. Companies such as Caracol, VLM Robotics, AMFree and MX3D presented their machines, some for the first time. Since we are talking about robotic solutions, we must also mention polymers, which were not left out either. In hall 12.1, for example, an aisle was reserved for large format solutions compatible with pellets. A trend that we already observed last year, and which seems to be continuing.

Finally, post-processing remains a thorny issue: in discussions with users as well as with manufacturers, it is a step which represents a major issue. How can we automate these tasks as much as possible, without costing thousands of euros? How can we guarantee consistent quality? How can you save time to devote to more strategic tasks? These are all questions that manufacturers ask themselves, but which they do not necessarily manage to resolve.

At Formnext 2024, we saw the presentation of a number of new initiatives, including AM Solutions and EOS, which unveiled an automated depowdering solution and an automatic powder sifting and mixing system. We also thought of Cold Jet, a specialist in dry ice projection, offering the use of dry ice to facilitate post-processing, whether for powder removal, sanding or cleaning. This non-abrasive process does not damage the part and produces no waste.

In the end, Formnext 2024 was once again an unmissable event for the entire additive manufacturing community. However, we still want more, after seeing editions where many disruptive innovations were announced. There is a hint of unfinished business, closely linked to the current economic situation.

In our opinion, the market has been stagnating for several months. But what does this actually mean? Is it stagnating or have we finally reached some form of stability, where 3D printing is an established manufacturing process? In any case, we hope that growth will resume and that we will witness a real boom allowing technology to go even further. One thing is certain: stay tuned for all the latest news! And don’t forget to save the dates for next year: Formnext 2025 will take place from November 18 to 21.

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*All photo credits: 3Dnatives