formnext magazine October 2015

International exhibition and conferenceon additive technologies and tool makingFrankfurt, Germany, 17 – 20 November 2015formnext.com

MTU »prints« standard engine parts Page 5

Stratasys: »Technology alone is no longer enough« Page 8

The winners of the formnext Start-up Challenge Page 10

Where ideas take shape.

Picture: Materialise Picture: MTU Picture: Stratasys

Picture: Sisma

Picture: DyeMansion Picture: LamyPicture: Sisma

Picture: botspot Picture: FIT

Whatever the subject – a human body, an animal, an object, or a machine – the full-body 3D scanner built by the botspot company in Berlin scans everything within a hundredth of a second and then converts the data into a faithfully detailed »digital double«. According to botspot, this 3D scanner is one of the best and fastest in the world. This is made possible by the use of new photogrammetric technology. It operates quickly and safely on a non-contact basis – no longer requiring any use of lasers. At this year’s formnext, botspot is exhibiting the latest advanced version of its 3D scanner.botspot is one of the world’s leading specialists in profes-sional 3D scanners. According to its own information, the

Dear Readers,

Many companies could no longer imagine life without the use of additive technologies, while others have not even discovered the amazing possibilities of 3D printing for themselves.

The use of additive technologies also sends a signal to their own customer base and is a promise for the future that says: we not only offer the latest attractive products, but are already making sure that we will continue to do so in the future.

The use of 3D printing in production is regarded as an area of enormous potential growth, and in tool and form-making, for example, it can be combined with conventional methods to optimum effect.

For the German economy, with its strong backbone of industrial production, application knowledge concern-ing the very latest methods of product development and manufacturing is particularly important. That is why we are delighted to have created the formnext exhibition and the prestigious conference centrally in Germany as an outstanding platform for this future technology. From November 17 to 20, 2015, the world’s leading suppliers are gathering in Frankfurt to show how, with the aid of additive technologies, the entire process from the concept of a product to its production can be shaped according to the challenges of the future.

Alongside additive technologies, numerous companies from the tool and form-making segments, as well as those in development and manufacturing, are exhibiting at formnext. This environment is particularly important to us, as the modern and successful development and manufacturing of products can only function properly through cooperation and partnerships between companies from diverse areas. The special shows »Audi Toolmaking« and »From Basic Material to Component« graphically demonstrate this and consolidate the individual aspects.

In this edition of »formnext magazine« we are offering you a preview of formnext 2015. Be inspired and take this opportunity to visit formnext, so that you can experience the next generation of product development. We look forward to seeing you.

company builds »3D scanners for every application and for any specified size«. In the solutions offered, anything is possible: from scanning a single hair of a beard to recording an entire skyscraper. The 3D scanner generates pin-sharp scans and reproduces the minutest details.The 3D scanners from botspot are in service all round the world. Specialists in 3D use botspot technology for 3D printing or the creation of animated figures for computer games and movies. The Saturn media store has set up a botspot 3D scanner in Berlin, in which customers can scan themselves and have the resulting image printed out in 3D.

botspot at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-G71

Your invitation to formnext powered by tct 2015

Page 3 .... Versatile 3D metal printer from SismaPage 3 .... botspot scans facial hair and skyscrapersPage 4 .... Special show: Audi Toolmaking looks to the future

of car manufacturingPage 4 .... Materialise permits certified 3D printingPage 5 .... MTU prints standard engine components for the

first time – cooperation with EOSPage 6 .... Five years of laser generation in toolmaking:

writing instrument manufacturer LamyPage 6 .... Meusburger: Inclined ejection unit for simple rear forms

Page 6 .... Freeformer from Arburg individualizes series productionPage 7 .... FIT sheds light on existing productionPage 7 .... Innovative materials from UMSICHTPage 8 .... Interview with Andy Middleton of Stratasys:

»Technology alone is no longer enough« Page 9 .... Special show »From Basic Material to Component«Page 9 .... Lightning-fast laser melting with SLM 500 HLPage 10 ... The winners of the formnext Start-up ChallengePage 11 ... Concentrated knowledge: The formnext conferencePage 12 ... Formnext data and facts

Full-body scan in less than a hundredth of a second. When it comes to size, the scanning options are almost endless. Pictures: botspot.

Dental crowns and bridges are manufactured using »laser metal fusion« technology on a plate measuring 100 mm in diameter.

Johann Thoma President Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH

Sascha WenzlerHead of Division for formnextMesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH

Precious pendants of the finest gold and silver, designed by Nuovi Gioielli Srl and produced on Sisma MySint.

For industrial use, this heat exchanger has been created and »printed« from 316-AAUV stainless steel. Pictures: Sisma

From dental prosthetics to fine jewelry – the MySint 3D metal printer that is being exhibited by Sisma at formnext 2015 demonstrates possible high-grade applications of additive manufacturing. The MySint printer is based on »laser metal fusion« technology and is suitable for a wide range of applications – from dentistry to reactive materials and precious metals.

Founded in Schio, Italy, in 1961, Sisma today is a company renowned worldwide for development and production of precision machinery. Operating on the principle of »innovation by vocation«, the company independently develops state-of-the-art products and responds to the latest market trends.

Sisma at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-F80

Dental prosthetics and the finest gold jewelryThe MySint 3D metal printer from Sisma is suitable for numerous applications

From facial hair to skyscrapersbotspot exhibits the latest 3D scanning technology at formnext

Contents

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With the borescope boss, measuring just a few centimeters across, MTU Aero Engines is taking a step into a new techno-logical era in engine construction. In the engine for the new A320neo – the PurePower PW1100G-JM from Pratt & Whitney – MTU is for the first time using a 3D-printed component in series production. For the extremely safety-related field of aero-engine construction, this is »an enormous leap forward in development,« according to Dr. Andreas Jakimov, project man-ager and technical coordinator for the Additive Procedures, Development Projects department at MTU in Munich. The borescope bosses are manufactured at MTU using a selective laser melting (SLM) procedure. »The technology is of great interest, especially in engine construction, as it enables lighter components and new designs to be created,« says Jakimov. Thanks to the new production process, the engine manufacturer achieves a »component strength that, by comparison, is somewhere between forged and cast parts,« continues Jakimov. Product developers in the aerospace industry are constantly striving to save weight. Additive production offers great potential here because it facilitates new processes, designs, and materials. The major challenges when introducing new technologies are the extremely high demand for safety, the extreme loading of the materials, specifically at the high temperatures in engines, and a long and expensive certifi-cation process. However, the high cost of introducing new technologies is worthwhile: »For the same strength, we can reduce the weight by at least 10 % and make a genuine leap forward in development,« explains Jakimov.The path to the product launch, however, demands staying power. »Our first steps, such as the borescope boss, involve non-safety-related components,« says Jakimov. The process starts with the substitution of existing components, then in the second stage, it moves on to the development of new designs.

The use of new components demands a great deal, not only of production, but also of quality assurance. For this purpose, MTU in collaboration with the plant manufacturer EOS has developed the procedure of »optical tomography«. In this, the entire production process on the EOSINT M280 systems is monitored and documented optically with an integral camera. »EOS and MTU have jointly agreed to bring this technology onto the market,« reports Udo Behrendt, Key Account Man-ager Aerospace at EOS. And Jakimov hopes that »our pio-neering work will ideally establish itself as the standard throughout this industry.« In the additive procedures branch of development, MTU currently has seven EOSINT M 280 laser-sintering machines in service. »Two are for develop-ment, while the other five are being used for manufacturing the borescope bosses, or tools such as grinding discs, by means of industrial 3D printing.« Small wonder that in the technology department at MTU, further additively manufactured parts are already under development. For example, an additively produced seal carrier with integral honeycomb, which is soon to be installed in the high-pressure compressor of the engine. Jakimov has also produced a 3D-manufactured turbine bearing housing in model form. In this, for example, the air ducts are routed in a way that is only possible by means of additive manufacturing. For MTU, the introduction of 3D technology into production is also causing quite a different turn of events. Until now, the company has bought in numerous components, »but now we are manufacturing blanks ourselves for the first time,« explains Jakimov. The reason is quite simple. The company wants to keep its expertise and the development of this fledgling technology in house.

EOS at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-F70

»Leap forward in the development of engine construction«For the first time, MTU »prints« standard components – cooperation with EOS in production and QS

Dr. Andreas Jakimov and diploma student Natascha Ktenidis attending to an EOSINT M280 system, in which the production process is optically monitored and documented by means of an integral camera. Picture: MTU

In manufacturing the borescope boss, MTU Aero Engines has relied on additive series production for the first time. Picture: MTU

As one of the world’s leading car manu-facturers, AUDI AG has pioneering expertise in tool-

making. Audi is presenting this outstanding know-how at formnext with its unique special show »Audi Tool-making«. This show looks back at the technical history of toolmaking at Audi and forges a link via current production technology to the developments and car production of thefuture. Among other things, the special show demonstrates how additive production is keeping pace in toolmaking at Audi and what opportunities this technology offers in the production process of an automobile.

Special show by Audi Toolmaking

Anyone wanting to print in 3D requires not only a printer, but also CAD, scanned, or image data. What is more, this data must be delivered effectively to the 3D printer.Over the past 25 years, the Belgian company Materialise has become one of the leading suppliers of 3D printing software in this field. Its presence at formnext 2015 not only celebrates 25 years of existence, but the company is also exhibiting »several milestones in the corporate history,« according to Pascale Notte, Corporate Marketing Project Manager at Materialise.Apart from new software solutions, Materialise is present-ing its expertise in certified production and metal 3D print-ing. The software platform, which has been continuously developed over 25 years, supports every step in the 3D

Software for certified productionMaterialise promises milestones in 3D printing with its new software versions

Small series production using »selective laser sintering«. Picture: Materalise.

printing process and, at the same time, offers compatibility between contents and a host of 3D print technologies.In addition, Materialise is exhibiting its own production options that are predominantly bundled »in Europe’s larg-est AM production plant, the headquarters of Materialise in Leuven, Belgium,« says Notte. Here, Materialise uses more than 120 machines to produce over 2,000 parts per day and, in doing so, relies on six different additive pro-duction technologies. Notte: »More than 30 different materials and over 90 colors offer an enormous range of production possibilities.« Although based in Leuven, the company owns subsidiaries all over the world and is a supplier of software solutions for additive manufacturing (AM), as well as advanced 3D print-ing services in a wide variety of sectors such as healthcare, the automotive industry, aerospace, art and design, and consumer goods.»Particularly in medical engineering or aerospace, it is essential to document the process data for every compo-nent manufactured in order to assure the quality of each product,« explains Notte. In order to satisfy the approval regulations of the ISO or the FDA, the entire process must be traceable. This includes information about the machines used, the positioning of the component, the operators, and any reworking. In order to guarantee this level of process security and traceability in additive manufacturing, Materi-alise offers the »Streamics« software.

Materialise at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-E11

Special show: Audi Toolmaking at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-C10

In the laser melting process, a three-dimensional part is created layer by layer in the metal printer. The excess powder is removed with a brush to expose the metal components. Picture: AUDI AG

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The writing instrument manufacturer Lamy has been using additive technologies for its toolmaking for about five years now. »We use it to manufacture form inserts with con-tour-hugging cooling or to prepare cores,« explains Bernd Hirth, Head of Sales, Toolmaking at Lamy. Lamy is demon-strating this expertise and much more at formnext 2015.At its toolmaking site in Heidelberg, Lamy relies on addi-tive technologies for metal products »provided that there is a practical use for the technology,« explains Hirth. In coop-erative ventures with partners, new materials and alloys come into play. Through their continued development, Hirth also sees great potential for tool and form-making. »Better materials spawn new applications.« The important factors here are excellent properties in the areas of service life, thermal conductivity, and freedom from pores. Ulti-mately, the cores must be polished following the sintering/generation, and that is where inclusions or cavities show up as defects.»We develop tools with a form structure of up to 500 × 500 mm for rotationally symmetrical parts and a cav-ity precision of up to 5 µm, thereby enabling the creation of high-quality designer surfaces,« says Hirth. Lamy achieves this high level of precision with a modern array of machin-ery and also by air-conditioning the entire workshop. The toolmaking department at Lamy employs about 20 people and its products are destined for in-house applications, but increasingly also for external partners, such as the automo-tive or medical engineering industry. The proportion of external customers is currently around 50 % and is to be further increased – also thanks to the expertise in additive technologies.

Lamy at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-B45

»Better materials spawn new applications«.Writing instrument manufacturer Lamy has relied on 3D laser generation in machine tool building for five years.

The cavity precision of up to 5 μm permits high-quality designer surfaces. Picture: Lamy

Lamy manufactures tools for in-house use (such as this ink feed tool), but also for external partners. Picture: Lamy

New business models and the opening up of new application possibilities for additive manufacturing are currently the topics being discussed by many businesses in this sector. For this purpose, FIT AG, one of Europe’s largest service and solution providers, has developed its »FAB@FIT« business concept. The »FAB@FIT« concept supports the introduction of additive manufacturing to companies in several stages. Firstly, FIT examines a company’s range of products to see which are suitable for additive manufacturing. In the next phase of »implementation«, components are developed which, for example, are tailored to additive manufacturing by means of their design. According to the company, this enables cost-ef-fective production in 3D printing with the required quality and additional integration of functions. As an external service provider, FIT also offers its customers the production and supply of additively manufactured com-ponents and promises a consistently high level of quality. To this end, FIT has over 20 years of experience as well as several certifications: ISO 9001, EN ISO 13485, and shortly also ISO 9100.

In order to offer these production opportunities, FIT has one of Europe’s largest additive manufacturing capacities at its site in Lupburg, Germany. Due to growing demand, the acquisition of further plants is planned for 2015, the focus being on the fields of metals, including titanium. The potential offered by 3D printing for the automotive industry is being demonstrated by FIT at formnext, among other things by a cylinder head made of aluminum. This was realized on behalf of a major motor manufacturer with the involvement of FIT at all stages, from the design through to additive manufacturing. »We were able to reduce the weight by 66 % and, at the same time, increase the cooling surface area by a factor of 12,« explains Alexandra Schittenhelm, Marketing Manager at FIT.Apart from the cylinder head, FIT will exhibit other original examples at formnext. Visitors will thus be able to examine the themes of weight reduction, surface quality, and micro-structure by direct and vivid reference to the object.

FIT at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-G74

Which components are suitable for 3D printing?With its new »FAB@FIT« concept, FIT is shedding light on the existing production system

FIT has one of Europe’s largest additive manufacturing capacities at its site in Lupburg, Germany. In the case of an aluminum cylinder head, 3D printing was able to reduce the weight by 66 %. Pictures: FIT

Meusburger’s exhibits at formnext include the E 3248 inclined ejection unit. This, in combination with the E 32481 inclined ejection unit, guarantees easy removal of undercuts without pushers. The low installation profile of the inclined ejection unit within the ejector package guarantees compact installa-tion. In addition, the high-quality material and precision design ensure a minimum of wear. As a matching supple-ment, Meusburger offers the E 3249 support plate as an additional guide.

Meusburger at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-C30

Arburg is presenting the »Freeformer« at formnext, which manufactures standard plastic parts economically and efficiently and, in a further stage of additive production, can manufacture customer-specific parts in small batches.Arburg regards the interaction of conventional processes and 3D printing as a trend for the future. »We are noticing a clear trend toward small series of enormous variety and small batch sizes right down to individual pieces,« says Managing Director Technology & Engineering, Heinz Gaub. »In this regard, we see great potential in the combination of injection molding and industrial additive manufacturing.«

Arburg at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-E30

For easy removal from the form Individualized series production Materials play a special role in manufacturing innovations. This is evident, not only from the formnext special show »From Basic Material to Component«. The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) is also presenting various powder materials »for tomorrow’s production«. Through the use of the right powder, UMSICHT promises »innovations in production«. The materials presented at formnext 2015 will include spher-ical powders with specially adapted sizes and excellent flow properties. The range of materials includes metals, plastics, and composites.

UMSICHT at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-E18

Powder materials for innovations in production

The range of materials presented by UMSICHT includes metals, plastics, and composites. Pictures: UMSICHT

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With its numerous subsidiaries, Stratasys is the world leader in the field of additive manufacturing and will also have a strong presence at the premiere of formnext. What was the deciding factor for this and what are your objectives?First and foremost, I would like to say that we are fully behind the concept of formnext and are demon-

strating this with our exhibition booth covering 506 square meters. By the way, that is the largest exhibition space that we have yet taken in Europe. Above all, we were convinced by the clear orientation of the exhibition toward industrial applications. Because it is precisely here that we see the greatest potential for future growth in additive manufacturing.

After all, 3D printing originates from the field of model and prototype construction. How large is the proportion of addi-tive manufacturing in industry now?At present, 65 % of our systems are used in prototyping, so the proportion used in manufacturing is around a third. But the manufacturing sector is very dynamic and we are anticipating three to four-fold growth. The key areas, by the way, include the automotive industry and aerospace. Let me give you an example: At present, about 1,000 parts in an aircraft are addi-tively manufactured; that figure will soon rise to 10,000.

Production in industry is currently still determined by conventional production methods such as milling, turning, and eroding. Is it foreseeable that additive technologies will replace these methods at some time?In the long term, I estimate that we in industrial manufactur-ing will produce about 25 % of finished form parts and tools using 3D printing. But despite all the potential, 3D printing will not completely displace conventional manufacturing – especially not for large quantity production. In manufacturing, 3D printing is, and will remain, a complementary technology.

What applications are there, for example, in the automotive industry? Are production processes being replaced here, or are new ones being developed?Both. On the one hand, the grippers for robots are produced on our printers. On the other hand, 3D printing is changing the range of products offered by the manufacturer to the custom-ers. The geometries and the design will react to these techni-cal opportunities. In the future, for example, personalized and customer-specific parts will be fitted to the interiors of cars. There is also great potential in terms of spare parts. In a col-laboration with one major client, we are currently developing a project in which an extensive spare parts store is gradually being reduced in size and in the future will be completely closed, after which the spare parts will be printed on demand.

These are obviously enormous processes aimed at the long term. Where do you and your company Stratasys see the major challenges and opportunities?The possibilities are enormous. But it is no longer enough just to offer the technology. Because, when integrating technology into production, you also have to concern yourself with the process, the qualification, and the certification. In addition, you occasionally have to have an eye on the subsequent pro-cessing such as electroplating or polishing. This requires us to be available on site and to understand the customer’s process-ing steps. For this purpose, incidentally, we have set up the »Strategy Account« business unit, which involves offering advice instead of selling technology and applications. Further-more, in order to position ourselves better in this respect, we have recently taken over the consulting company Econolist.

What role does this production-specific customer care currently play at Stratasys?In Europe alone, we have installed 10,000 systems for about 8,000 customers. Our task is to check whether and to what extent any further use of our technology is possible in manufacturing. This is of the highest priority for me and my work because this area of business is booming.

INTERVIEW: Andy Middleton, President EMEA at Stratasys

»Offering technology alone is no longer enough«

In its special show »From Basic Material to Component«, formnext 2015 is demonstrating the right selection of materials for different production processes. Here, it is a matter of using materials not only for conventional production (e. g. injection molding), but also for the additive manufacturing procedures.»When manufacturing new products, the demands on the component should be decisive in the choice of materials,« according to Professor Wolfgang Kollenberg, WZR ceramic solutions GmbH, Rheinbach, and Head of the Additive Manu-facturing Technical Committee at the German Society for Materials Science. Kollenberg has developed and organized the special show in cooperation with formnext.The selection and provision of appropriate materials for additive manufacturing are a very topical subject for ongoing

development in the field of 3D printing, aiming toward series production. With selected exhibits and eye-catching examples – from toothbrushes and eyeglass lenses to aircraft parts and brake discs – the special show highlights innovative solutions for the future. By focusing on dental prostheses, for example, the show presents the various possible methods for manufacturing bone pins – from conventional ceramic to sintered titanium – including the impact of the materials on the resulting properties and manufacturing processes. Formnext wants to use this special show to highlight the further possibilities for development in the field of materials, especially for the additive procedures. »Unfortunately, there are still too few raw materials available in this area,« says Kollenberg. For the concept of unlimited possibilities for manufacturing using 3D printing, a lot of development work would still be needed for basic materials. Yet not only materials for additive manufacturing are to be seen in the special show »From Basic Material to Component«. A toothbrush will be used to demonstrate how several materials and brushes can be combined with injection molding. »In terms of toolmaking, the simple toothbrush is a high-end product,« says Kollenberg.

The right choice of basic materialsformnext 2015 presents special show »From Basic Material to Component«

When manufacturing new products, the choice of the right materials plays a decisive role. Picture: WZR ceramic solutions GmbH, Rheinbach

At formnext 2015, Stratasys is exhibiting its entire range of additive manufacturing on one booth for the first time. In the field of hardware solutions, the company is pre-senting its extensive portfolio of technology: from entry-level 3D printers made by MakerBot and professional WDM Solidscape systems, to the industrial PolyJet and FDM 3D printers.

Stratasys is presenting the developments at the other end of the process chain by means of its collaboration with PTC. This provides users with a seamless process between the PTC Creo design software and the 3D printing options of Stratasys 3D.

Stratasys at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-G40

Complete bandwidth of additive manufacturing

The SLM Solutions Group, one of the leading vendors of 3D printing technology for metal, is presenting the SLM 500 HL laser melting system at formnext 2015.

This system has a construction chamber measuring 500 × 280 × 365 mm and uses powerful double/multi-laser technology. The SLM 500 HL can be equipped with either two or four fiber-lasers of 400 W each. In order to increase construction speed, the radiation profiles can be used either independently or in parallel. In addition, the system offers an extensive monitoring and quality assurance system. The company is based in Lübeck, Germany, and employs about 230 people. Shares in the company are traded in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt stock exchange. SLM has specialized in »Selective Laser Melting« (SLM) technology. The systems are used in the aerospace indus-try, the energy sector, healthcare, and the automotive industry.

SLM at formnext 2015: Booth 3.1-G50

Fast laser-melting system for large components

Bild: SLM

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DyeMansion is barely one year old and is attending formnext 2015 to exhibit its own development of a dyeing solution for laser-sintered plastic parts. »The unique process sets new standards in terms of quality,« says founder and CEO Felix Ewald. Under the name of Trindo, the company, based in Planegg in Bavaria, started out pro-ducing laser-sintered smartphone cases. In September 2013, Trindo developed its own dyeing process which attracted the attention of EOS, among others. DyeMansion was founded in January 2015 with the aim of developing the knowledge already gained from the dyeing process. »We are currently offering this process as a service,« explains Ewald, »but are developing an easy-to-use solution that can be used directly by customers themselves.« 

Detailed information on the conference program can be found at: formnext.de/Konferenz

The international conference at formnext powered by tct 2015 is turning Frankfurt into the global forum for modern product development. On each of the four days of the exhi-bition, the conference is presenting the latest technologies and possible applications of additive manufacturing and their influence on product development and production. The conference is being opened by Graham Tromans. He has been closely associated with 3D printing since the early 1990s and remains today one of the most successful »veterans« of this technology. The second day of the conference focuses on presentations by high-caliber personalities who have shaped and continue to shape the development of additive technologies. Dr. Hans Langer, CEO and founder of EOS GmbH, one of the leading manufacturers of 3D printing machines for plastics and metals, has over 25 years of invaluable experience in the field of additive technology and is one of the pioneers in this sector. In the opinion of many experts, his view of the future development is decisive for the future of 3D printing. Michael Breme, Head of Toolmaking at Audi AG, will explore in his keynote speech the different application potential of 3D-printed metal parts in tool and form-making, which is precisely the focus topic of formnext 2015. In doing so, he will also take a look at the related business aspects and existing manufacturing processes. The conference will also include contributions from Todd Grimm, President, T. A. Grimm Associates, Kristian Arntz, CEO of ACAM, Geoff McFarland, Group Engineering Director, Renishaw, and

Willem Balfoort, a lawyer at De Clercq specializing in new technologies. The third day of the conference address-es the latest appli-cations of additive technologies. David Reis, CEO of Stratasys and one of the outstanding personalities from the field of additive technol-ogies, is delivering the key-note speech. Together with the global market leader Stratasys, Reis not only sets the tone for further technological development, but his strategic decisions also have a decisive influence on the development of the sector in general. The Further Reading Session on the closing day of the conference gives participants the opportunity of changing from mere users to up-and-coming experts. The session offers an overview of all the latest developments in the fields of software, machines and equipment, as well as materials for 3D printing with contributions from the German Society for Material Sciences, Fraunhofer ICT, FH Aachen, German, 3MF Consortium, AMUG, and UL LLC.

Formnext Conference makes Frankfurt the global forum for modern product development

The five winners of the »formnext Start-up Challenge« exhibit outstanding innovations from the world of 3D printing. The winners have now been picked by a prestigious international jury. All products and services are »ready for marketing«.

The »Start-up Challenge« staged by formnext is a competition that is geared toward young and innovative companies from the field of additive technologies. The competition is being staged in cooperation with EIT Digital.These young companies have impressed the jury not only by their power of innovation, but also by the sustainability of their commercial ideas. The prize awarded by formnext and EIT Digital to the five winners is a booth in the Start-up area of formnext 2015, inclusive of booth construction costs, travel expenses, and hotel accommodation. In addition, the winners will be integrated in the EIT Digital Business Community with 130 network partners and will benefit from contact with possible investors and customers from all over Europe.

Additive manufacturing redefines existing supply chains: goods are no longer dispatched as actual objects, but as digital data, which can then be turned into products on the premises using a 3D printer. 3dTrust offers the digital network for this decentraliza-tion of production, guaranteeing security and trace-ability even if the 3D printing takes place at a different location.3dTrust is a brand of Helles Software Engineering SRL, which is supported by Airbus BizLab, the business accelerator of the Airbus Group. The company devel-ops solutions specifically for the aerospace industry.

The Polish start-up com-pany Sinterit is exhibiting extremely com-pact laser-sin-tering technol-ogy at formtext with its »Lisa 3D« printer.

This printer meets a variety of requirements and has been available to order online since September 2015. »Apart from its impressive design, Lisa 3D offers very simple opera-tion,« explains Pawed Szczurek, CEO of Sinterit. Thanks to its internal microcom-puter, the printer operates automatically. This means that, once a print order is issued, no further checks are necessary.

The young Berlin enterprise Luuv Forward ensures that rock-steady video recordings can be made at low cost. With the aid of 3D printing technology, this Berlin company has developed prototypes for compact, modular three-axis solidLUUV steadycam support. This is suitable for action cams, smartphones, and digital compact cameras. Felix Kochbeck, CEO of Luuv Forward, is proud of the fact that the

steadycam mount »enables events to be recorded at such high quality that people enjoy viewing them again on video.«

The Berlin technol-ogy company trinckle 3D offers B2B software solu-tions for making 3D printing usable for businesses. The core product is a customization soft-

ware package that can be integrated into an existing web page. With the aid of this application, products can be configured and individually designed. Using 3D printing, the individualized products can then be manufactured immediately. For this purpose, the company, which was only established in 2013, offers its own production infra-structure. Helles Software Engineering (3dTrust): Software for distributed additive manufacturing.

DyeMansion: Dyeing solution for laser-sintered parts Sinterit: Compact laser-sintering

Luuv Forward: Steadycam mount for rock-steady video recordings

trinckle 3D: Customization software promotes individualized productionIndividual, distributed, and in color

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Organizer

Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbHRotebühlstraße 83 – 85, 70178 Stuttgart, GermanyPhone + 49 711 61946-825 / Fax -11971formnext@mesago.comformnext.com

Board of Management:Johann Thoma (Chairman), Petra HaarburgerRegister Court: Local court Stuttgart, HRB 13344

Distribution of exhibitors at formnext 2015 by country

Exhibition dates and location 17 – 20 November 2015, Messe Frankfurt, Hall 3.1

Exhibition opening hours Mon–Thu 09:00 – 18:00 hrs Fri 09:00 – 17:00 hrs

Ticket prices 4-day ticket EUR 601-day ticket EUR 20Students EUR 10/day

The exhibition at a glance

Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA

Contact for further queries: Tel.: + 49 711 61946-825 or formnext@mesago.com

For a free day ticket: formnext.com/Tickets

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@ formnext_expo # formnext15

Exhibition Center Frankfurt