Formnext Chicago 2025 Focuses on Entire Additive Manufacturing Value Chain

Trade show organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt is bringing its successful Formnext AM trade fair concept to the U.S. — the world’s largest additive manufacturing (AM) market — with Formnext Chicago scheduled for April 8-10, 2025. Organizers are creating one event in North America dedicated to all aspects of the AM ecosystem, connecting attendees with the people and technology working at every stage of the process.

“We see huge potential in U.S. companies that have not yet encountered additive manufacturing or are not utilizing the benefits of this technology,” explains Sascha F. Wenzler, Formnext vice president. “Our focus is on the various user industries to which we want to provide solutions. This will further raise awareness of the opportunities offered by additive manufacturing across the industry. We also intend to promote AM technologies and significantly increase our exhibitors’ business contacts.”

With Formnext Chicago, Mesago Messe Frankfurt is expanding its strategy of regionally adapted formats in relevant AM markets, based on its highly successful original Formnext event in Frankfurt. Examples to date include the Formnext + PM South China in Shenzhen, China, and the Formnext Forum Tokyo, Japan.

Formnext Chicago is being organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt in collaboration with AMT - the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and Gardner Business Media. AMT is the organizer behind IMTS, the largest manufacturing trade fair in North America. Gardner Business Media is North America’s leading media company focused on machining, plastics processing and other manufacturing technologies.

Challenging Scheduling Situation

“Formnext was early to recognize the significance of the U.S. market for the AM industry and announced the 2025 Chicago event back in 2021,” says Douglas Woods, AMT president. “The AM community’s global growth is evidence of the high demand for the successful format. Other suppliers, such as Rapid + TCT, confirm our assessment of the potential of the local AM sector, but are now holding their event at the same time as Formnext Chicago.”

The AMT president is nevertheless positive about Formnext Chicago in 2025. “We see Formnext Chicago as a great opportunity for the U.S. application industries because it covers the entire additive value chain — from material suppliers, software and production systems to postprocessing and quality assurance,” Woods says. “This clearly differentiates the new format from existing 3D printing or rapid prototyping events in the U.S. market.”

The meeting of the AM Users Group in Chicago will also be held around the same time as Formnext Chicago. Due to the very different formats of AMUG and Formnext Chicago, Wenzler sees further potential here, “to discuss how we can realize synergies with AMUG and support each other. This allows us to create added value for the industry,” Wenzler says.

Organizers say there will always be competition, especially in the U.S. “And in a market as large as the United States and with a technology as important as additive manufacturing, there is room for more than one format,” Woods says.

To learn more, please visit formnextchicago.com.
 

Upcoming International Formnext events:

• Formnext + PM South China, Shenzhen, China: 28-30 August 2024

• Formnext at IMTS, Chicago, USA: 9-14 September 2024

• Formnext Forum Tokyo, Japan: 26-27 September 2024

• Formnext in Frankfurt, Germany: 19-22 November 2024

• Formnext Chicago, USA: 8-10 April 2025