News Plastech
Belgian family holding company Henkes & Co has become a strategic partner and shareholder of Conbility. The partnership is intended to accelerate the development of composite manufacturing technologies and related industrialisation services.
SKZ and Fraunhofer IPA are working on a low-temperature PBF-LB/P process for plastics. The aim of the PimP project is to reduce powder aging, increase the share of material that can be reused, and improve the cost and resource efficiency of the process.
The first edition of 3DPlastLab, an area dedicated to innovation in additive manufacturing within Plast 2026, brought together researchers, designers, universities, start-ups and companies from multiple countries. The presentations focused on materials, their functionality and industrial applications.
HP has unveiled the Multi Jet Fusion 1200, bringing industrial MJF technology to the compact segment at a price below USD 60,000. The system is intended to address prototyping, protection of confidential data and short-run production needs.
igus has introduced the PTFE-free iglidur i190PF filament, offering wear properties comparable to the injection moulding material iglidur W300 and a 100-fold better wear rate than standard PETG in a pin-on-disk test.
On 3–4 June 2026, the NEC Birmingham will host a co-located event combining eight leading UK manufacturing and engineering shows, covering plastics, additive manufacturing, automation and smart factory solutions, among other sectors.
BMT has developed a smart prototyping approach that combines simulations, 3D-printed moulds and lab-scale blow moulding trials to accelerate PET bottle development, reduce design risk and cut tooling costs before metal moulds are produced.
By early March 2026, 527 exhibitors from 34 countries had already registered for Formnext 2026, with 64.5 percent coming from outside Germany. The Frankfurt trade fair remains a key platform for the global 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing market.
At JEC World 2026 in Paris, KraussMaffei will present a wide portfolio of composite and additive solutions, including LFI structural components, high-temperature plastic parts, and the powerPrint Flex and powerPrint Plus systems.
Formnext 2026 has announced the United Kingdom as partner country and introduced a new hall layout and a stronger focus on key user industries including orthopedics, aviation and automotive.
The 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 conference in Houston will bring together SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE users, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence and virtual environments in design and manufacturing.
Igus has launched the iglidur i4000 resin for manufacturing precise, wear-resistant gears using DLP, SLA and LCD technologies. Compared with standard 3D printing resins, the material offers higher elongation at break and extended service life.
The Formnext 2025 AMbassador Award has been presented to Irena Heuzeroth from the SKZ Plastics Center in Würzburg for the course “Certified Industrial Technician specializing in Additive Manufacturing”, developed with the Würzburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
The tenth edition of Formnext in Frankfurt am Main attracted 38,282 visitors and 804 exhibitors, underlining the growing industrial establishment of additive manufacturing and its expanding range of applications across sectors.
Formnext 2025 has opened in Frankfurt am Main, bringing together 803 exhibitors on 50,000 m² of space and presenting a broad spectrum of industrial additive manufacturing technologies, applications and trends along the entire process chain.
Plast 2026 will run on 9 to 12 June 2026 at Fiera Milano as part of MaTec, a combined format with Xylexpo and Composites Future spanning eight halls to encourage cross-sector synergies.
Formnext 2025 will mark the trade fair’s 10th anniversary with an expanded program, adding guided post-processing tours, live shows and interactive features to its three-stage format, special showcases, awards and partner country Spain.
Xenia announced Xecarb PA12-CF-ST, a 15% carbon fibre reinforced PA12 filament with a Super Tough upgrade and an HDT of 150 C, which will be presented at Formnext 2025.
KraussMaffei will showcase powerPrint Flex, a robot-based, modular large-format 3D printing solution, at Formnext 2025. The system combines the company's extrusion know-how with scalable cell architecture, enabling high-output printing of thin-walled, fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.
Formnext has announced the finalists for the 2025 Formnext Awards, highlighting advances in additive manufacturing across six categories spanning technology, applications and education. Public voting is open ahead of the fair, with winners to be named on 20 November 2025.
M.Tec Engineering GmbH will present a simulation method for additive manufacturing of thermoplastic components at Formnext 2025. The approach virtually validates warpage, dimensional accuracy and layer bonding to support predictable, industrial 3D printing.
The first JEC Forum Central Europe convened 217 participants from 23 countries in Krakow on 17–18 September 2025, generating 585 business meetings and 979 leads. Exhibitors and speakers highlighted market dynamics, resilience strategies and technical innovations.
Evonik will showcase polymer innovations and circularity initiatives at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, including mass-balanced PA12 materials, recycling additives and solutions for additive manufacturing. The program features booth demonstrations and panel discussions on lifecycle assessments and packaging policy.
HoliMaker SAS will showcase compact on-desk manual injection moulding solutions at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, highlighting HoliPress and the interface between 3D-printed mould inserts and conventional processing.
Formnext Expo & Convention will return to Frankfurt on 18–21 November 2025, with more than 800 exhibitors expected. Tickets are now available online with an early-bird discount valid until 21 October, and the program will emphasize real-world AM applications across industries.
BMT will showcase its Smart prototyping platform at drinktec 2025, combining virtual simulation, 3D-printed moulds and lab-scale testing to accelerate and de-risk bottle development.
Hasco announces new solutions for mold bases and hot runner systems at K 2025, focusing on digitalization, process reliability and energy efficiency. Premieres will be shown live in hall/booth 1/C06.
The industry will meet in Friedrichshafen for the 29th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing from the 15th through the 19th of October, 2024.
Formnext 2024 puts out the Call for Speakers: medical technology, AI, robotics, and a myriad of other topics
Collaboration with BMW, Decathlon, and others accelerates adoption and scale of more sustainable manufacturing
Formnext 2023 gets off to a great start: World premieres for the industrial manufacturing technologies of the future
In its new multistage conference format, Formnext 2023 will be showcasing groundbreaking AM applications, technologies, and the latest innovations as well as discourses on relevant subjects as sustainability, cyber security and investments.