The digital networking of man and machine in the age of artificial intelligence will be the focus of Hannover Messe 2019. Highlights are presented in the six line-up feature of the trade fair.

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Tool and mould-making is a key factor in industrial manufacturing. In addition to machining processes, spark erosion is also used, the electrodes of which are very complex to manufacture. Researchers are now developing a simpler method for this.

German manufacturer Robert Seuffer uses Stratasys 3D printed injection moulds to produce parts for functional testing in their final material. This helps to significantly reduce both, tooling costs and lead time.

A company specialising in industrial rubber injection moulds and cold runner blocks for the automotive sector uses WorkNC to create 3+2 axis toolpath programs across a range of eight CNC machine tools as well as Workplan to consolidate information ranging from sales orders to invoices.

As 3D printers become larger, faster, and more accurate, their manufacturers face the next challenge: How do we bring additive manufacturing into an industrial manufacturing chain?

Germany – Makerbot, a subsidiary of Stratasys, has won the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design 2019 with its Makerbot Method Performance 3D Printer.

Germany – Additive manufacturing is booming with worldwide sales in 2016 forecast to increase by around 30% to more than US$7bn. An industry pioneer is Concept Laser of Lichtenfels, Germany. The company continues to lead today, now with its vision of the “AM Factory of Tomorrow”.

France – Sylvestre Perrin has been appointed new General Manager for ARRK LCO Protomoule in Alby-sur-Chéran, near Annecy, France.

The German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) and Messe Erfurt want to meld, step-by-step, their exhibitions, which are Metav and Rapid-Tech and Fab-Con 3D, journalist Walter Frick reports.