Formnext 2023, held in Frankfurt from 7-10 November, solidified its position as a pivotal event in Additive Manufacturing (AM) and modern production technologies. With a record-breaking attendance of over 32,000 professionals, the event showcased a remarkable increase from the previous year. International presence was also significant.

At Formnext, CRP Technology showcased its latest materials for manufacturing processes. The mock-up of Flying-CAM's Discovery UAS and Experia's new zero-emission Green Tourer motorcycle, both with parts 3D printed in Windform, were on display.

Berlin/Los Angeles-based startup 1000 Kelvin announced the full commercial availability of its AI-powered software, Amaize, at Formnext 2023. The company also unveiled its first integrations with commercial 3D printer manufacturers - including EOS — and customers, including a California-based rocket launch provider.

Additive manufacturing company 6K Additive announces its acquisition of Global Metal Powders (GMP). This move reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainable production and positions the company to meet increasing market demands for custom metal powders.

In the run-up to Christmas, Open Mind is showing how an exact replica of the world-famous nutcracker from the Ore Mountains is milled from aluminium. The example demonstrates an end-to-end digital process chain and efficient 5-axis machining with Hypermill.

3D printing company Eplus 3D has introduced a new addition to its large platform printing technology, the EP-M1550. The system features a 16-laser configuration and claims to have the largest build platform available for Metal Powder Bed Fusion (MPBF) technology, improving the economics of large format part production.

Manufacturing spare parts for the rail industry is a complex task, as many ageing components are no longer available on the market, requiring bespoke manufacturing processes. This can result in significant costs, idle trains and extended delivery times. Nikon SLM Solutions is able to address this issue with its additive manufacturing technology.

3D printing company 6K Additive has entered into a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with the US Army Development Command. This collaboration emphasises national security by facilitating the development of weapons using domestic feedstocks of critical materials sourced from 6K Additive's advanced Unimelt production process.

Avevas and Cadenas have joined forces to integrate the technical search engine, 3Dfindit.com, into the Aveva E3D Design system. Users of this 3D design solution now have the ability to select accurate equipment models from thousands of manufacturer catalogues and integrate them directly within their CAD software environment.

Inkbit, a company specialising in advanced additive manufacturing, has announced a partnership with Makelab, a provider of on-demand 3D printing services. The collaboration aims to reduce time-to-market, support adaptive hardware development, and provide greater access to Inkbit's Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) technology for various manufacturers and designers.