Top 5 Additive Manufacturing Trade Shows 2023

22 May 2023

Image Credit: 3DNatives

 

Attending an additive manufacturing trade show is essential for staying on the cutting edge of the industry. These events provide firsthand exposure to the latest advancements, technologies, and applications. Through expert-led presentations, networking opportunities, and emerging trend insights, trade shows offer a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and professional growth.

Whether you’re a professional, a business, or an enthusiast, attending these shows is a strategic investment that fuels innovation and ensures your continued success in additive manufacturing.

1. Formnext

 

When: November 7-10, 2023

Where: Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main

The top spot indisputably belongs to Formnext, the leading trade fair for intelligent industrial production. The event is slated to include more than 210 exhibitors, presenting their products and solutions to over 9000 trade show visitors. See the latest advancements in AM including 3D printers and their technologies, post-processing tools and software.

Expect to see attendance from not just sector leaders, but also market entering startups. The event will include support programs facilitating networking opportunities, as well as events and keynotes from influential actors in the space. This AM-centric trade show includes Additive Manufacturing across a range of materials, including polymers, metals, and even sand/ceramics.

In North America? Register for Formnext’s satellite event, Formnext Forum Austin, TX, taking place August 28-30, 2023.

2. RAPID + TCT

 

When: May 23-25, 2024*

Where: Anaheim, CA, USA

North America’s largest additive manufacturing event, RAPID is a must-attend for all those working in AM or those who wish to leverage their use of additive technologies. 2023’s edition focused on manufacturing workflows: how do we integrate AM into the industrial production ecosystem? Far from being just a prototyping tool, RAPID shows AM at its industrial best, showcasing existing and upcoming solutions to use AM to produce end components.

Expect the usual trade show floor featuring 400 exhibitors from over 30 countries and all 48 contiguous states, three keynote presentations, and more than 125 hours of exhibitor talks.

Beyond the usual exhibiting and keynotes, the RAPID + TCT conference also connects over 150 industry leaders for networking opportunities.

*RAPID + TCT 2023 took place on May 2-4, 2023, in Chicago. Catch up with their Digital Experience content, or catch next year’s RAPID in California.

3. TCT 3Sixty

 

When: June 7-8, 2023

Where: NEC, Birmingham, UK

The most established AM event in the United Kingdom, with 100 speakers and almost 200 exhibitors, this is a whirlwind two-day event. The event this June will bring together renowned market leaders as well as promising startups, and brings a comprehensive approach, helping prospects learn a 360-degree outlook of additive manufacturing at every stage.

Expect a 5,000-strong attendance and exhibitors split by where they are in the adoption curve: the evaluation, adoption, and optimization stages. The event’s focus on real-world applications ensures that attendees will leave with networking opportunities, practical take-aways and new leads for their businesses.

View AMFG’s coverage of the 2022 event here. Join us next month for this year’s event!

4. ADDIT3D

 

When: June 6-8, 2023

Where: Bilbao Exhibition Centre, Bilbao, Spain

The Iberian Peninsula’s foremost trade fair for 3D printing technologies, the seventh iteration of the event takes place this summer in the Basque Country’s largest city. The theme of the conference will be Additive Talks, bringing together representatives from leading companies to discuss emerging trends in the space.

Like many AM trade shows, ADDIT3D splits its exhibitors by machinery, raw materials, consumables, software, R&D, etc. The event has seen large growth year-on-year since its launch in 2016, and you should expect to be joined by up to 20,000 attendees across 72 countries, with over 101 exhibitors showcasing their products and services.

5. 3D Print Congress & Exhibition

 

When: October 11-12, 2023

Where: Paris Expo, Paris, France

The second-largest meeting of additive manufacturing in Europe, France’s premier event brings together 6,000 attendees with 300 exhibitors from across industry, and, as well as the expo floor, 35 conferences/workshops.

Expect expert speakers from French industry and 80 international speakers, with the opportunity to meet qualified purchasers and brands. In the 2022 edition, 93% of exhibitors left the conference with between 20 and 100 new contacts, with 89% of visitors waiting for one or more offers from exhibitors.

Honorable Mentions

In addition to the more well-known events mentioned, we would like to acknowledge and highlight several honorable mentions that deserve recognition within the additive manufacturing industry. These trade shows may not have made it to the top five list, but they offer unique opportunities for professionals, enthusiasts, and businesses to explore the latest advancements, network with industry leaders, and gain insights into the exciting world of additive manufacturing – particularly if one is local to you.

Let’s delve into the honorable mentions that have proven to be valuable platforms for showcasing innovation and fostering collaborations in this rapidly evolving field.

International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ICAM)

 

When: October 30 – November 3, 2023

Where: Hyatt Regency, Washington, D.C., USA

Beyond the regular space for exhibiting, the eighth annual ICAM will focus on the fundamentals of the AM process chain. The theme of this year’s conference is “research to application through standardization”, and represent a wide variety of feedstocks.

Expect over 850 active participants, and over 475 separate presentations across 27 symposia. Participate in 9 live panel discussions and witness 4 keynote addresses. The event is decidedly international, with over 35 countries represented.

Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG)

 

When: March 10-14, 2024*

Where: Hilton Hotel, Chicago, USA

AMUG has a unique claim to be the oldest AM conference of its type, holding its first gathering at the time of 3D printing’s humble beginnings in 1989. AMUG is big on education and training sessions as well as its flagship conference, but there is the usual exhibition space in the form of AMUGexpo.

One past exhibitor stated “AMUG has the highest signal-to-noise ratio of any event”, meaning that exhibitors are able to reach a highly targeted, qualified audience.

*AMUG 2023 took place on March 19-24, 2023, in Chicago. Registration for the 2024 event will open in October.

Unlocking Opportunities through Additive Manufacturing Trade Shows

By attending these events, individuals gain access to cutting-edge technologies, emerging trends, and industry insights that can shape their strategies and drive success. Whether it’s exploring the latest 3D printing techniques, discovering groundbreaking materials, or forging connections with like-minded professionals, these trade shows provide a platform for fostering collaboration, pushing boundaries, and unlocking new opportunities.

As additive manufacturing continues to reshape industries, embracing these platforms ensures that individuals and organizations can proactively adapt, innovate, and thrive in the exciting world of additive manufacturing.