Deutsch (Germany) 
Polski (PL) 
3D printer manufacturers show versatile range of world premieres at Formnext 2022.
Formnext 2022 shines with world premieres along the entire process chain, but the area of hardware or 3D printer manufacturers presents the most innovations. It is worth taking a look at the entire very diverse spectrum of premieres in this area: this ranges from new machines from established manufacturers such as Arburg and Lithoz to the further development of existing processes and the use of completely new technologies, as shown by Grob with its Liquid Metal Printing.
New technologies
The young German company Ponticon is also showing a completely new technology: the new Dynamic Material Deposition (DMD) process can deposit metallic materials on metallic or ceramic components. In this process, the metallic powder is already melted in the laser beam before it hits the surface of the substrate.
With the GMP300, Grob is presenting its Liquid Metal Printing (LMP) for the production of near-net-shape components for the first time at Formnext, thus filling a gap between DED and PDF: In the LMP process, wire is transformed into drops with a diameter of between 380 and 700 micrometres and applied at a drop frequency of up to 500 hertz. According to Grob, the build-up rate is up to 320 cubic centimetres per hour.
New development
More common, however, are the innovations from exhibitors at Formnext 2022, where existing technology is further developed, usually enabling new applications. Examples include the young German company Q.big 3D with its VFGF process (for large-volume and fast plastic printing, using granulate), Fiberneering with a large-format DLP printer or Lithoz, the Austrian specialist in ceramic 3D printing with its LIS technology (for the production of large, dense parts with a large wall thickness).
Established companies such as Arburg and Eplus will also be showing new machines: Arburg is bringing the new Freeformer 750-3X to the show. This has 2.5 times the installation space of the Freeformer 300-3X. EPlus is also entering new dimensions with its large-format EP-M1250 multilaser machine. This has an impressive installation space of 1258x1258x1350 mm3 and also has nine laser systems.
Liqtra promises more efficiency with its patent-pending multi-nozzle technology. This is said to make the already very established FFF process up to 300 per cent more productive.
New applications
In contrast, 1A Technologies (see Metrom) provides significantly more flexibility. Together with Moduleworks and Bionic Production, the German start-up has accommodated a hybrid production from WAAM and 6-axis milling in a shipping container. A component for an ocean-going vessel has already been produced here.
Numerous other innovations and surprises on site
In addition, a large number of other manufacturers will be showing numerous new machines or important updates at Formnext - including 3D Ceram, DMG Mori, Hage 3D, Intamsys, Lynxter, Namma, One Click Metal, Rapidshape, Reichenbacher Hamuel, Sintratec, SmartZavod, Xact Metall and many more. As experience shows, numerous other companies will only provide information about their premieres at Formnext - so there will be a lot of interesting surprises here.
