With Formnext Chicago, Mesago Messe Frankfurt is bringing the successful Formnext trade fair concept to the USA, the world’s largest AM market. From 8-10 April 2025, Formnext Chicago will showcase the entire industrial process chain for Additive Manufacturing.

“We see huge potential in US companies that have not yet encountered Additive Manufacturing (AM) or are not utilizing the benefits of this technology,” explains Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext. “Our focus is on the various user industries to which we want to provide solutions. This will further raise awareness of the opportunities offered by Additive Manufacturing across the industry. We also intend to promote AM technologies and significantly increase our exhibitors’ business contacts.”

With Formnext Chicago, Mesago Messe Frankfurt is expanding its strategy of regionally adapted formats in relevant AM markets, based on the highly successful original Formnext event in Frankfurt. Examples to date include the Formnext + PM South China in Shenzhen, China, and the Formnext Forum Tokyo, Japan.

Formnext Chicago is being organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt in collaboration with AMT (the Association for Manufacturing Technology) and Gardner Business Media. AMT is the organizer behind IMTS, the largest manufacturing trade fair in North America. Gardner Business Media is North America’s leading media company focused on machining, plastics processing, and other manufacturing technologies.

Challenging scheduling situation

“Formnext was early to recognize the significance of the US market for the AM industry and announced the 2025 Chicago event back in 2021. The AM community’s global growth is evidence of the high demand for the successful format. Other suppliers, such as Rapid + TCT, confirm our assessment of the potential of the local AM sector, but are now holding their event at the same time as Formnext Chicago,” says Douglas Woods, AMT President.

The AMT President is nevertheless positive about Formnext Chicago in 2025:

“We see Formnext Chicago as a great opportunity for the US application industries because it covers the entire additive value chain from material suppliers, software, and production systems, to post-processing and quality assurance. This clearly differentiates the new format from existing 3D Printing or rapid prototyping events in the US market.”

The meeting of the AM Users Group in Chicago will also be held around the same time as Formnext Chicago. Due to the very different formats of AMUG and Formnext Chicago, Sascha Wenzler sees further potential here “to discuss how we can realize synergies with AMUG and support each other. This allows us to create added value for the industry.”

Doug Woods adds: “There will always be competition, especially in the USA. And in a market as large as the United States and with a technology as important as Additive Manufacturing, there is room for more than one format.”

Formnext Chicago will take place on 8-10 April 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
www.formnextchicago.com

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