Interview Germany: The next generation of intelligent industrial production

With more than 60 first-time exhibitors already registered, Formnext 2016 is on track for further success. We asked Formnext's vice president Sascha Wenzler what visitors can expect from the second edition of the show in November, and what's already in the pipeline.

Sascha, we expect that preparations for the upcoming Formnext event are already in full swing. What are the highlights?

After last year's successful premiere, we continue to be on course for further success. More than half a year before Formnext 2016, bookings received have already significantly exceeded last year's exhibition space. We are proud of the fact that the market leaders in the field of additive manufacturing are already fully represented. Apart from that, we are very pleased that conventional technologies are also noticeably more present with innovative and prestigious companies.

You have further developed the fair's concept compared to the inaugural event last year. Is this true, and can you already say how it will affect this year's fair?

We developed Formnext's profile last year in close collaboration with industry and in a relatively short amount of time. After the resounding success of Formnext 2015, we continue this intensive dialogue with industry, in particular with exhibitors, the trade fair's advisory board and our partner TCT, and have further fleshed out the fair's profile. With Formnext 2016, we focus even more on the entire development and production process, from design to (series) production. Thus, Formnext represents the next generation of intelligent industrial production.

What are the developments in terms of exhibitors and the industries they represent, and of course also in terms of exhibitor numbers so far?

There is increasing awareness of the fact that the combination of additives technologies and conventional production offers enormous potentials. You could say that what belongs together now grows together. Formnext’s success is based on the fact that you can experience for yourself the potential of combining "additive" and "conventional" processes. Moreover, Formnext is the best platform when it comes to integrating new technology into industrial production processes. This success is reflected by exhibitor numbers: In addition to the excellent development in terms of exhibition space, we had 60 new exhibitors who had registered by mid-March, including key technology leaders in conventional technologies.

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