Additive Manufacturing News from Formnext

This blog will focus on additive manufacturing following our visit to Formnext, Europe’s premier showcase of additive manufacturing. The leading industry platform for additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing, Formnext is the international meeting point for the next generation of intelligent industrial production. 
The key takeaways from Formnext from our additive manufacturing team are: 

Multi-metal printed parts are go!  

Printing multiple metals into a single part is now fully possible, imagine creating a design and then having an opportunity to select areas of the part for a specific purpose. A rocket nozzle with specialist cooling with a thermally stable alloy with high thermal dissipation properties but wrapped in a high strength and different alloy. This is possible with a variety of machines.  

Notably, our attention was drawn to the InssTek team. An interesting and exciting opportunity for maximising the functional design of parts. 

Software, software, software 

Across the board the potential for design, optimising, controlling production, and monitoring outputs is quite mind-blowing. The capability to simulate and accurately predict our 3D printing processes is an exceptional chance to produce less waste and increase our part performance. 

Cost barriers are falling 

Companies like Xact Metal are disrupting the cost perception of additive manufacturing by offering, quality, low-cost 3D metal printers. Xact are on an admirable mission to support growth by removing the barrier of cost, not too dissimilar to the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing mission. It’s no surprise that CfAM & Xact have partnered together to make advanced manufacturing accessible to the masses. 
 

Opportunities for growth in the UK market 

Generally, most markets are or are on track to pre-pandemic levels of service, sales and volumes but current market insecurities and import disruptions with conflict, pandemic continuation etc provide an opportunity. The UK 10 years ago was an additive manufacturing haven of activity and capability, but focus changed, and we have been left behind as a nation.  

The opportunity is large, to work with other like-minded organisations, discussing your problems and let us find solutions. Together we can collaborate, grow and ensure the UK is manufacturing in ways that promote our own innovative companies and workforces. 

Let’s be smart, sustainable, and take our technologies at the University of Bolton can potentially support your business please contact Head of Centre Robert Higham for more information: r.higham@bolton.ac.uk.