Formnext 2023: Nordic Region Illuminates the Future of Sustainable Additive Manufacturing

Formnext 2023, the world’s leading exhibition and conference for additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing, has officially opened its doors, welcoming innovators, experts, and enthusiasts from across the globe. As attendees converge for insightful conferences, dynamic discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities, the role of exhibitors takes center stage. This year, particular attention is being paid to those representing the annual partner region. In 2023, this significant honor has been bestowed upon the Nordic region, allowing Formnext to spotlight the burgeoning landscape of additive manufacturing in Northern Europe. This focus extends beyond the region’s evident economic potential, highlighting its remarkable commitment to material efficiency, its progressive stance on sustainability, and its pivotal contributions, particularly within the energy sector. This partnership underscores a shared vision for a more innovative, efficient, and environmentally conscious future in manufacturing.

For those unfamiliar, the Nordic countries constitute a distinct geographical and cultural region nestled in Northern Europe. This vibrant cluster includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, alongside the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and the autonomous region of Åland. Renowned globally for their breathtaking natural beauty, high quality of life, and progressive social policies, these nations might not immediately spring to mind when considering the forefront of additive manufacturing. However, this perception is rapidly changing as the region increasingly invests in and adopts advanced manufacturing technologies, positioning itself as a hub for future-oriented industrial innovation.

While the Nordic region may not yet boast the highest concentration of AM solution manufacturers or service providers compared to global powerhouses, it is undoubtedly an “up and coming” force, experiencing significant growth and investment in recent years. Industries across these countries are increasingly recognizing and leveraging the transformative value of 3D printing. A prime example is the oil and gas sector in Norway, where the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies is projected to create new jobs, enhance profitability, and simultaneously improve sustainability across operations. Sini Metsä-Kortelainen from the Finnish Additive Manufacturing Ecosystem underscores this burgeoning trend, emphasizing the Nordic regions’ substantial investments in new AM technologies, particularly in education and research. This strategic focus is aimed at cultivating a skilled workforce and fostering long-term leadership in sustainable additive manufacturing.

“In Nordics, the high quality of products is the competitive edge in various industries, and AM does not make the exception. In Finland, for example, we are able to design, produce, and test components and products with AM that are under critical loading such as pressure equipment and fatigue resistance components,” Metsä-Kortelainen explains, highlighting the region’s expertise in high-performance applications. Despite these advancements, she acknowledges that the region still lags behind other parts of Western Europe and certainly AM strongholds like the USA and China in terms of overall market penetration and sheer volume. However, the partnership with Formnext is expected to be a catalyst, accelerating growth and elevating the Nordic profile on the global additive manufacturing stage. This collaboration aims to foster knowledge exchange, attract investment, and forge international partnerships that will propel the Nordic region to the forefront of sustainable industrial innovation.

Jan Tore Usken, Manager at Norwegian AM, further elaborates on the profound importance of the Nordic region’s inclusion at Formnext. “We are truly humbled by this year’s Formnext spotlight on the Nordics. We are hoping for business and technology inspiration, great networking, and to find help scaling up the Norwegian AM activity. To be honest, I personally think Norway is lagging behind in utilizing the benefits of AM – but hopefully, the activity will accelerate,” he shares, expressing both pride and ambition. This sentiment resonates across the region, with Sini Metsä-Kortelainen also expressing enthusiasm for representing the Finnish AM industry. She eagerly anticipates invaluable input from industry leaders and experts. “Meeting AM experts for fruitful discussions and gaining insights into current AM trends and prospects is key for me also this year. I am very much looking forward to exploring new AM materials and technologies, process automation solutions, novel research, and especially how the sustainability of AM is visible and considered,” she states, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of participating in such a prestigious event. These aspirations collectively underscore the Nordic commitment to not only showcase their advancements but also to actively learn and integrate global best practices into their rapidly evolving additive manufacturing ecosystem.

Nordic Exhibitors at Formnext 2023: A Hub of Innovation

As the designated partner region for Formnext 2023, exhibitors from the Nordic countries are prominently featured within the dedicated Nordic Pavilion, located in Hall 11.0, D68. Within this central hub, the Danish AM Hub takes on a pivotal role as the lead partner for the entire region. This leadership ensures a dynamic and engaging presence, including a series of events specifically supported by the Danish AM Hub, focusing on the critical theme of sustainability in additive manufacturing. Visitors can also expect daily live demonstrations of the Danish AM Hub’s innovative CO2 Calculator, a tool designed to assess and quantify the environmental impact of AM processes, underscoring a practical approach to sustainable production.

Beyond the main pavilion, other Nordic regions are also represented across various halls and individual booths, showcasing the diversity and depth of their respective additive manufacturing ecosystems. In total, approximately 26 exhibitors are participating, representing Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Each country brings its unique expertise and focus to the exhibition. For instance, the Finnish AM industry is expected to highlight its strong links to industrial applications, showcasing innovative service providers, advanced software suppliers, and cutting-edge polymer 3D printer manufacturers. This demonstrates Finland’s comprehensive approach to integrating AM across its industrial base. Meanwhile, Sweden plans to emphasize its robust connection to advanced material manufacturing, presenting novel alloys, composites, and sustainable materials specifically optimized for additive processes, reflecting its deep-rooted expertise in metallurgical innovation.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover a wide array of fascinating applications, many originating from globally recognized enterprises based in the region. Within the Nordic Pavilion, visitors can learn more about companies that have successfully collaborated with industrial giants such as Lego, Danfoss, or Grundfos, demonstrating the versatility and reliability of Nordic AM solutions. Furthermore, companies like Create It Real will be present, noted for their specialized solutions tailored for the orthopedics industry, highlighting the region’s focus on high-value medical applications. Critically, the Nordic exhibitors collectively aim to demonstrate innovations spanning the entire additive manufacturing process chain—from design and simulation to post-processing and quality assurance. Frank Rosengreen Lorenzen, CEO of the Danish AM Hub, specifically drew attention to Denmark’s contributions in a recent press release, extending a warm welcome and acknowledging the “recognition of the skilled and innovative Danish owner-managers, designers, engineers, and manufacturers, who are continually challenging and expanding the scope of AM technology to design, develop, and manufacture the products of the future.” This collective display of Nordic ingenuity and dedication promises to inspire and inform Formnext attendees about the exciting trajectory of additive manufacturing in Northern Europe.

A Resounding Focus on Sustainability in Additive Manufacturing

Beyond their technological prowess, the Nordic region garners particular attention at Formnext this year for another compelling reason: their unwavering commitment to sustainability, deeply integrated into their approach to additive manufacturing. These countries are internationally recognized leaders in environmental stewardship, and they are eager to bring this critical focus to the global stage at Formnext this year. Their participation serves as a powerful testament to how advanced manufacturing can align with and actively contribute to global environmental goals, showcasing practical examples and innovative strategies.

Jan Tore Usken of Norwegian AM powerfully articulates this commitment: “The Nordic Region has gone furthest in achieving many of the SDGs within Agenda 2030. Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are all in the top five of the latest annual international comparison according to Stiftung’s and Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Sustainability Report from July 2022. AM is helping out on a lot of the goals, including on SDG 9, which focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure, as well as SDG 12, which is concerned with responsible consumption and production, among others.” This demonstrates a clear linkage between national policy, global targets, and the practical application of additive manufacturing. AM’s ability to optimize material usage, reduce waste, enable on-demand production, and facilitate localized manufacturing directly supports the principles of a circular economy and significantly advances these critical Sustainable Development Goals.

Sini Metsä-Kortelainen further emphasizes the deep-seated focus on sustainability within the northern industry, particularly through their unique and respectful relationship with nature. “Our relationship with nature is unique and very close, and we have been the forerunners in taking care of the environment and safe and equal working conditions in industrial operations. The goal is to foster sustainability in all AM related operations, and in Formnext we’ll bring up good examples and showcases on sustainable AM. In addition, we want to bring sustainability as one of the criteria for companies when choosing the manufacturing methods and supply chains of the components. And with AM, we can bring added value in favor of sustainability,” she asserts. This highlights not just a theoretical commitment, but a practical integration of sustainability into every facet of industrial design, production, and supply chain management. The Nordic approach advocates for a paradigm shift where environmental impact and ethical considerations become fundamental determinants in manufacturing decisions, with additive manufacturing offering tangible solutions for achieving these elevated standards.

To concretely support and amplify this crucial focus on sustainability, Formnext 2023 offers a comprehensive program of dedicated events. These include a supporting events program specifically devoted to the topic of sustainability and its intrinsic connection to the Nordic region’s industrial practices. In addition to the groundbreaking CO2 calculator presented by the Danish AM Hub, every participating member of the Nordic region appears enthusiastic to showcase their latest advancements and innovative strategies in sustainable additive manufacturing. Visitors are highly encouraged to explore these offerings to gain deeper insights into how the Nordic approach is shaping a greener future for manufacturing. You can find out more about the diverse range of exhibitors from the Nordic region and beyond at Formnext this year by consulting our comprehensive list HERE.

Will you be heading to the Nordic pavilion at Formnext this year to witness these innovations firsthand? Let us know in a comment below or connect with us on ourLinkedIn,Facebook, andTwitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weeklyNewsletter here to receive the latest 3D printing news directly to your inbox. You can also explore all our insightful videos on ourYouTube channel for more in-depth content.