Mobility and Sustainability Take the Stage at Formnext 2023

Wherever you went around the Formnext expo in Frankfurt this year, you heard similar buzzwords: automation, mobility and sustainability are some that could be picked up several times – in every industry. We took a closer look and asked around to investigate why these topics were trending and what innovations centered around them.

Going around the event, it was clear that Formnext placed a strong focus on the automotive industry this year. It should be mentioned that innovation and efficiency are the most important drivers in this sector and that additive manufacturing is one of the key technologies driving it forward thanks to its innovative nature. Although AM can be too expensive and ineffective for series production, it still offers numerous advantages in prototyping, single-part manufacturing, and for small series production. The ability to produce complex geometries and customize parts means that additive manufacturing can fully exploit its potential.

The Alfa Romeo racing car at Formnext 2023

At Formnext, we were able to get a live impression of this and glimpse 3D-printed racing cars from Alfa Romeo, for example, as well as from BWT Alpine in cooperation with 3DSystems. INTAMSYS and the GreenTeam from the University of Stuttgart also impressed us with a 3D-printed, electric, self-driving racing car. These examples are unique applications and prime examples of what is possible with AM. Although 3D printing is the ‘greener’ alternative to conventional manufacturing processes for these individual items, the ‘sustainability’ factor of additive manufacturing needs to be critically examined in the context of the wider automotive industry and series production. The organization Mobility goes Additive has taken on this task.