Formnext 2024 Showcases Australia and its Growing Importance in AM

Every year, Formnext chooses an official partner country with a dedicated pavilion where exhibitors can present themselves to the international AM community. This year, the honor has gone to Australia. More specifically, Formnext 2024 has partnered with the Victorian Government as it seeks to continue to be “a partner and advocate for businesses looking to think outside the box and expand their export opportunities.”

The past few years, Formnext has focused on Europe with its partner countries. Last year, the Nordic countries were in the spotlight, while Italy and France took the stage in the prior editions. And though European countries are not the only ones that are chosen, notably the US and China have both been included, it is a significant sign of Australia’s growth in additive manufacturing.

A map of Australia with Victoria highlighted (photo credits: Encylopaedia Britannica)

Maybe Australia is not the first place that many think of when it comes to countries where additive manufacturing is prominent. However, in recent years, the country has really started making its mark. And the hub of that activity is in Victoria, centered predominantly around Melbourne.

SPEE3D for example, the leader in cold fusion additive manufacturing with many applications in aerospace and defense, is based in Southern Victoria. The state is also a center for research with RMIT, Monash, Swinburne University of Technology all centered there. These universities have been at the forefront of advancement in additive manufacturing, studying advancements in medicine, sustainability, transportation and construction. This further contributes to the region’s importance and is why Formnext and the Victoria Government have partnered together this year.

In a press release, it was noted that  “Formnext is thrilled to have Australia as its partner country in 2024! For years, this multifaceted continent has been making quite an impression with its vibrant AM community and system providers that have succeeded all around the world, as well as with service providers and other highly specialized companies in AM. At the foundation of it all are outstanding universities and a unique setting that draws talented people Down Under from across the globe.”

The excitement goes both ways as well. In a press conference in October, representatives from the Victorian Government including Gönül Serbest, Commissioner for Victoria to Europe, Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, noted that they were “very excited to show the capabilities of the state of Victoria, which while only 3% of the country’s landmass is almost 25% of Australia’s economy and population, at Frankfurt this year.” They further noted that Victoria is “the heartland of additive manufacturing in Australia” and that this event was the perfect opportunity to further strengthen global connections.

Australian companies like Titomic will be present at the Victoria Pavilion at Formnext 2024 (photo credits: Titomic)

What to Expect From Australia at Formnext 2024

As mentioned, one of the advantages of being a partner country at Formnext is a dedicated pavilion for exhibitors. This will also be the case this year with Australian exhibitors including SPEE3D, Titomic, Additive Assurance, Automation Acoustics, Luyten, Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing and RMIT Centre for Additive manufacturing, among many others. Those interested in seeing them all in one place can go to the pavilion of Global Victorian in Hall 12.0-C02.

Attendees will be able to see companies from across the AM process chain, including research & development, services, materials and post-processing. Be sure to check it out.

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*Cover Photo Credits: Monash University