Formnext always offers a good snapshot of where the AM industry is heading, and this year brought a steady mix of hardware, software, and workflow-focused updates. While not every announcement dominated the conversation, a few stood out as clear indicators of how companies are thinking about automation, accessibility, and multi-material capability. Here’s a look at some of the releases that caught our attention on the show floor.
Materialise, made one of the most substantial software moves this year. The company expanded its CO-AM platform with three new configurations: Professional, NPI, and Enterprise; each powered by CO-AM Brix, a low-code automation layer. The goal is to make it easier for manufacturers to design, customize, and scale workflows across sites. Paired with the new cloud-based CO-AM Build Platform and a modular next-gen Build Processor framework, it’s a clear step toward more open and flexible end-to-end AM management.
We also stopped by XJet, where the new Carmel PRO is bringing the company’s NanoParticle Jetting technology to a wider audience. The machine is more accessible than previous systems and now handles up to four materials in a single job. For sectors that rely heavily on fine detail, like medical devices, jewelry, and precision industrial components, the Carmel PRO marks a notable return for XJet.
From there, Bambu Lab drew plenty of curiosity with the debut of the H2C. The system introduces the Vortek Hotend Change mechanism, allowing up to six smart hotends and 24 filaments. What stood out most was the emphasis on automation: quick tool changes, minimal purging, built-in cameras, and a streamlined multi-material workflow designed to make complex parts easier to produce within a desktop-friendly ecosystem.
We also passed by HP, which entered the high-performance FDM segment for the first time. The new machine brings familiar MJF-style usability to filament extrusion, along with strong thermal control and automation features. And over in metals, EOS presented the M4 ONYX, a six-laser system geared toward higher throughput and more efficient powder handling, another incremental but relevant step toward scalable series production.
Formnext 2025 may not have delivered a single headline-defining breakthrough, but these launches highlight how the industry continues to mature: smarter automation, broader accessibility, and more specialized tools for both polymer and metal production. We’ll share more impressions from the show soon, including a roundup of the biggest machines on display.
What do you think of these updates?