Keynotes and panel discussions from Airbus to Porsche
Thuringia’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society, Wolfgang Tiefensee, will give the opening address for the specialist conference. The highlights of each day of the event are the keynotes. The keynote on 17 May will focus on mobility. Falk Heilfort from Porsche will illustrate how the sports car manufacturer is racing towards e-mobility thanks to AM. Frank Rethmann from Airbus is due to report on 3D-printed series parts for aircraft. Fabian Gafner from Swiss firm Sauber ‒ well-known in Formula 1 circles ‒ will demonstrate, among other things, how a broken gearbox from a 70-year-old Ferrari can be sustainably renewed using 3D printing.
Afterwards, the three speakers will join Christian Reinhardt from BASF, Prof. Johannes Henrich Schleifenbaum from RWTH Aachen and Christoph Hauck from toolcraft, to discuss how AM can help to achieve a broad market breakthrough more quickly. The panel discussion will be moderated by Bernhard Langefeld from Roland Berger.
Christoph Hauck will kick off day two of the conference with a keynote on AM certifications, exploring the benefits as well as the required costs. Daniel Büning from the innovation study nFrontier will illustrate how the integration of additive and digital technologies drives innovation. Klaus Eimann from consumer goods firm Procter & Gamble will talk about the impact of AM technologies on hybrid concepts and machine maintenance.
On the third and final day of the conference, the opening keynote will be delivered by Bernhard Randerath from the German-Emirati Institute. Randerath will discuss the current status and perspectives for the "factory of the future", in which AM will be used to sustainably produce intelligent interior fittings for many mobility applications. In the closing keynote, Alexander Oster from Autodesk will introduce the Machine Control Framework, an open-source software system. It is a fast and simple way to integrate various hardware components into a complete SLM system, which can immediately produce high-quality metal and plastic parts.
In addition to the on-site presentation at the Messe Erfurt Congress Center, the keynotes and panel discussion as well as the trade forums Automotive & Mobility, Design, Tool, Model and Mould Making and Aviation can be viewed via the German/English live stream.
Trade forums on 17 May 2022: AM in Mobility, Medicine and Education
AM topics relating to mobility, medicine and education are on the agenda at the trade forums on 17 May. Speakers from BMW, Continental, GKN, KTM, Trumpf and Urwahn will be attending the Automotive & Mobility Forum to shed light on how additive technologies can now be used in numerous fields, from car manufacturing to the production of e-bikes, motorcycles and even trains. The Medical, Dental & Orthopaedic Technology Forum will examine innovative new materials for bespoke 3D-printed medical applications, the manufacture of patient-specific implants at the point-of-care by means of AM, and how highly realistic 3D-printed models can be used for surgery training purposes. Participants in the Education Forum will discuss how 3D printing needs to start being taught in schools and should be included in general education and vocational curricula.
Trade forums on 18 May 2022: AM in Construction, Design, Research, Processes and in Tool & Mould Making
The new Design Forum will explore the effects of working collectively on innovative product developments from architecture to consumer goods, with no limits to the imagination or action. A detailed look at the latest developments and prospects for AM in construction engineering & architecture can be expected from the eponymous forum. For example, researchers from TU Chemnitz will report on projects combining additive and conventional technology to manufacture lightweight precast concrete parts. Scientists from Lund University in Sweden will take a look at the future of 3D-printed architecture. The Fraunhofer Forum on Competence Field Additive Manufacturing will be focusing on the most universal AM process for metals, demonstrating the potential of laser power bed fusion for applications in mobility, pharma and food technology.
How do you ensure safe, reproducible and transparent processes throughout the AM chain? The Software & Processes as well as Tool, Model and Mould Making forums will put various options under the microscope. Digital drilling plays a leading role in AM quality management. The company Additive Marking will outline how it is possible to achieve consistent traceability in additive series production using accompanying samples.
In the Toolmaking Forum, rubber and plastics processing company Späh will describe how it is expanding its range of services with the HP Multi Jet Fusion process. The talk by DMG Mori will be based directly on user practice. The toolmaking firm explains why it’s worth using additive manufacturing for machine components.
Trade forums on 19 May 2022: AM in Aviation and Science as well as News From AM
Additive manufacturing has proven its worth in aviation and space travel. Safety is the number one requirement. The Aviation Forum will focus on how far the AM industry has progressed along the path to turnkey component certification. Speakers from the Aviation AM Centre, FIT and MTU Aero Engines will present industry examples. There’s a new market opening up for satellite systems required for real-time data processing. The small rockets that transport the systems into space offer some AM manufacturing potential. That’s the subject of a talk by the Rocket Factory.
Science Forum organisers have included current research on laser sintering, metal 3D-printing and post-processing on the agenda. Ways to optimise the entire process will be the main focus. Among other topics, Linde is due to examine the interactions between process gases and process by-products. There will also be a presentation on research into reducing the amount of byproducts.
In the “News From AM” Forum, the attention will be on industry examples concerning the uptake of new ready-for-use materials and processes. Among other things, Rosswag will demonstrate how suitable materials for metallic 3D printing can be made available quickly, eliminating an AM bottleneck. Another topic area to be explored is the DED process (Direct Energy Deposition). Speakers from Oscar PLT, Ponticon, Metrom and pro-beam will be talking about process design in the interaction of laser and wire, laser and powder, wire and arc, as well as wire and electron beam.
Variety of AM applications at the exhibition stands
The versatility of 3D printing is reflected in the different exhibition stands at Rapid.Tech 3D. Tech giant Trumpf will illustrate how copper is best processed additively, a topic that bears huge significance for electromobility, for example. Freiburg-based company Glassomer specialises in 3D glass printing. “The idea that you can print high-purity glass objects such as micro optics, micro chips or decorative designs isn’t really out there yet. That’s why we're coming to Rapid.Tech 3D: to demonstrate all the advantages directly on the object. Being here in person is vital, as lots of people only believe you can print glass when they see parts and figures made of quartz glass produced by this method, in all their clarity and beauty, with their own eyes,” explains Thomas Fujimoto, sales manager at Glassomer. The team associates Erfurt with a special experience: winning the Start-Up Award at Rapid.Tech 3D in 2019.
Print more affordably with SEAM
1A Technologies UG from Hartmannsdorf near Chemnitz is making its début at Erfurt. Founded in 2020, the company brings to market components for industrial 3D printing. Its main focus is the SEAM extrusion unit (Screw Extrusion Additive Manufacturing) for plastic 3D printing. Compared to conventional processes, its main advantages are the processing of affordable standard granulate and high, yet precisely controllable material discharge. “We are using Rapid.Tech 3D to raise our profile and showcase the advantages of SEAM. We see all sorts of possible applications, from furniture production to the automotive industry through to agricultural engineering, as well as a wide spectrum of mould making for laminating and clamping devices,” says founder Marcus Witt.
The Swiss firm Spectroplast, whose SAM process (Silicone Additive Manufacturing) is revolutionising 3D printing for customised medical products, will present its on-demand services with 3D silicone printing for other industry sectors at Rapid.Tech 3D. “Erfurt is well-known for its focus on AM users. That’s why this event is a great fit for us,” says Spectroplast founder and CEO Dr Manuel Schaffner.
Genera exhibits further developments in its DLP system
Genera’s stereo lithography system (DLP) enables the reliable and reproducible printing and finishing of components in a holistic process. The company entered the market with this system in 2020. In Erfurt it will exhibit additional products, such as an automation cell for 24-hour system operation and a compact, combined all-in-one system for printing, washing and post-exposure. “It should be of interest, particularly to small businesses and research facilities,” says CEO Dr. Stadlmann, and adds that “we look forward to interesting discussions at our début in Erfurt,” he adds. “Perhaps we’ll even be able to pave the way for one or two other projects. We can also contribute a lot on the subject of material selection.” With partners such as Henkel, BASF and Evonik, Genera has built up a large portfolio of materials qualifying for the DLP process.
The appeal of conferences, exhibitions and networking
The SPÄH group, based in Baden-Württemberg, will also be a first-timer at Rapid.Tech 3D. It is one of Europe’s leading specialists in rubber and plastics processing. In addition to well-established processes such as punching, lasering, turning and milling, as well as water jet cutting, the company has broadened its portfolio to include 3D printing. “The market is increasingly demanding industrial AM serial production. And we’re ready for it,” says Bernd Rath, coordinator of additive manufacturing. Späh produces high-quality parts out of polyamide (PA 12) and polypropylene for a whole host of applications using the MJF process. “In Erfurt, we want to raise awareness of our AM competences, forge new contacts, and nurture existing relationships. Being a mixture of conference, trade fair and networking opportunity, the event certainly appeals to us,” adds Bernd Rath. SPÄH has also signed up to deliver a talk at the specialist conference. Ralf Fischer, also a coordinator of additive manufacturing, will be at the Tool, Model and Mould Making Forum to talk about producing MJF applications for fluid systems and capital goods.
The other 100 or so exhibitors comprise renowned AM companies such as alphacam and FIT from Germany, Freemelt from Sweden, and Nano Dimension from the USA.
Final of the international 3D Pioneers Challenge returns to Erfurt
Rapid.Tech 3D is also a strategically important venue for the 3D Pioneers Challenge. For the seventh time, the finalists of this internationally important design and innovation competition for 3D printing and new technologies will showcase themselves in Erfurt. In 2022, projects were submitted from 27 countries across five continents. A grand total of around EUR 150,000 in prize money will be distributed among the best ideas. The main cash prize of EUR 35,000 will be awarded by Thuringia’s Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society.
Book tickets conveniently online
Tickets to attend the conference for one, two or three days can be booked online at your convenience at: https://www.rapidtech-3d.de/ticket/
More information about the event: www.rapidtech-3d.com
Detailed information about the Rapid.Tech 3D specialist conference programme is available at: www.rapidtech-3d.de/besucher/kongressprogramm/
For detailed information about the exhibitors, please visit: https://www.rapidtech-3d.de/aussteller/ausstellerliste-2022/