Formnext + PM South China 2024 will take place from 28 – 30 August 2024 in Hall 13 of the Shenzhen World Exhibition Center, China, bringing together an anticipated 300 exhibitors across 20,000 sqm of floor space. To encourage the wider adoption of additive manufacturing (AM), powder metallurgy and advanced ceramics technologies among Chinese manufacturers, the 2024 event will present an expanded fringe programme, featuring a range of new sessions on industry trends and emerging production technologies.
South China, one of the country’s most prolific industrial regions, manufactures components and finished goods for sectors including automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances, toys, lighting, consumer goods and more. These sectors also represent growing markets for additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy and advanced ceramics technologies, owing to these technologies’ ability to create products that would be unfeasible to produce through traditional means.
Additive manufacturing, for example, can provide manufacturers with enhanced flexibility, enabling the production of cost-efficient customised or small-batch parts, along with rapid prototyping capabilities to shorten the product development cycle. Similarly versatile, powder metallurgy yields near-net-shape products with minimal waste from a wide range of alloys and metals, while advanced ceramics are becoming increasingly prevalent in specialty applications, particularly in fields such as dentistry, medicine and electronics.
Formnext + PM South China connects technology and service providers across these three domains to prospective industrial buyers from China and abroad, creating new business opportunities and supporting the wider commercialisation of these technologies. The exhibition covers the manufacturing process from design to delivery, featuring products and services ranging from raw materials, 3D scanning and software to 3D printers, accessories and post-production technologies.
Beyond the exhibition floor, attendees can participate in a variety of educational and application-focused forums and seminars as a part of the event’s fringe programme. These sessions bring together experts from leading companies, researchers, and other industry stakeholders to share their knowledge on emerging advanced manufacturing technologies and their implementation. Highlights of the 2024 programme include:
3D Print Farm Conference
In recent years, China has seen a marked rise in the number of 3D print farms in operation. Unlike conventional factories, these farms employ extensive fleets of 3D printers, allowing for customisable, on-demand production. To support this growing sector, Formnext + PM South China, in collaboration with Nanjixiong and SUNLU will hold the first
3D Print Farm Conference as part of its fringe programme. Anycubic, Creality, Elegoo, Home-link and Phaetus will join the conference as sponsors.
The conference will offer a seminar addressing common challenges faced by 3D print farm operators, along with an attached showcase area linking buyers with farms from around the country. More than 350 3D printing farmers and buyers have registered to attend the forum sessions, while other industry-leading firms including CX3D, Magical Farm and Quick 3D will be among the exhibitors in the showcase area.
Laser and Additive Manufacturing Forum
Premiering in 2024, this forum, jointly organised with the Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Branch of the Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society, will feature over 16 presentations exploring laser additive manufacturing technologies. Speakers from Shenzhen University, the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xi’an Jiaotong University, and other institutions will discuss recent technical developments and ongoing research efforts in the field.
The 6th South China Injection Moulding and Additive Manufacturing Technology and Application Summit
This forum will address important topics in the fields of metal injection moulding (MIM) and additive manufacturing, inviting researchers and technical specialists to share insights on manufacturing stronger, lighter and more versatile metal parts. Representatives from Central South University and the University of Science and Technology Beijing, along with industry leading companies such as Farsoon, Future High-tech, HP, INJECTION, Jinwu and Siemens will come together to discuss market development trends. These discussions are geared toward promoting collaboration between the MIM and AM industries, covering topics including MIM materials, MIM titanium alloy components, and additive manufacturing materials, technologies and equipment.
2024 Advanced Ceramics Young Experts Forum
This forum, another new addition to the programme, will provide a platform for up-and- coming ceramics specialists to explore both the technical and career-related aspects of their field. Presentations will cover AION ceramics regulation, high-performance materials including silicon carbide (SiC) composites, and advanced manufacturing techniques, alongside discussions on professional growth opportunities within key sectors.
3D Printing Technologies in Mould Making Summit, featuring support from Asiamold Select
3D printing has become a valuable asset in modern mould-making, used not only in rapid prototyping, but also increasingly in the creation of production-ready moulds. To explore the growing convergence between these two manufacturing processes, Formnext + PM South China will collaborate with Asiamold Select – Shenzhen to organise the returning 3D Printing Technologies in Mould Making Summit. As a leading trade fair in South China’s mould-making sector since 2007, Asiamold Select will bring an extensive range of expertise and industry resources to convene key players from the region’s mould-making sector.
Further highlights of the 2024 Formnext + PM South China fringe programme include:
- The Binder Jetting Additive Manufacturing Technology Forum
- Digital Empowerment – International 3D Printing Industry Digital Infrastructure and Solution Seminar
- New Energy Vehicle Additive Manufacturing Application Summit
- 3D Printing for Consumer Goods and 3D Print Farm Summit
- Discover 3D Printing – Navigating Complex Additive Manufacturing with ACAM
- 2nd International Directed Energy Deposition Additive Manufacturing Technology & Application Forum
- Formnext + PM South China New Product Launch
- Overseas Market Opportunities for Chinese Additive Manufacturing Companies Seminar
- Summit Forum on Frontier Technology and Industrial Development of Silicon Carbide Materials
Formnext + PM South China is jointly organised by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd and Uniris Exhibition Shanghai Co Ltd. The fair is a part of the global Formnext portfolio of events, which includes:
· IMTS 2024 Additive Manufacturing Sector – Accelerated by Formnext: 9 – 14 September 2024, Chicago, USA
- Formnext Forum Tokyo: 26 – 27 September 2024, Tokyo, Japan
- Formnext: 19 – 22 November 2024, Frankfurt, Germany