Messe

Formnext takes place annually in Frankfurt am Main and will once again showcase innovative solutions across the entire industrial 3D printing process chain in 2026. As an international trade fair, it focuses on additive manufacturing technologies for a more productive and sustainable industry. Exhibitors and trade visitors from around the world and a wide variety of industries come together to exchange ideas and make new contacts. The accompanying program also offers insights into current developments and future prospects.

Once again this year, our experts Dr. Alexander Leichner, Dr. Thomas Palmer, and Henrik Hembrock from the »Processes and Materials« division will be representing us at Formnext. They will be on site to discuss »Programmable Materials« and the »ProgMatCode« software for structural optimization of additively manufactured components.

Programmable materials derive their properties not only from the choice of material or the external shape of a component, but also from a specifically designed internal microstructure. This allows, for example, the mechanical behavior or the transport of heat and substances to be influenced. Additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing make it possible to produce such structures down to the micrometer scale. With »ProgMatCode« we digitally analyze and optimize these microstructures.

At our booth, we’ll be showcasing various exhibits that bring the possibilities of programmable materials to life in a clear and tangible way. These include sample structures such as cubes with graduated material properties, which participants can pick up and test for themselves. We’ll also be presenting finger prostheses as well as examples of custom-fitted padding, such as for bicycle seats or shoe soles.