EuroMold, which takes place annually in Frankfurt, is a world-wide leading trade fair for mould-making and tooling, design and application development. It has also become the largest event on the 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing calendar in Europe. Attendance offers many boons. After all, there’s nothing quite like having a concept presented in the physical rather than just the digital – something that the origins of 3D printing as rapid prototyping was very much all about.
The Euromold show has also traditionally emerged as the event where the big 3D printing vendors launch their significant new products. This year is unlikely to be any different, and while the big two are setting the scene, they’re not giving too much away ahead of the event in early December.
3D Systems has revealed it will exhibit its complete line-up of professional products at stand E68 and its extensive consumer product line at stand B79 both located in hall 11, which is renowned for housing all of the 3D printing / AM vendors together. The company is also planning to unveil a series of hands-on, interactive exhibits featuring its advanced manufacturing solutions, its expanding range of ProJet™ 3D printers, including new vibrant full-colour and multi-material capabilities complemented by a growing range of materials. This is significant actually, and if they live up to this claim then they could just leapfrog their major competitor on this front.
After a year of rapid acquisitions on the software front 3D Systems will have its new Geomagic® Solutions design and inspection tools on show, and attendees can can also sample the company’s comprehensive Quickparts® cloud-based printing services, powered by the full breadth of 3D Systems’ technologies.
The company’s consumer 3D printers — also in direct competition with rival 3D printing behemoth Stratasys’ new band acquisition MakerBot — will take centre stage. 3D Systems will be promoting home 3DP apps such as made-for-you fashion, décor, toys and home office printed products, and the impact of easy-to-use 3D design and printing for the near-future classroom. According to the company, these are areas of significant potential growth for 2013-2016 and high growth for 2016 onwards according to analyst consensus.
“We encourage everyone to join us for the largest and most exciting EuroMold exhibit in our history,” said Cathy Lewis, 3D Systems’ Chief Marketing Officer. “This year’s ground-breaking portfolio of 3D printers, software and services will offer an unprecedented experience and provide key aerospace, automotive, patient-specific healthcare and consumer products companies powerful choices as they join us on the manufacturing the future journey.”
Stratasys will be located on stand D90 in hall 11 and visitors can anticipate live demonstrations from seven professional 3D printers, from desktop to production grade. The company is planning to host a live digital injection moulding factory using 3D printed moulds. Visitors can witness how the Objet260 Connex 3D Printer quickly turns around Digital ABS moulds that can withstand the high pressures and temperatures of a micro injection moulding machine.
“EuroMold is our industry’s largest European gathering of prototyping and manufacturing professionals,” says Andy Middleton, General Manager, Stratasys EMEA. “This year will again be a great opportunity to share our latest developments and is a very special show for Stratasys in particular, as it coincides with our 25th anniversary since being created by Scott Crump in 1988.”
Representing Stratasys from the Idea Series are the Mojo and uPrint SE Plus 3D Printers; exhibiting from the Design Series is the Objet30 Pro, Eden260V and Dimension, with the Objet500 Connex 3D Printer showcasing Stratasys’ (currently) unique multi-material technology. To conclude the line-up, they will be demonstrating the direct digital manufacturing capabilities of the Production Series via the Fortus 250mc and Fortus 400mc systems.
Zehavit Reisin, Stratasys Director of Materials, will be speaking at the Materials Forum on Wednesday 4th December, from 11:30 in Hall 11.0, stand C28.
The whole process chain “From Design to Prototyping to Series Production” is represented at EuroMold, which aims to conceptually close the gap between industrial designers, product developers, producers, suppliers and end-users. Many videos will doubtless soon circulate YouTube from the event, which is sure to produce more news and insights next month and Rachel will be heading over there to pick up on all the new launches.
EuroMold 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany, December 3 – 6, 2013, at the Frankfurt Messe. The conference program can be found here.
