From Vision to Reality

WINTER 2024⎹ We had the pleasure of visiting Formnext in Frankfurt back in november – the leading global exhibition for additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing. A true hub for innovation, technology, and the future of manufacturing. But this wasn’t just another industry event for us. The highlight of the week was the launch of Freemelt’s new 3D printer, the ID,  a product we’ve had the privilege to help develop.

Seeing the machine on display, getting real-time feedback from visitors, and witnessing the buzz around the launch was incredibly rewarding. Collaborating with Freemelt has been a journey full of innovation, teamwork, and shared vision. Their mission – to make advanced metal printing viable for mass production rather than just prototyping – is the type of projects we thrive in realizing, enabling technology and pushing boundaries.

Formnext as a whole offered a wealth of insights. Here are a few key trends that stood out to us:

Openness and Modularity – More systems are being designed with flexibility in mind, enabling users to adapt, expand, and evolve their setups. There’s a clear influence from the open-source mindset now making its way into hardware.

Materials in the Spotlight – From advanced powders to new polymers and composites, materials development is moving rapidly. Balancing strength, speed, and cost is becoming both a challenge and a major opportunity. This is working in tangent with designing for production method, where designers are using the advantages of the method to optimize design and adding strength and flexibility where it is needed, not only where the production method dictates.

Automation and Scalability – The industry is clearly shifting from prototyping to production. The focus now is on integrating additive manufacturing into full-scale industrial workflows.

We’re heading home with new inspiration, fresh ideas, and a deep sense of pride in the launch we were part of. Huge thanks to Freemelt for the trust and great collaboration – and to Formnext for an inspiring event.

Already looking forward to next year.

At Avalon Innovation, we remain dedicated to partnering with forward-thinking clients to create impactful, sustainable solutions.

For more information about Avalon Innovation and our work, or to discuss potential collaborations, please contact us via www.avaloninnovation.com

Let our expertise complement yours

/David Bursell & Johan Cederfeldt at Avalon Innovation