Category Archives: additive manufacturing

2026, 3D Printing, additive manufacturing, formnext, Formnext 2026, Frankfurt

Formnext 2026 Names the UK as Partner Country and That Is a Big Deal for Additive Manufacturing

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The United Kingdom has been announced as the official partner country for Formnext 2026, and if you work anywhere near industrial 3D printing, this is genuinely significant news.

Formnext 2026 will take place in Frankfurt from 17 to 20 November 2026, and the choice of the UK as partner country reflects just how far British Additive Manufacturing has come. From advanced materials and machine development to real-world industrial applications, the UK is now firmly embedded in the global AM ecosystem.

According to the organisers, Formnext is also entering the year with fresh momentum, placing a stronger focus on key user industries such as orthopaedics, aviation and automotive manufacturing. In short, this is not just a celebration of technology, but a clear signal that industrial 3D printing has moved well beyond the experimental phase.

Why the UK as Partner Country Matters

The UK has long punched above its weight in manufacturing technology, and Additive Manufacturing is no exception. Established names like Renishaw sit alongside fast-growing innovators such as Wayland Additive, supported by a steady pipeline of start-ups, research institutions and industrial users.

From aerospace and defence through to healthcare and energy, British companies are not just adopting AM technologies, they are helping to define how they are used at scale. That combination of research depth and practical application is exactly what Formnext is about.

The UK’s Additive Manufacturing sector is also being actively coordinated through Additive Manufacturing UK, which aims to bring industry, academia and government together to accelerate adoption and innovation. Being named partner country puts that collective effort firmly on the world stage.

A Stronger Focus on Real Industry Use

One of the most interesting aspects of the Formnext 2026 announcement is the increased focus on specific user industries. Rather than talking about AM in abstract terms, the organisers are deliberately highlighting where it is already delivering tangible benefits.

Orthopaedics, aviation and automotive manufacturing are all sectors where Additive Manufacturing is proving its worth, whether that is through lightweight components, patient-specific implants or rapid tooling and production aids.

To support this, Formnext will be running AM-focused events throughout 2026 at major industry exhibitions, including AERO Friedrichshafen, OT-World in Leipzig and Automechanika Frankfurt. The idea is simple and sensible: meet potential users where they already are and show them what industrial 3D printing can actually do.

Record Numbers and a New Hall Layout

Formnext 2025 marked the event’s tenth anniversary and welcomed a record 38,282 visitors, which is a strong indicator of where the industry is heading. For 2026, visitors can also expect a new and improved hall structure across three levels in Halls 11.0, 12.0 and 12.1.

The goal here is to improve visitor flow, reduce walking distances and create a more coherent experience overall. Anyone who has spent long days navigating large trade shows will appreciate why that matters.

Early Bird Booking Still Open

For exhibitors, there is also a practical incentive to act quickly. Early bird discounts are available until 2 March 2026, making this an ideal moment for UK companies in particular to secure their presence at what promises to be a landmark event.

With the UK in the spotlight, a renewed focus on real industrial applications and a clear upward trend in global interest, Formnext 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most important Additive Manufacturing events of the year.

You can find exhibitor information and registration details via the official Formnext website

3D Printing, additive manufacturing, Anycubic, formnext, Gadget Man, Matt Porter, The Gadget Man

Anycubic Teases the Kobra S1 Max Combo – A New Chapter for Multi-Colour Printing (and I’ll Be Seeing More at Formnext!)

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Well, this is exciting. The lovely folks at Anycubic have been in touch again, and this time they’ve got something rather special lined up for the 3D-printing world. If you’ve been following my recent adventures in the workshop — shelves of resin bottles, spools of filament, and printers humming away like a busy beehive — you’ll know I’ve been especially taken with Anycubic’s approach to innovation lately.

And now, they’ve gone and done it again.

Introducing the Kobra S1 Max Combo

A brand-new machine built to push desktop 3D-printing further — louder, brighter, more colourful, and more capable of serious engineering-grade work.

This is not just a quiet upgrade. This is one of those big leaps.

Kobra S1 Max Combo
Kobra S1 Max Combo
Kobra S1 Max
Kobra S1 Max

What Makes It Stand Out?

The expanded spec list from the official campaign page reveals some key details:

  • Up to 16-colour printing: Start with one ACE 2 Pro module for 4 colours; combine up to four for the full 16-colour capacity.

  • Huge build volume: 350 × 350 × 350 mm.

  • Enclosed, actively-heated chamber up to 65 °C. Hotbed up to 120 °C, hotend up to 350 °C.

  • Hardened-steel hotend (0.4 mm standard with extra 0.6 mm included), optional 0.25 mm brass / 0.8 mm hardened steel nozzles.

  • CoreXY motion system, active carbon-filter air purification, WiFi6/Ethernet support, 720p monitoring, spaghetti-recognition AI, U-disk/app control.

  • Materials covered: from PLA/PETG/TPU right up to engineering-grades like ABS, ASA, PC, PA, PA6-CF, PC-CF/GF, PET-CF.

  • Multi-language interface (English, Chinese, German, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Portuguese).

Put simply: whoever said “desktop printers are only for PLA” is going to have a rethink when this lands.

Early Bird Deal (This One’s Actually Worth It)

Anycubic are running a clever early-bird scheme:

  • Pay £50 now → receive £100 discount off the launch price (5th November to 24th November)

  • After that, the pricing rolls through phased levels — each with perks (as previously noted).

    • £749 (25 Nov-1 Dec) with £400 worth of perks

    • £799 (2 Dec-25 Dec) with £350 perks

    • £849 (26 Dec-31 Jan) with £300 perks

    • £949 (from 1 Feb) with £200 perks

So yes — if you’re thinking about it, the earlier the better.

And Here’s the Extra Bit I’m Excited About…

I’ll be in Frankfurt on the 18th November attending formnext — the global additive-manufacturing expo. It’s basically the Glastonbury of 3D printing: people everywhere talking filament, lasers, printheads, sintering furnaces — heavenly stuff.

I’m absolutely planning to track down Anycubic while I’m there and get a closer look at the Kobra S1 Max Combo in the flesh. Expect photos, impressions, maybe even first-hand print samples — all coming your way.

If you’ve got questions you’d like me to ask the Anycubic team directly, let me know in the comments.

Final Thoughts

This is shaping up to be a very compelling machine:

✔ Larger build volume
✔ Multi-colour support baked in
✔ Enclosed, CoreXY, heated chamber = better reliability
✔ Designed for real materials, not just for show

If it delivers what the specs promise, this could be one of the stand-out printers of 2025 — especially for makers and small business production.

I’ll bring back everything I learn at Formnext — stay tuned.

—

Matt Porter – The Gadget Man
Currently surrounded by printers. Not sorry.

2025, additive manufacturing, formnext, Gadget Man

Formnext 2025: Tickets Now Open for the World’s Leading 3D Printing Expo

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Frankfurt is getting ready to host the world’s largest 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) event once again. From 18–21 November 2025, Formnext will transform the Messe Frankfurt exhibition halls into a showcase of innovation, collaboration, and real-world applications across industries.

This year promises over 800 exhibitors, including some of the biggest names in the AM world alongside a healthy mix of start-ups and research groups. Expect plenty of world premieres, live demonstrations, and a packed programme across aviation, aerospace, engineering, jewellery, watches, and more.

Spain takes centre stage as the partner country for 2025, bringing around 30 companies to Frankfurt. The Spanish AM sector has been growing rapidly and plays an interesting role as a link between Europe and Latin America, particularly strong in systems, materials, and research.

The Gadget Man will be attending formnext
The Gadget Man will be attending formnext

The supporting programme looks just as impressive as the show floor itself. Three stages will run throughout the event, each with a different focus: industry trends, real-world applications, and the latest technologies. Seminars, talks, and showcases will cover everything from large-format 3D printing to data-driven design and construction AM. Add to that the Formnext Awards, start-up pitches, career opportunities, and networking events, and it’s clear this isn’t just an exhibition – it’s the meeting point for the global AM community.

I’ll be there on Tuesday 18 November for the Press Breakfast and then I’m looking forward to catching up with many of the 800 companies, checking out the latest announcements and exploring the halls. It’s always fascinating to see how far the technology has come, and this year looks set to offer plenty of inspiration.

Tickets are available now from formnext.com/visitors, with an early-bird discount running until 21 October.