Formnext Asia Shenzhen and partners strengthen AM ecosystem

At a press conference, the organiser of Formnext Asia Shenzhen outlined a refined focus for the 2025 trade fair, while key industry partners provided analysis on the rapid growth of the AM market in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA). The partners discussed the GBA's development into a specialised, high-tech industrial ecosystem and a promising international growth market for AM technologies. To serve this evolving market, the 2025 fair will feature a sharpened focus on the AM value chain, including equipment, materials, software and post-processing technologies, bringing it into closer alignment with the global Formnext brand. This strategy will be supported by new partner-led pavilions and fringe programme content.

To-date, the fair has already seen an 80% year-on-year increase in exhibitors from the AM sector, with leading brands including BLT, Farsoon, HBD and HP among the confirmed participants. The event is also marked by an expanding international presence, with new exhibitors confirmed from France, Germany, Singapore, Spain and the US, alongside buyer delegations from Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Explaining the wider vision behind the event, Mr Richard Li, Chairman of Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, stated: "China has become one of the world's fastest-growing markets for additive manufacturing, and with its combination of sophisticated industrial infrastructure and deep pool of technical expertise, the Greater Bay Area holds a distinct advantage in leading the sector’s development.

On this foundation, we have built an international platform for the industry to present its latest advancements, make business connections and exchange expert knowledge, to unlock the full industrial capabilities of additive manufacturing in the region. Looking ahead, our mission is to connect global innovation with the industrial power found here, shortening the path from concept to commercial application. We are dedicated to building a more open, collaborative and innovative AM ecosystem for all of Asia."

With just under one month until the show, industry partners offered a preview of their contributions to the upcoming edition, which will take place from 26 – 28 August at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. Highlights include:

• The fair's new technical partner, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), will debut a pavilion showcasing advanced materials and emerging AM applications.
• The Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society will co-organise the 2nd Laser and Additive Manufacturing Forum to drive the application of laser-based AM technologies in the region.
• The Hong Kong 3D Printing Association will host a pavilion showcasing technologies from its member companies and facilitate B2B matchmaking sessions.

Industry partners detail regional market growth, new event collaborations

Speakers at the conference pointed to the significant scale of China's AM industry, noting that its projected growth to over RMB 63 billion (USD 8.8 billion) in 2025 creates substantial opportunities for manufacturers and technology developers throughout the region. Mr Edmond Lai, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC and Chief Executive Officer, Mainland Business of HKPC, noted: "The AM industry in China has experienced a thirty-fold increase over the past decade, underscoring the technology's immense potential for future growth."

As the newly appointed technical partner of Formnext Asia Shenzhen, HKPC will present key applications from the "HKPC-HP 3D Printing Technology Centre", notable as the first research centre in Asia equipped with both HP’s research-grade metal and polymer platforms. Their pavilion will additionally feature advanced materials designed for emerging sectors and traditional industries alike, enabling businesses in the Greater Bay Area to pursue new development opportunities.

To further support these businesses in taking their next steps onto the world stage, HKPC will also participate in the "China Additive Manufacturing Go-Global Special Seminar". There, it will introduce "The Cradle – Go Global Service Centre", its one-stop professional support centre offering services including international standards alignment, product localisation and internationalisation support, intellectual property management and protection and overseas regulatory compliance.

Mr Lai added: "As a leader in research and development (R&D) internationally with nearly 30 years of experience in AM industry, HKPC has established the full-chain capability to support technology from the initial R&D phase through to commercialisation. We look forward to collaborating with the organiser and the key partners to advance the industry, strengthen our capacity for innovation and build a more competitive and resilient industrial ecosystem."

Guangdong Province, which encompasses the nine mainland municipalities of the Greater Bay Area, stands as a major contributor to the nation's AM sector. Comprising approximately 400 enterprises with a value of RMB 13 billion (USD 1.8 billion) in 2024, the province's own AM sector forms a complete value chain, with clear specialisations across its major cities, including Guangzhou for R&D and incubation, Shenzhen for equipment and services, Dongguan and Foshan for large-scale manufacturing and Zhongshan for custom medical devices.

Mr Liu Yihua, Chairman of the Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society, attributed the success of this specialised ecosystem to a deliberate strategy of public-private cooperation: "Guangdong's universities are promoting deep integration between industry and research, and this is all backed by government initiatives like the provincial ‘Laser and Additive Manufacturing Industry Cluster Action Plan’. Our partnership with Formnext Asia Shenzhen allows us to organise high-level forums that drive the industrial application of these technologies."

The Society's role as co-organiser of the 2nd Laser and Additive Manufacturing Forum, held as part of the event's fringe programme, is a key part of its work to implement this action plan. Organised in partnership with the Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Branch, Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society and Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, the forum will feature 18 presentations focused on the industrial application of laser-based AM, covering topics such as laser technologies, patent protection, market development and overseas rights protection.

Building on these partner contributions, the wider fringe programme will also feature content tailored for the GBA's major application industries, such as new energy vehicles, 3C electronics, mould making, footwear and 3D print farms.

Alongside the focus on Guangdong's industrial base, the fair will also highlight the contributions of Hong Kong, which serves as the Greater Bay Area's international gateway for service and trade. This position has given its enterprises extensive experience in managing the technical standards and supply chains of various international markets, which in turn has driven the development of leading capabilities in precision engineering, materials R&D and digital production.

Drawing from its network of 500 members, the Hong Kong 3D Printing Association will present a dedicated pavilion showcasing technologies and applications from more than 20 participating companies. The association will also host a series of B2B matchmaking sessions for its members to meet potential clients. Mr Alex Ng, Vice Chairman of the association, explained the strategic goals behind these activities: "Through this exhibition, we aim to strengthen Hong Kong's integration with the Greater Bay Area and its connections to the Southeast Asian market. Our goal is to help our member companies seize opportunities for regional growth and increase their market share."

(Source: Formnext)