Author: Ingo Schepers

The year 2023 has been a significant one for the world of Additive Manufacturing, with a notable surge in interest from politicians and investors as well as promising Use Cases on the horizon. In the past 12 months, not only have we welcomed 21 new members into our network (see list below), but we also enlarged our Working Group portfolio and kept up with current projects in existing Working and Focus Groups.

Wanna know what happened in our Working Groups? Here is a little insight:

• Ecological Sustainability published a short comprehensive overview of the critical dimensions of environmental sustainability in AM. We urge everyone to delve into this valuable paper. Find it here…
• Mobility Materials Mobility Materials underwent a major restructuring, with the departure of its leader Tina Schlingmann, breaking up the old Focus Groups and focusing on new projects on both material sides, polymers and metals. Those projects deal with (re)defining polymer data sheets for AM and standardize necessary testing and the topic of wire-DED. Learn about the group here…
• Analyses & Processing, a new Focus Group under the umbrella of Medical Materials, started their work in 2023. The Groups goal is to establish a set of methods that will give us data on the reuse of materials that have gone through a printing process, especially regarding medical devices. Sustainability at its best! Learn more here
• Hospitals kicked off a major project: an international multicentre study, examining the non-inferiority of the open-source software “3D Slicer” compared to approved medical devices. Learn more here
• Veterinary, the newest endeavour of the Medical Division, expands our horizon from human medicine over to the care of our beloved animals and pets. Now, the Group is for example dealing with materials suited for dental prostheses for horses. Learn more here
• Construction was kicked off at the end of June and focuses on different applications of Additive Manufacturing in the construction industry. From printing houses to manufacturing shells to save materials – we focus on everything necessary to ingrate AM into this traditional industry. Learn more here
• AM has made significant inroads into the defence sector, gaining prominence in various discussions. Our Working Group Defense, that we kicked-off in November, serves as a neutral platform, allowing for informative discussions about projects and funding programs related to AM in the defence sector. Learn more

If we are not pushing the discussions and projects in our Working Groups, we are far from sitting idly: during the past twelve months we actively participated in various events, cultivated new cooperations and worked closely with existing partners to raise the standing of Additive Manufacturing and its benefits to the industry.

Here is a short overview of our activities:

• At the beginning of February, we defied temperatures too far below zero (-15°C) to be comfortable and began our TechJourney to New York and Boston. Together with “Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie” we lead a delegation of Berlin based companies as well as our members. Together we visited multiple companies and institutions in the two American cities. One of the highlights was attending the AM Strategies hosted by our partners from 3DPrint.com  with inspiring speeches and panel discussions. Find out more here
• It is important to educate future generations about the benefits and possibilities of AM – that is why in spring of 2023, we welcomed three student interns from local schools to our Berlin offices. The goal was for them to gain insights into the intricacies of our international network and to take the first steps into becoming 3D printing enthusiasts. During their two-week internship, our Berlin based members BigRep and formlabs graciously provided them access to their production sites, offering a comprehensive look into their operations. The three students between the ages of 14 and 15 were excited and eager to learn and were at the end of their stay able to print their very first self-designed part. We look forward to further education a generation of Additive Natives. Learn more
• Our support for the next generations also includes the MGA/VDI Student Competition. This is an international and interdisciplinary competition on 3D printing for university students on all aspects of Additive Manufacturing and digitization. More than 60 students from multiple universities and various departments and courses of study joined us and our partners for the three-day hackathon-like competition in Düsseldorf. We will of course do that again this year! Learn more about last year here or join us this year here.
• At our IAM (Industrial Additive Manufacturing) Hub in Berlin, we aim to showcase as many different technologies of Additive Manufacturing as possible to as many people as possible – from politicians to international delegations and students of all ages, everyone is welcome to look at both printers and printed parts. Thanks to our member Chromatic 3D Materials, we added the printing of elastomers to our printer farm. They provided us with their RX-Flow 3500® machine, that can print rubber like parts at speed using two component printing. Learn more Would you like to showcase your technology? Contact us now!
• One of the largest meetings for Users of AM is the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) annual event in Chicago – and we were of course on site to learn about the latest trends and developments of our industry from an international perspective. Our Managing Director Stefanie Brickwede even presented on stage with Ole von Seelen from our member Trinckle. The AMUG is the perfect place to be when looking to be (re-)inspired by AM – we will of course be there again in 2024.
• Internationally we also attended the AM Conclave in Abu Dhabi, where we strengthened our partnership with AM Chronicle. The conference aims to unite the Additive Manufacturing ecosystem of the Middle East on one platform including Government, Users, Software Providers, Hardware, Material Manufacturers, Research Institutes and Standards & Certification Bodies. Learn more.
• Our partners from IPM are one of the key event providers in the field of Additive Manufacturing: last year we joined them for the AM Forum in July, the RAILWAY Forum in September and the AM MEDICAL DAYS (as co-initiators) in December. All those events provided us with important insights into the different industries utilizing the power of AM: from integrating AM into the design of new trains to printing breast implants, the possibilities are nearly endless. Come and join us at the AM Forum 2024 on March 20 & 21
• We were also at the Open House of the German Bundestag (House of Representatives) with a small booth showing an audience of politicians as well as interested members of the public how amazing AM can be. The event was the perfect opportunity to meet the right members of the German government as well as members of the opposition to tell them about the needs of our industry. As a next step we will welcome those politicians in our IAM Hub to make sure to gain political support for 3D printing.
• Where else were we in 2023?
  • At the rapid.tech3D we met a lot of our friends and as members of the jury of course attended the award ceremony of the 3D Pioneers Challenge , honouring the most innovative new ideas and pioneers.
  • At the European Military Additive Manufacturing Symposium  we met both military representatives and military suppliers. At the event supported by the European Defence Agency we gained important insights into a very secretive industry for our newest Working Group.
  • At the Formnext, the most important AM trade fair, we were amazed to see the latest developments in materials and machines as well as join the jury of the Formnext Start-Up Challenge and sign an MoU with CanadaMakes , Canada’s premier AM network. In this partnership, we aim to drive international collaboration by leveraging shared competencies, network and foster close cooperation.
  • At the LightCon in Hannover our friends from Composites United (where we also hold a seat in their committee) and we were thrilled to see the developments in both design and materials for lightweight constructions and components. AM and lightweight are a match made in heaven and at the Hannover Fair 2024 we aim to further explore the possibilities.
  • Exploring new industries for our network, we encountered the MARILIGHT initiative, a network for lightweight solutions in the maritime sector. Noticing our many common goals, we kicked off our partnership at their annual meeting in May. We look forward to pushing AM in for example ship building.

Other than visiting events, joining juries, and cultivating partnerships, we also joined multiple initiatives or were a part of bodies. Our positions other than the ones already mentioned were:

• Member of the strategical advisory board of the Technology Transfer Program Lightweight of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
• Member of the board of trustees of the Fraunhofer IAPT in Hamburg
• Co-Initiator and member of the board of AMBER (Additive Manufacturing Berlin Brandenburg)
• Member of the board of the ULTRAGrain project (aims to create a customised fine-grained microstructure (“grading”) in wire and powder-based laser cladding, which promises to improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of many engineering alloys)
• Member of the board of HEALTH CAPITAL cluster
• Member of the funded KISS (AI-supported Rapid Supply Network) Project aimed to create an AI-based semantic platform to accelerate the establishment of value networks.
• Member of the funded DigiZug3D Project with the goal of mapping and digitalising the approval process in the rail sector

We also look forward to further cooperation with the Women in 3D Printing initiative, the Danish AM Hub and NAMIC.

But of course, our highlight of 2023 was our MGA Annual Meeting and Women in AM Summit at the end of September in Berlin. Not only did we have amazing weather with the last truly warm late summer days of the year, but we also welcomed inspiring pioneers providing insights into Defence, Railway, Fashion, Design and so much more… And we enjoyed an outdoor evening event with 3D printed pasta, salmon, and burgers. Our Working Groups presented their projects and outcomes of the past month and reshaped our Advisory Board: thank you to Steffen Kuhn and Klaus Roeser for their valuable contributions as members of the board and a warm welcome to Dominic Duda and Marc Fette, whom we look forward to working with. Learn more here

Unfortunately, at the end of 2023 we received the sad news that our former Chairman of the Executive Board, Gorden Falk, passed away suddenly after short illness. We remember a personality of great motivation and drive as well as an unforgettable supporter of Additive Manufacturing on the track and beyond. In him, we have lost a colleague who was held in high esteem both personally and professionally and who always supported and accompanied 3D printing and our network.

But even with that sad news, we have had a busy year adapting to the dynamic landscape. For the coming year we listened to your wishes and concerns, evaluated our questionnaire (that some of you filled out at or after the Annual Meeting), and will among others focus on the following projects in 2024:

• A TechJourney to South Africa—buoyed by the success of last year’s expedition, we aspire to explore more international markets and cultures. Would you like to participate? Contact us now!
• The initiation of a new Focus Group, Dental—participate in the kick-off to shape its specific content. Learn more here…
• We will re-evaluate the focuses of our Working Groups to adjust to the current market needs. If there are any topics we are missing in our portfolio, please let us know! Next up we invite all interested parties to the next Defence and Construction meetings – for more information contact Sven Fritzsche
• Political Engineering: together with other influential institutions from the additive world, we aim to put 3D Printing on every politician’s agenda to ensure funding and support for our technology!

We cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for the Additive industries and our network.

We look forward to boosting AM with you!

New Members 2023 :

GS1
Trabtech Medikal İleri Teknolojiler A.Ş
3D Spark
ARBURG
Atum3D
BioMed Center Innovation GmbH
Quantica3D
Tierklinik Lüsche
ValCUN
MTC MOIIN
Castlab
German Emirati Institute
Grow
Q.BIG3D
RWTH Aachen
SKZ
Smart Zavod UA LLC
Thought 3D
TIZ Implements
Plasmics
DMFG Solutions GmbH

“Our trains must roll.” – this sentence was coined by the former chairman of the DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung and at that time Chairman of the Executive Board of Mobility goes Additive Gorden Falk. After a short but serious illness he passed away on Christmas 2023 at the age of 58. We remember a personality of great motivation and drive as well as an unforgettable supporter of Additive Manufacturing on the track and beyond. In him, we have lost a colleague who was held in high esteem both personally and professionally and who always supported and accompanied 3D printing and our network.

3D printing was a passionate topic for him not only in his role as head of the DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung (train maintenance). Even before joining DB, Gorden Falk had developed a keen interest in the technology at the aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

In 2019, he took over the position of Chairman of the Executive Board of Mobility goes Additive with great commitment until 2022. Under his aegis, MGA became significantly more international and focussed more strongly on SMEs. His support was essential when it came to obtaining quick, precise, and reliable answers in order to strategically align our network.

Inspired certainly by his active involvement in the network, he paved the way for Additive Manufacturing in new trains in his last role at the Deutsche Bahn as project manager for the procurement of the next generation of high-speed trains.

With specific specifications for additively manufactured components in the new train generations, he opened up extensive “Design for Additive” approaches and thus integrated Additive Manufacturing into the first stages of the value chain in the railway sector. As an innovative strategist, he was aware that the potential of 3D printing could be significantly increased in this way. This once again demonstrates his innovative strength and future-orientation.
Our special condolences go to his family and loved ones in these difficult days. Gorden Falk will always be vividly remembered as a humorous, interested and people-oriented companion who will be dearly missed!

Our journey began with the Kick-Off during Formnext on November 9th, featuring insightful presentations by Andreas Leupold (Leupold Legal) on the legal aspects of AM in Defense and Calum Stewart (Spee3D) sharing valuable insights into the training of Ukrainian soldiers with Spee3D’s machines. Not only were we able to witness your enthusiasm but also the importance of establishing a neutral platform that allows for discussions and exchanging of ideas to take place.
Building on this momentum, we are gearing up for our next meeting on January 22nd, that will focus on the strategic orientation of our working group and delve into business perspectives.

Out of consideration for the topics discussed, participation in the working group is restricted to members from EU and/or NATO countries.
Looking ahead, our next physical meeting is planned for the period around the AM Forum on March 20th-21st. This meeting, whether in a separate room at the AM Forum or at the MGA office the day before, not only allows for personal exchanges in a business context but also offers participation in the AM Forum.
Our Working Group Defense aims to pave the way for business alignments and international collaborations, promising substantial progress for the industry.
Don’t miss out and join us for riveting discussion on January 22nd.

If you have any further questions or inquiries please contact Sven Fritzsche.

We all know that one of the key factors for implementing Additive Manufacturing in traditional industries, such as the railway sector, we need to work together on approvals and standards for 3D printed parts.

Three years ago, our Approval in Rail Working Group achieved a major breakthrough: through rigorous testing and computational verification, the first safety-relevant component was approved for the use in a commercial train.

At the end of November, we now kicked off the next project for the Working Group and its partners: DigiZug3D.

Supported by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in in the economic stimulus programme “Digitalisation of vehicle manufacturers and supplier industry”, the Working Group and its partners are planning to map and digitalise the approval process in the rail sector. To keep the process as cost-effective as possible, the members of the funding project are focusing for example on reducing the scope of testing by enabling an analytical strength assessment that will be transferred to guidelines and standardisation.

The project is centred around the L-PBF-technology and plans to derive the parameters necessary for mathematical strength verification for parts made of 316L, ultimately including the results in the FKM-guideline.

Why do this? We need an as generic as possible approval path in the rail industry!

But the group also plans to look at the bigger picture to find general ways to approve printed parts across all sectors: they are interested in exchange with other industries to share results as well as jointly define the requirements for digital approval paths. At the end of the project, they aim to launch a digital platform, acting as a database, guiding and communication tool along the approval chain.

We are looking forward to three years of working together with SIEMENS Mobility, Additive Marking, TÜV Nord, IMA Dresden, PIAF (Paderborner Institut für Additive Fertigung), DB, ÖBB, Photon, Nikon SLM, Hamburger Hochbahn!

International standardisation in the field of Additive Manufacturing is currently dominated by the work of ISO/TC 261. This technical committee has been organised very successfully by Germany since it was founded in 2011 with the help of DIN, which runs the associated ISO secretariat. The chair has also been provided by Germany since then.

The financing of these DIN activities is currently not secured. Without further support, the management of the committee will be taken over by other international players and Europe is in danger of losing its pioneering role in 3D printing. As a result, the interests of German companies would lose considerable influence on standardisation work in a global comparison.

In order to close the funding gap, we are asking for support on behalf of the DIN: Membership of the DIN Additive Manufacturing Advisory Board (€4,000) is one way of doing this. In addition, project-related assistance and the involvement of other stakeholders or public bodies in your own network can help to raise the budget in good time.

The official application for support is available as a PDF here. If you have any questions, please contact the DIN Advisory Board.

The AM Medical Days are the place to be when it comes to Additive Manufacturing in a medical context – from Implants and Bioprinting to Orthotics & Prosthetics and Hospital Care, the conference brings the entire value-added system related to 3D printed medical solutions together.

On December 11 & 12, doctors, manufacturers of medical technology and medical products, printing providers, suppliers, and representatives of research facilities and health insurances all came to Berlin. Together we listened to fascinating key notes about latest trends and achievements and actively participated in inspiring workshops.

What were the main topics on and off stage?

Did you know that in oral and maxillofacial surgery, printing on-site means speeding up the treatment process by up to nine days! That means not only less days in the hospital for the patient, but also equals major savings for the hospitals due to a shorter occupancy of beds.

The past two years have already shown improvements, but there is still a lot to be done. We are already looking forward to learning more at the next AM Medical Days!

We look forward to welcoming you this year at the European Healthcare Forum for AM (formerly AM Medical Days) on September 7, 2024 in Basel. The event will take place in collaboration with the 3D Symposium for Life Sciences (University Hospital Basel and FHNW Muttenz). On the evening of September 6, we also cordially invite you to the MGA Medical @5 anniversary event. You can look forward to inspiring presentations and valuable contacts. For further information please contact Naomi Nathan.

As the year is coming to an end, we are delighted to already have a highlight to announce for the next year. This way we all have something to look forward to. On April 16, 2024, the Working Group Use Cases will establish a new Focus Group: namely Dental!
The future project work will essentially focus on topics related to materials and development in the dental industry. Questions that members of the group may be dealing with include

• What applications are there and what tests need to be carried out for proper use?
• Which tests are widely used or mandatory by standard?
• Which materials are best suited for which applications?

The focus group will tackle these and other questions as part of the interactive joint work. But as always, the specific content will be further defined together at the kick-off.

We will be opening the doors of Mobility goes Additive e.V. on April 16, 2024 from 2 pm to 5 pm and kindly invite all interested parties to our office – whether users from industry, representatives from research and development or material manufacturers, everybody is welcome.
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We are happy to announce our upcoming MGA Practical Guidance Seminar on EN ISO 10993. Which tests are relevant in the context of EN ISO 10993? Which are considered useful? How are they performed optimally? All of these such as further questions will be answered in our workshop taking place during the AM Medical Days 2023.

We offer a seminar for material and machine manufacturers as well as for all interested parties in the AM scene on the optimal use of EN ISO 10993 for AM-relevant materials. The focus will be set on materials of the manufacturing of medical devices.
The seminar will be held together with Expertants GmbH and HygCen Germany GmbH.

When?
December 12, 2023
14:45 to 15:45

Where?
The Workshop will take part during the AM Medical Days 2023 at Holiday Inn: Berlin Airport – Conference Centre

For further information please feel free to contact Cora Lüders-Theuerkauf.

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In today’s fast-paced world marked by technological leaps and a heightened awareness of environmental concerns, the manufacturing industry stands at a crossroads. Additive Manufacturing has emerged as a game-changer, unlocking unparalleled possibilities for innovation and production efficiency. In this environment, the need to integrate ecological sustainability into AM processes has become apparent.
At first glance, AM is often hailed as a “green” technology, but closer inspections show a need for distinctions: Even given that when the advantages of AM, such as design freedom and material efficiency, are fully leveraged, it can indeed be far more sustainable than traditional manufacturing methods, the ecological challenges remain.
To tackle these distinctions, the Ecological Sustainability Working Group of the MGA network has written a Management Summary to provide a short but comprehensive overview of the critical dimensions of environmental sustainability in AM. They seek to foster a more informed discussion on this crucial topic by aligning it with the phases of the Circular Economy.
While there’s room for improvement in the AM industry on these fronts, it’s vital to acknowledge that AM, like any other manufacturing process, has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to sustainability challenges. Nevertheless, when fully harnessed, AM holds the potential to make a significant positive impact on sustainability.
As members of MGA’s Ecological Sustainability Working Group, we invite you to engage in lively debates on this subject. By acknowledging the challenges and seizing the opportunities within Additive Manufacturing, we can collectively work towards a more sustainable future.
We would like to invite you to discuss this and other topics that concern you personally or your company on the topic of sustainability with our Working Group Ecological Sustainability at our booth D31 in hall 11.1 at this year’s formnext from November 7 – 10 in Frankfurt.

Click here to download
Management Summary: Sustainable AM – Chances and Challenges for a Green Future

On September 28 we held a workshop with Andrew Littlefield from the US Army and our members to discuss the potential of AM in the defence sector. Following this, we are excited to announce the launch of the Working Group DEFENSE on November 9, 2024 at the Formnext in Frankfurt.
Join us as we explore the convergence of AM, future product development, and obsolescence management in defence technologies. We aim to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between the different stakeholders, state actors, OEMs and the AM industry.
Our working group will delve into the latest developments in AM and its integration into future defence products. In today’s fast-paced technological world, obsolescence management is critical. We will explore strategies and best practices for managing obsolescence and ensuring the longevity of defence systems.

When and where?

November 9, 2023
1.30 – 5 pm
Formnext Frankfurt

Want to join us?
Please send an email to Sven Fritzsche.

For questions or specific needs, feel free to contact us. We want to make this Working Group as beneficial as possible for you. If you are from a non-NATO or a non-EU country, please inform us.

We look forward to welcoming you in Frankfurt and creating a future of collaborative achievements that embrace innovation and tackle obsolescence challenges.