GUIDE
Introduction
From November 18 to 21, the Frankfurt Exhibition Center will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Formnext. With 533 exhibitors from 34 countries, the number of Chinese exhibitors has set a new historical record—surpassing 100 within just two months of opening registration, ultimately reaching over 120 (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), with a net area increase of 28% year-on-year, making it the largest overseas exhibition group for the third consecutive year. In less than eight years, Chinese brands have transitioned from being “supporting roles” to the “center stage.” This time, they bring not only cost-effectiveness but also a threefold narrative of technological depth, scene breakthroughs, and globalization acceleration.
1
Metal Matrix: Increasing Output from “Difficult-to-Process” Materials
BLT (Platinum) globally launched the BLT-S615 ten-laser system, with a forming volume of 600×600×1500 mm, improving the printing efficiency of aerospace “integrated cabin sections” by 42%; simultaneously showcasing a green laser solution for copper alloys, with a roughness Ra≤6 µm for the inner wall of the CuCrZr thrust chamber, directly bypassing traditional milling.
HBD (Hanbang Laser) presented the HBD-1000T triple-laser version, publicly debuting a 1.2 m rocket fairing forming case, completing printing, heat treatment, and delivery within 48 hours, turning “emergency spare parts before launch” from a PowerPoint presentation into reality.
AVIC Mite showcased an integrated table for “materials, equipment, and processes”: high-flow GH3536 powder (≤15 ppm O) + self-developed 500 mm width airflow module, printing a 0.3 mm thin-walled turbine cover on-site, with an X-ray porosity of 0.02%, pushing the “bottleneck” parameters of high-temperature alloys to new limits.
Editor’s Observation: While European peers are still debating “more lasers or better processes,” Chinese manufacturers have packaged multi-laser, high-reflectivity metals, and ultra-large sizes into “bundled solutions,” providing end-users with an “immediate online” ROI calculation sheet.
2
Polymers & Photocuring: Parallel Paths of Consumer-Level “Cost Reduction” and Industrial-Level “Efficiency Improvement”
Elegoo (Smart Pie) launched the Saturn 5 Ultra, featuring a 13.6’’ 12K panel + ACF release film, with a single-layer curing time of 1.5 s, achieving a speed increase of 3×, yet reducing the retail price to €499, causing a queue of attendees around the exhibition hall.
Creality (Chuangxiang 3D) introduced the K2 Plus high-speed FDM farm version, equipped with a 512³ mm³ forming chamber and 600 mm/s acceleration, supporting MQTT control for 20 units in a cluster, with official estimates of a monthly production capacity of 1.2 t PLA for 100 units, targeting small-batch e-commerce in Europe.
Liantai Technology released the SLA solution DENT 300 Pro, focusing on invisible dental molds, completing 120 pairs of models in 55 minutes, with a size error of ±50 µm, launched simultaneously with Invisalign certified materials, securing a bulk order of 50 units from a Nordic dental chain on-site.
Editor’s Observation: Chinese consumer-level brands are transforming “parameter competition” into “cost competition,” while industrial players are modularizing “speed, accuracy, and materials,” penetrating the high-margin dental, jewelry, and cultural markets in Europe, completing a business model leap from “selling equipment” to “selling capacity.”
3
Materials: A Full Assault with Metals, Ceramics, and Sustainable Resins
China New Materials showcased AlSi10Mg-R recycled aluminum powder, with a carbon footprint of 2.1 kg CO₂/kg, a 68% reduction compared to virgin powder, and has obtained small-batch certification from Airbus’s supply chain.
Jinwu New Materials released ZrO₂~PEEK composite ceramic filament, with a fracture toughness of 6.5 MPa·m½, suitable for orthopedic implants, signing a European general agency agreement with a German distributor on-site.
eSUN launched the PLA-eCO series, with a biobased content of 98%, achieving a 94% industrial composting degradation rate in 180 days, certified by TÜV OK Compost, aiming to replace disposable plastics in exhibition props and festive decorations.
Editor’s Observation: As the EU’s CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) is set to take effect in 2026, “low-carbon materials” have become the top priority for European buyers. Chinese material suppliers are making “green certificates” a standard feature rather than a premium option, locking in carbon tariff costs for downstream customers in advance.
4
Software and Post-Processing: Completing the Last Link in the Ecosystem
Tripo AI launched the Tripo Manufacturing Suite 1.0, which converts 3D models into laser paths + supports + cost quotes with one click, integrating a library of over 1200 material parameters, demonstrating the reconstruction of a rocket nozzle in 15 minutes on-site, attracting the Siemens Digital Industries team for discussions on acquisition cooperation.
DyeMansion showcased the Print-to-Product post-processing line in China: low-temperature plasma Polysher + automatic dyeing DM60, reducing the surface roughness of SLS nylon parts from Ra 12 µm to 2 µm, completing custom colors in 30 minutes, helping European 3D printing service providers standardize “small-batch multi-color” as standard SKUs.
Editor’s Observation: Chinese software and post-processing brands are no longer just “alternatives,” but are integrating AI design, online quoting, low-carbon materials, and automated post-processing into an “end-to-end” digital factory, providing “one-click factory setup” SaaS solutions to small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Europe.
5
Trend Dialogue: What’s Next?
Research by the Formnext organizers shows that 88% of European attendees plan to expand cooperation with Chinese suppliers in 2026 (up from only 54% in 2024). The core driving force has shifted from “cheap prices” to “fast technological iteration, quick scene implementation, and comprehensive low-carbon data.” However, challenges are also accumulating:
The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act will take effect in 2026, potentially increasing the cost of equipment network security certification by 5–8%;
The export control list is under discussion to include multi-laser metal equipment above 3 kW in dual-use reviews;
The German IG Metall union has filed an anti-dumping investigation request regarding the “transfer of metal printing jobs.”
6
Chinese Exhibitors Generally Respond:
Localization—BLT and Huashu both confirmed plans to establish spare parts and demonstration centers in Germany before 2026;
Compliance—AVIC Mite and China New Materials have already partnered with TÜV and DNV to proactively prepare for CE/UKCA and carbon footprint blockchain traceability;
Win-Win—Creality and Elegoo announced the establishment of “open-source 3D printing laboratories” in collaboration with European universities, donating hardware and co-creating courses as a long-term investment in their brands.
7
From “cost” to “technology” to “ecosystem,” Chinese exhibitors at Formnext 2025 collectively showcased a “third growth curve.” As multi-laser, AI generation, low-carbon materials, and digital post-processing are integrated into “turnkey” solutions, Chinese additive manufacturing is no longer just a “price catfish,” but has become an “innovation partner” that European industrial clients cannot bypass. We look forward to Frankfurt in 2026.
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