The announcement has just been made official. With already over 559 exhibitors registered, there was cause for optimism to exchange ideas in person at Formnext 2020. Furthermore, the Mesago team had announced a hybrid version and a series of health protection measures to make this edition a pleasant one for all.
However, with the recent rise of Covid-19 cases across the world, Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH has decided to hold Formnext 2020 purely virtually.
“The current rise of the Covid-19 infection figures in Germany, Europe and around the world have led to increasing uncertainty among exhibitors and visitors. Together with the renewed tightening of official and in-house travel restrictions, this will no longer allow the otherwise highly international Formnext to be carried out in the accustomed quality,” stated Petra Haarburger, President of Mesago Messe Frankfurt.
“We have been planning Formnext 2020 for months now. We have done this consistently and with the full support of our Exhibitor Advisory Board and with the highest level of protection and safety for the health of our exhibitors and visitors. In doing so, we examined the entire layout of the fair from scratch from the halls with all entrances, booths, to the aisles. We devised completely new stand construction packages, spacing and communication areas in accordance with the health and hygiene concept agreed with the authorities. Our disappointment at the end of the summer is all the greater now that we have to recognize that the course of the pandemic is destroying our efforts to make these personal encounters possible again,” explained Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext Mesago Messe Frankfurt.
That’s certainly a tough but good decision for all. Beyond business activities, the unprecedented times we are living, have also demonstrated the vital importance of keeping health as a priority.
However, “An exchange between technology providers and users is absolutely necessary”
Today, more than ever, the recent media hype of additive manufacturing in decentralized production has increased the need for more collaborations between AM experts and other industries. More importantly, it also raises several questions on the advancements that still need to be achieved to get the technology where it should be.
The digital event Formnext Connect is meant to be the place to enable these exchanges. It is designed to help these stakeholders connect and exchange ideas in the only way that is possible right now.
Given the extensive experience of the Mesago Team, Formnext Connect will certainly be the place where “ideas will take shape”.
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