This year’s forum organized by the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group is called “AM4industry ‒ Using & Enabling Robotics” and explores the relationship between additive manufacturing (AM) and robotics. Research and industry experts will be on hand at the rapid.tech 3D event on 13 May 2025 to demonstrate the potential of combining AM and robotics. Once again the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group is providing professional industry support to the rapid.tech 3D event in Erfurt.
AM ‒ the unifying element across many sectors
At first glance you might not think that sticky cake batter, plastic injection-molded flower pots, and milled metal components have anything in common. But they are all connected by one element: additive manufacturing. AM-printed tools optimize the processing of batter, the handling of plastic parts and the production of components in the machine tool. These and other examples will take centre stage at the VDMA trade forum on AM and robotics.
“We show why and how additive manufacturing and robotics make a perfect pair. On the one hand, our speakers from industry and research will explain how robot technology helps to optimise additive processes. They will also demonstrate how additive manufacturing improves production processes across many sectors, from the packaging and food industries to plastics processing and metalworking,” explains Rainer Gebhardt, AM expert at VDMA and the person responsible for the content of the forum.
Mechanical support removal
Support structures often have to be removed from additively manufactured components manually with an angle grinder or a chisel ‒ a process both time-consuming and prone to error. Toolcraft has developed a solution for the automated removal of support structures that can be optimally adapted to industrial requirements. Uwe Schulmeister will present the technology using a practical case study and give his perspective on what this could mean for AM production lines in the future.
Dr Matthias Brück from Fraunhofer IAPT and Dr Karsten Heuser from Siemens will also discuss the use of robotics in the industrialisation of additive manufacturing processes. They will look specifically at the complete end-to-end data flow in system programming, from data generation to seamless real-time integration in industrial applications. Besides automating and enhancing existing processes, the key aspect is to make full use of potential synergies through new ways of thinking and approaches across the entire production chain.
Innovative AM robotic grippers for a range of applications
In the second part of the forum, industry representatives will illustrate how AM-manufactured gripper systems and other innovative robot technology tools can be used to make production processes more efficient. “We received a lot of submissions from companies wanting to showcase their applications in this particular segment. It was a fantastic response that highlights just how much-untapped potential there is in this area which could be harnessed across all sectors,” notes Rainer Gebhardt.
Design-optimized, customizable tools for the packaging industry are one of the topics of the presentation by Dennis Nier from Siemens and Conrad Zanzinger from Schubert Additive Solutions. Next on the program, Jaap Bulsink from K3D Metal Additive Manufacturing and Hendrik Schonefeld from Additive Industries will report on how AM-manufactured tools are used in the food industry, for example to improve the processing of batter and to make it easier to clean the equipment afterwards.
ARBURGadditive’s Martin Neff will be presenting innovative additive multi-material gripper solutions for injection moulding automation. One example is a module for removing flower pots. Thanks to additive manufacturing, the gripper, which consists of two components, is lighter and essential handling functions can be integrated within it. The result? A more compact, less expensive removal and handling system.
New perspectives for robotics and machining
Two further presentations will take a closer look at customised gripper systems for automated large-scale production in the metal industry. From Lightway, Jan-Steffen Hötter will use a real-world example to demonstrate the entire development process from design and production through to the ready-to-use component. The goal of the AM-based solutions is not only to optimise existing processes but to open up new opportunities in robotics and machining through their flexibility and cost efficiency.
Michael Brand from Böllhof and Friedemann Lell from DMG Mori unveil automation solutions for the large-scale production of machined parts, made possible by additively manufactured grippers. Among other things, they show how the adaptability of AM slashes the time to market while supporting dynamic production requirements.
Plenary discussion to wrap up the forum
The plenary session directly after the forum will look at other AM applications in the field of robotics besides gripper systems. Participants will also have the chance to talk directly to the speakers to discuss any comments and questions they may have.
VDMA stands to provide information on application examples
Visitors can continue to learn about the topics covered by the forum on the following two days of rapid.tech 3D. For example, the demonstrators used by the speakers to illustrate their presentations will remain on display at the VDMA stand in Hall 2 for the entire duration of the event. Stand staff will be on hand to explain and inform.
Alongside the VDMA trade forum, other forums at the rapid.tech 3D specialist conference will provide insights into the latest AM developments and applications. On the first day, the Aerospace Forum and the quality-approved Science Forum invite visitors to delve into these topics. The Electronic Engineering & Components Forum will premiere on day two; also on that day’s programme are the Chemistry & Process Engineering Forum and the Mobility Forum. The final day sees the forums Software, AI & Design, Innovation in AM and Energy Technology & Hydrogen welcome participants.
Visitors can also look forward to product and service demonstrations as well as small group discussions in Hall 2 – at the exhibitors’ stands or on guided Technical Deep Dive tours, at the Expert Tables, and at the AM Science Poster Slam in the hall.
The 3D Pioneers Challenge too is a source of inspiration, introducing completely new applications of additive and digital technologies. This year the international competition is back at rapid.tech 3D for the tenth time. The anniversary edition will present the 2025 finalists and see the winners announced. Plus, all previous finalists and winners are encouraged to return for another chance to scoop an award from the jury.
Quantum Photonics to be held alongside rapid.tech 3D
Messe Erfurt also invites you to the first edition of Quantum Photonics on 13 and 14 May 2025, which is taking place in parallel with rapid.tech 3D from 13 to 15 May 2025. Quantum Photonics is geared toward researchers, developers and engineers in computing, communications, imaging and sensor technology, as well as related fields such as medicine, life sciences, chemistry, mobility and finance. The technology and applications for additive manufacturing and quantum technologies intersect at numerous points, generating valuable synergies.
