Formnext, the international leading trade fair for Additive Manufacturing (AM) and modern production technologies, is expanding its content spectrum and will specifically address the growing importance of additive technologies in the field of security and defense. The focus is on the role of industrial 3D printing in supply and value chains, as well as its contribution to more resilient, flexible, and capable structures in the context of security for EU and NATO countries.
As part of Formnext, the Formnext Defence Summit will take place for the first time on November 17, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main. The event is being designed and organized in collaboration with the Additive Manufacturing Defence Network (AMDefNet). The association aims to develop and strengthen the foundations for a European strategy for Additive Manufacturing in the context of Security and Defence.
"Additive Manufacturing offers the security and defense industry crucial advantages: it enables more resilient supply chains, shortened response times, and flexible, demand-oriented production, including decentralized manufacturing solutions. Thus, AM is increasingly becoming a strategic factor in security-relevant scenarios," explains Martin Huber, founding member of the Additive Manufacturing Defence Network.
The new format brings together representatives from the military, politics, industry, and research, focusing on key topics such as supply chain management, procurement, logistics, training, standardization, digitization, and data management. The content focus is clearly on industrial applications and systems as well as supply structures in the defense and security environment.
"The close exchange between industry, technology drivers, politics, and the military is a crucial factor for European security. Only through dialogue can requirements, quality standards, and topics such as cyber security and resilient supply chains be effectively developed further," says Dr. Sascha Hartig, founding member and member of the Board of Directors of the Additive Manufacturing Defence Network. "Formnext is the international meeting point for Additive Manufacturing. Here, the key players from technology, industry, and application come together – ideal conditions to specifically strengthen the exchange between the AM industry and security-relevant areas," adds Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President of Formnext.
The program includes keynotes and expert presentations, a panel discussion, as well as thematic experience areas with opportunities for direct, practical dialogue between the involved parties.
The Formnext Defence Summit aims to facilitate strategic exchange at the highest level and to specifically advance the industrial implementation of Additive Manufacturing in the defense context.
"Additive Manufacturing is one of the key technologies of modern industries. With the Defence Summit, we create a dedicated framework to make the significance of AM for industrial applications in security-relevant environments visible and to promote professional dialogue," explains Petra Haarburger, President of Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
The Formnext Defence Summit will take place on November 17, parallel to Formnext, at the Messe Frankfurt venue. Participants from EU and NATO member countries are invited.
