TERRY WOHLERS TO OPEN THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SESSION OF THE 21ST CONGRESS OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN SAN SEBASTIAN

The additive manufacturing was one of the main topics in the 21st congress of advanced manufacturing technologies and machine tools, organized by AFM CLUSTER that took place on October 25-27 in San Sebastian.

ADDIMAT was the chair at the first session on the 26th, whose morning was devoted entirely to the trends, opportunities and challenges that additive manufacturing technologies supose for the national industrial environment.

Terry Wohlers was commissioned, in a projected video, the opening of the session, uncovering three major trends in the sector, as they are; the notable increase in the sale of additive manufacturing equipment in all market segments; the increase of solution providers; and ; the foreseeable price stabilization of both, machines and raw materials.

HP shared its business vision and announced its new technological developments; new printer to manufacture functional pieces in color, and its irruption in the metal, with a new solution of which at the moment they have not wanted to disclose any data.

Böhler Edelstahl and Stratasys also shared their strategic vision and their forecast of the evolution of technology in the short and medium term.

After the coffee break, in a second session introduced and moderated by the University of the Basque Country, recognized companies of the sector presented their cases of business development.

ADDILAN, a recently stablished company, presented its WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) technology and its application in a specific case for the aeronautical sector, a project developed in collaboration with TECNALIA.

IBARMIA, the first Spanish company to integrate the LMD technology (Laser Metal Deposition) in a machining center, presented a case of real application in which it is working with Michelin.

Carl Fruth, CEO of FIT AG spoke about the less friendly side of additive manufacturing technologies and the change of mentality that is required by society and companies if we want to integrate them successfully. In addition, he highlighted the difficulties faced by a company that decides to bet on manufacturing means with additive capabilities. FIT AG is one of the largest service bureau in the world, with a turnover of 24 million euros in 2016.

The session was completed by speakers from ADDUP, HiETA and the IK4 Tekniker technology center.

The event, which took place at the Miramón Technology Park in San Sebastian, unveiled the latest advances related to the 4.0 industry, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, big data and talent from prestigious experts. In parallel, the scientific congress was held, where the most cutting-edge research works of our environment in the field of advanced manufacturing were presented.

For three days, the 21 Congress of Advanced Manufacturing and Machine Tools attracted more than 400 people.