Smart Molding International 2-2020

8 newsfeed smart_molding international 2/2020 From 10-12 November 2020, Formnext Connect demonstrated its creden - tials as the international, digital hub of the AM world, highlighting, even in challenging times, the continuing importance of the world’s leading exhibi - tion for the AM industry and the next generation of industrial production. Formnext Connect at - tracted 203 exhibitors with about 2200 representa - tives, and showcased 1412 products. 8541 active par - ticipants from more than 100 nations (1/3 national, 2/3 international) made great use of the intelligent and modern matchmaking function, which managed to generate more than 450000 recommendations for products and other par - ticipants. Further, 23311 new contacts and 4733 business meetings in the form of video calls were en - abled. The 221 lectures and presentations of the high- profile program of stage events and sessions were watched by 45000 specta - tors. Here, experts from all over the world discussed current and future trends, developments and applica - tions in various webinars and discussion panels. With international prod - uct launches, amongst them numerous new materials, a SLMmachine with 12 lasers as well as post-processing solutions for finishing, de- powdering and curing and exciting new developments on show, Formnext Connect demonstrated that the AM industry remains highly in - novative, even in this year of corona, and urgently needs an international platform for business op - portunities and network - ing. “The newly developed digital format of Formnext Connect has enabled us to meet the demand from the AM community and target industries for dialog, busi - ness, and innovation,” com - mented Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “Formnext has thus demonstrated that, even in a purely digital format, it is indispensable as a globally important catalyst for the technological and economic development of this future- oriented industry.” Following the conclusion of the live Formnext Con - nect program, the platform will continue to be accessible until 31 December 2020 and will still offer opportunities to engage with others via text-chat as well as a wealth of on-demand content. Formnext 2021 is sched - uled to return to Frankfurt am Main from 16 to 19 No - vember 2021. Formnext www.formnext.com PLASTIMAGEN® MÉXICO in its full version, will be held in March 2022 at the Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City, Mexico. However, given the current pent-up demand amongst exhibitors and the pressing need to support the re- opening of the plastics industry, Tarsus Mexico will also host PLASTIMAGEN® LIGHT, a hybrid exhibition from 9-11 March, 2021 i n t h e s ame v e nu e . PLASTIMAGEN® LIGHT will comprise both a live, in- person component as well as a digital component for visitors and exhibitors who may be unable to travel to Mexico City due to the current health situation. The decision to launch PLASTIMAGEN® LIGHT came about from results of extensive surveys to the event’s customer base and feedback from association partners. Taking their combined voices into account, Tarsus Mexico made the decision that best reflected the needs of the industry, while recognizing the power of PLASTIMAGEN® announces new dates and launches digital extension Formnext Connect succeeds as the digital heart of the international AM industry