Additive Manufacturing Strategies 2021: Four 3D Printing Verticals and Online Networking

In 2018, SmarTech Analysis and 3DPrint.com held our first Additive Manufacturing Summit (AMS) in Washington, D.C., and the annual event has since been moved to Boston. Focused on business intelligence for the additive manufacturing industry, AMS 2021, “The Business of 3D Printing,” is moving to an online format next year and will be held February 9-12, 2021, with a pre-conference day on the 8th.

“As always, our objective for the AMS is that participants will come away highly knowledgeable on the very latest trends in additive manufacturing and full of innovative ideas that they can take back to their organizations,” the AMS 2021 website states.

(Photo: Sarah Saunders for 3DPrint.com)

Every day of the event, a SmarTech analyst will kick things off with a forecast presentation on the day’s featured topic. Each day of the conference will be dedicated to a different vertical. The focus on February 9th will be solely on metals and other strong, new materials, as well as how compact metal 3D printers have evolved since last year’s summit, and specific AM use cases from the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, and other industry sectors.

Day Two, February 10th, will feature a new topic for AMS: automation, rapid manufacturing, and software. We’ll be looking at how the technology is being transformed from a batch to a continuous manufacturing process, which is better for a volume production setting, and this second vertical will also focus on how a new generation of AM will eventually become part of the factory of the future.

(Photo: Sarah Saunders for 3DPrint.com)

The third day of AMS 2021, February 11th, will be centered on the business of 3D printing, and the latest trends, in both the dental and medical industries. Obviously, given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, and all that 3D printing has done to help with the crisis during these last several months, this vertical is more relevant than ever, and attendees will learn what everything that’s happened in relation to the coronavirus will mean for the overall industry.

On February 12th, as we close out AMS 2021, the focus will be on the bioprinting field, which has also been in the headlines a lot during the pandemic. There will be presentations and discussions regarding the latest trends in 3D printable biomaterials and bioprinters, as well as some of the latest bioprinting applications.

Mock-up of IQT Europe’s “almost-like-live” Networking Lounge.

While the AMS summit will be held in a virtual format this year, that certainly doesn’t mean a lack of networking opportunities. Check out the mock-up image above of the Networking Lounge for the upcoming IQT Europe event by 3DR Holdings and QuTech. It’s very similar to what we’ll be featuring at AMS 2021.

Every day starting on February 8th, which is a special networking day for both attendees and exhibitors ahead of the conference, the online Networking Lounge and Exhibition Hall will be open from 11 am to 3:30 pm. Once you’ve entered, just move around and hover over the area of any company you’re interested in speaking with, and you will be automatically brought into the face-to-face video conversation currently taking place in the booth with the host staff. No need to download any software, either: once you’ve signed into the live conference site with your password, everything will be automatic. So exhibitors will be able to demonstrate their latest AM products for biomaterials, dental and medical, and metals, in addition to new automation and software developments, and attendees can also hover over seating areas in the Coffee Bar to join others in real-time conversations.

(Photo: Sarah Saunders for 3DPrint.com)

We’re anticipating over 60 expert speakers for the online AMS 2021, so there are plenty of available opportunities if you’re interested in sharing your expertise. Let us know if you’re interested in sponsoring, exhibiting, or speaking at the summit. You’re not too late to take advantage of early bird registration opportunities for the conference, but act fast, because rates are going up on October 21st.