Additive manufacturing and new collaborations at the International Engineering Fair (MSV) in Brno 2024
From October 8 to 11, 2024, the International Engineering Fair (MSV) in Brno attracted experts from all over the world who wanted to experience one of the most important industry meeting points in Central and Eastern Europe in the Czech Republic. The Forum for Additive Manufacturing, which focused on 3D printing, took place at the same time. Six Saxon companies and research institutions traveled along, taking the opportunity to present innovations from Saxony and strengthen cross-border cooperation. This trip was organized for the second time by the strong cooperation between the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Zittau office of the Saxony Economic Development Corporation and the Lusatia - Life & Technology Alliance.
The three-day trip to the trade fair began on October 8 with the joint arrival from Saxony. This was followed by a convivial get-together at the Starobrno brewery. Representatives of Saxon companies and research institutions met here for an informal exchange and initial discussions. Getting to know the participants created a pleasant basis for the coming days and opened up opportunities for future cooperation among Saxon partners at an early stage.
This was followed by the official opening of MSV Brno, which was attended by high-ranking representatives from politics and business, such as the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the newly appointed Minister of Economy Lukáš Vlček.
The second day, October 9, was all about additive manufacturing. The forum for additive manufacturing, one of the highlights of the trade fair, offered in-depth insights into the latest developments in 3D printing. Experts such as Ramon Pastor from HP and Daniel Prince from Stratasys gave exciting presentations on how metal 3D printing and artificial intelligence will shape the future of manufacturing. The program was complemented by a panel discussion that highlighted the challenges and successes of the industry.
At the Forum for Additive Manufacturing, Lusatia presented itself with a broad spectrum of innovative applications and perspectives. The session was moderated by Jiří Zahradník from the Competence Center Czech Republic of the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who emphasized the importance of 3D printing for the German-Czech-Polish border region in his opening speech.
With the title "Diversity and potential of 3D printing from Lusatia", Zahradník introduced the panel presentations, which illustrated the technological change in Lusatia. Research institutions and companies from Saxony showed how additive manufacturing can change industrial practice in the long term.
Dr. Matthias Schulze from Fraunhofer IWU began with an insight into the use of 3D-printed moulds in injection moulding. He showed how the Fraunhofer IWU develops cost-efficient and application-oriented solutions for the production sector, especially for regions undergoing structural change such as Lusatia.
Philipp Beck from ARNIO then presented engineering applications of 3D printing. His contribution illustrated how 3D printing processes are used in mechanical engineering and product development to optimize components and create sustainable innovations. One focus was on the development of new products and processes in lightweight construction and digitalization.
Dr. Arnd Friedrichs from the management consultancy Friedrichs and his partner GSD Schoch concluded the presentation with an introduction to the EHLA process, which optimizes the service life and load-bearing capacity of die-cast components. This process shows how specialized 3D printing technologies can offer great advantages in industrial use and significantly increase efficiency in component production.
Overall, the panel reflected the dynamic development of 3D printing in Lusatia, which is characterized by innovation and close cooperation across regional borders. The conclusion of the event emphasized the importance of international cooperation to further advance these technologies.
At the joint "IHK Dresden & Friends" stand, participants then had the opportunity to discuss specific cooperation opportunities and take a closer look at the innovations presented:
In the evening, a Joined Dinner between Saxon companies and the Czech company COTU took place as part of the event. In a pleasant atmosphere, the participants discussed innovative solutions in the field of additive manufacturing. COTU, which specializes in 3D printing technologies, presented its expertise in the production of prototypes and end products as well as its tailored services for various sectors such as the automotive industry and medical technology. The Saxon companies in attendance were particularly interested in discussing the benefits of the FDM process and the integration of 3D printing into production processes.
The last day was dedicated to practical innovation sessions. German and Czech companies came together in three moderated sessions to discuss innovative approaches in the field of additive manufacturing. Under the direction of Dr. Arnd Friedrichs and Leonie Liemich, ideas on material innovation and production optimization and further German-Czech cooperation between the companies were developed in interactive sessions. The following companies presented themselves
These sessions not only served to get to know each other, but also led to the development of concrete cooperation opportunities.
The trip to MSV Brno 2024 impressively demonstrated how fruitful international cooperation in the field of additive manufacturing can be. The combination of informal networking opportunities, in-depth insights into the technology of tomorrow and targeted workshops enabled participants to make valuable contacts and plan specific cooperation requests for the future.
Special mention should be made of the excellent organization by the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Saxony Economic Development Corporation and the Lusatia - Life & Technology Alliance, which together created a platform to bring the innovative strength of Saxon companies to the international stage. MSV Brno once again proved to be a central meeting point for mechanical engineering - and a melting pot for new ideas in additive manufacturing.