Top 5 Additive Manufacturing Innovations Spotlighted at Rapid.Tech FabCon 3.D 2018

The Rapid.Tech+Fab Con 3.D trade show opened its doors on 5 June 2018, drawing the brightest minds in additive manufacturing to Germany’s second‑largest AM fair. With groundbreaking products and research on display, we’ve highlighted the five technologies that promise to reshape the industry.

1. ACEO’s Silicone 3D Printing for Soft Robotics

Wacker Chemie’s ACEO® division has refined its multi‑material silicone 3D printing, and this year they introduced a fully 100 % silicone robotic gripper. By tailoring organic geometries, these grippers can be customized in size and shape, offering unprecedented flexibility for applications ranging from medical devices to adaptive gripper systems.

2. Formlabs Launches Ceramic Resin for the Form 2

Formlabs unveiled its new ceramic resin, making the Form 2 printer capable of producing high‑resolution ceramic parts. While ceramic AM remains costly, the new material lowers barriers and expands use cases from jewelry to industrial components.

3. 3D Systems’ FabPro 1000 & Figure 4 Platform

3D Systems introduced the FabPro 1000 SLA printer and its Figure 4 modular platform. The printer delivers rapid, high‑accuracy parts in hours, while Figure 4 offers scalable configurations— from a single machine to a full production line— allowing manufacturers to grow from prototyping to volume production seamlessly.

4. Solukon’s SFM‑AT200 Depowdering System

German manufacturer Solukon debuted the SFM‑AT200, a compact depowdering unit for small‑to‑medium metal AM builds. The system automates powder removal, cuts inert gas use for aluminium and titanium, and improves powder management, saving time and cost.

5. Additive Works’ Automated Support Generation for Laser Beam Melting

Software firm Additive Works showcased a new module for its Amphyon platform that automatically optimizes support structures for Laser Beam Melting. The feature eliminates trial‑and‑error, reducing build failures and cutting material and time waste.