It’s a unique event for additive manufacturing, but it’s still AM.
“But it’s only 5,000 parts!”
“The trouble is: the build platform is too small.”
“I do automotive applications in additive.” / “That’s awesome! What are you working on?”
“So, what do you guys think the solution is?” / “To what? GD&T?”
Snippets of conversation as I move through the crowd. (That last one got a big laugh.) It only takes a few minutes of mingling to realize that the rumors I’ve been hearing about the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference are true: this is an industry event for making lasting connections and having deep conversations.
This year, it’s being held at the Hilton Chicago, kicking off in The Grand Ballroom that’s played host to towering figures of history. (The elevator info screen informs me that it was the venue for a dinner honoring Charles Lindbergh when it first opened in 1927.) Last night, it was the venue for AMUG Bingo, one of the numerous networking activities for which this event is known. That was how I met John and Sam, two interns from The Mayo Clinic in Florida, both first-time attendees (like me), who paid out of their own pockets to come. By their own accounts, it’s been well worth the price of admission thus far.
The reoccurring theme in almost every conversation I’ve had is that AMUG is unique as an industry event, and that sentiment has been validated in myriad ways. On the expo floor, the usual suspects are present: 3D Systems, Nikon-SLM, Stratasys, but their neighbours are companies that wouldn’t be anywhere near their enormous booths at other shows: Aalberts Surface Technologies, HBD Additive Europe, trinckle 3D.
It might be surprising that RAPID + TCT has one of the largest booths here, especially since that show kicks off next week, but what better place to promote next year’s show in Boston? Even AMUG’s president, Shannon VanDeren, acknowledged “the white elephant in the room” of so many competing industry events happening so closely together (not to mention a laundry list of other challenges), but it’s clear from speaking with exhibitors that AMUG is in a class of its own.
“We’re at RAPID too, but this is the big show for us,” says Lori from Tech Met Inc., a Pittsburgh-based chemical milling company that offers post-processing for metal AM. “This is where we meet most of our customers.”
“Obviously, Formnext is our biggest show,” says Felix from German software provider trinckle 3D. “But the conversations here are different.”
And yet, for all that sets it apart, AMUG still offers a window into the state of the additive manufacturing industry. Michael of California-based 3D printing service bureau and software developer, Incept3D, explained how his company has gone from utilizing a few, large Stratasys machines to dozens of smaller units from companies like Bambu Lab: “We used to sell ten parts for $300 a piece. Now we sell 500 parts for $10 a piece.”
The industry is evolving, and that’s encapsulated by a comment from Roy at powder metal supplier, Linde AMT: “Seeing a laser working in a PBF machine isn’t as exciting as it used to be, but seeing 16 or 20 L-PBF machines all humming away together is really exciting.”
I’ll be at AMUG all week. Stay tuned for more updates.
