Stratasys to introduce new solutions at Formnext 2026

Formnext 2026 takes place from November 17 to 20, 2026, at Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany, showcasing industrial 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions for global production sectors. At Booth D129 in Hall 12.1, Stratasys Ltd. presents production-grade additive hardware, automated post-processing platforms, and certified materials engineered for scalable manufacturing workflows across automotive, aerospace, and defense applications.

Core Technology and System Architecture
The manufacturing showcase features the European debut of the F870 fused deposition modeling system, engineered with a 1,000 x 610 x 610 mm fully heated build chamber to stabilize thermal gradients during large-envelope thermoplastic extrusion. For stereolithography, the Neo800+ printer integrates with Somos ShellCast resin and GrabCAD Print Pro ShellGen automated software to generate antimony-free pattern shells for investment casting. Photopolymer post-processing is automated via the sCure unit for the Origin P3 digital light processing platform, combining controlled drying, multi-wavelength ultraviolet curing, thermal baking, and photobleaching within a single enclosed cell to ensure uniform cross-linking. Material qualification is supported by published National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) baseline data for Antero 800NA and Antero 840CN03 high-performance thermoplastics processed on F900 systems.

Deployment or Implementation
The additive hardware interfaces directly with factory-floor assembly lines and foundry supply chains through the GrabCAD Additive App Suite, which standardizes build preparation, equipment scheduling, and machine telemetry. The F870 system deploys for extended unattended operation, enabling manufacturing cells to run overnight production cycles of structural jigs and fixtures. On-site technical demonstrations highlight production-floor integrations developed with automotive manufacturers including Toyota and GM, alongside military and government deployments featured during the Formnext Defense Summit.

Industry Applications
The presented technologies address tooling lead-time constraints and replacement part availability within automotive assembly, aerospace structures, and metal foundries. Fabricating large assembly fixtures, foundry patterns, and functional prototypes using conventional subtractive machining incurs high tooling costs, long lead times, and excessive material waste. Implementing large-format fused deposition modeling and automated stereolithography allows manufacturing facilities to transition tooling and casting pattern production into localized, on-demand operations.

Operational Impact and Performance Metrics
Automating post-processing via unified multi-wavelength curing eliminates manual washing and handling variance, stabilizing mechanical tensile and flexural metrics across photopolymer part runs. Utilizing published NCAMP qualification datasets reduces regulatory testing overhead and accelerates airworthiness qualification cycles for flight-ready polyetherketoneketone components. Transitioning to large-format additive tooling reduces physical jig weight, compresses iteration turnaround from weeks to hours, and maintains dimensional stability across extended factory-floor service cycles.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.