Formnext Asia Shenzhen is set to return to the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center from 26–28 August 2025, with organizers and industry partners announcing a renewed focus on building a more collaborative additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA).
At a recent press conference, Messe Frankfurt and partners including the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society, and the Hong Kong 3D Printing Association outlined plans to align the fair more closely with the global Formnext brand. The 2025 edition will offer expanded coverage of the full AM value chain, spanning materials, hardware, software, and post-processing, along with partner-led pavilions and technical forums.
With just under a month to go, the event has recorded an 80% year-on-year increase in AM exhibitors. Leading companies such as BLT, Farsoon, HBD, and HP have confirmed participation. Exhibitors will also represent countries including France, Germany, Singapore, Spain, and the United States, while buyer delegations are expected from Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Industry-driven development and global outlook
“The Greater Bay Area holds a distinct advantage in leading the sector’s development,” said Richard Li, Chairman of Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd. “We are building an international platform to connect global innovation with industrial power, and to shorten the path from concept to commercial application.”
HKPC, the event’s new technical partner, will debut a pavilion showcasing AM applications and materials, including technologies from its “HKPC-HP 3D Printing Technology Centre”, the first in Asia to feature HP’s research-grade metal and polymer platforms. HKPC will also present its “Go Global Service Centre,” designed to support local companies with international standards, localization, and regulatory compliance.
Edmond Lai, HKPC’s Chief Digital Officer, highlighted China’s rapid AM growth: “The industry has grown thirty-fold over the past decade, and we aim to support companies from R&D to commercialization.”
Laser focus and regional integration
The Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society will co-organize the 2nd Laser and Additive Manufacturing Forum, part of the fair’s fringe program. The forum will feature 18 presentations on industrial applications, IP, and market development, aligned with the region’s “Laser and Additive Manufacturing Industry Cluster Action Plan.”
Guangdong Province, home to approximately 400 AM companies valued at RMB 13 billion ($1.8B) in 2024, plays a central role in China’s AM ecosystem. Cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhongshan are already developing specialties ranging from R&D to custom medical device manufacturing.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong 3D Printing Association will host a pavilion featuring 20+ member companies and facilitate B2B matchmaking. “We aim to strengthen Hong Kong’s integration with the Greater Bay Area and expand access to Southeast Asian markets,” said Alex Ng, Vice Chairman of the association.
Additive manufacturing’s future increasingly shaped in Asia
Recent insights underscore that the Asia‑Pacific region, particularly China, is now at the forefront of industrial additive manufacturing. At TCT Asia 2025, Farsoon showcased its FS1521M‑U metal 3D printer capable of utilizing up to 32 fiber lasers and delivering a 3,862 L build volume, underlining China’s rapid advancement in large‑format, high‑throughput industrial printing. Market intelligence firm CONTEXT reported a 45% year-over-year increase in metal LPBF shipments in Q1 2024 from Chinese vendors, and forecasts industrial printer sales growth of 15% in 2025, signalling a rebound toward 2021 levels. Moreover, a recent analysis of strategic industry signals emphasized a broader narrative shift: “the path to industrial‑scale AM will increasingly run through Asia,” reframing global leadership dynamics in the sector.
These trends reinforce why Formnext Asia Shenzhen’s platform, emphasizing a full-value‑chain approach, ecosystem collaboration, and industrial-scale innovation, is especially timely and essential.
Formnext Asia Shenzhen is organized by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd and forms part of the international Formnext series, which also includes events in Frankfurt and Tokyo.
Visitor pre-registration is open at: www.formnext-shenzhen.com
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Featured image shows event foreground . Image via Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd.
