Formnext Asia Shenzhen 2026 Expands AM Programme to New Communities
Introducing Maker Day and Overseas Channel Partner Matching Sessions
Formnext Asia Shenzhen’s 2026 edition will step into the wider world of AM, debuting two programme additions that follow additive manufacturing (AM) technologies from the show floor into the communities, sales channels and business models through which 3D printing reaches new users and applications. Geared toward the worldwide maker community, Formnext Asia Shenzhen Maker Day will offer guided exhibitor tours, open discussion sessions and factory visits to leading Greater Bay Area (GBA) desktop equipment manufacturers. The Global AM Channel Partner & Dealer Matching Meeting will pair international AM distributors, dealers and service providers with Chinese AM companies seeking overseas sales and service partnerships. Both will be presented alongside the fair’s expanded coverage of desktop 3D printing, led by the upgraded China 3D Print Farm and Consumer-Grade AM Ecosystem Conference.Together, the new formats create a more defined role within Formnext Asia Shenzhen for AM communities and user groups that sit between the industrial, commercial and consumer sides of AM.
They will be joined by a series of concurrent forums on applications, technologies, and key areas of market demand across Asia’s manufacturing and end-user markets, covering metal AM for 3C electronics and smartphones, footwear, mould making, binder jetting, lasers in AM, thermal management, robotics, aerospace and more, with selected sessions, including the new programme additions, supported by English-language interpretation.
A new meeting point between makers and the AM industry
Formnext Asia Shenzhen Maker Day will be held on 27 August. The new initiative will bring the global maker community closer to the companies, technologies and industrial expertise behind the tools they use, helping participants better assess machines and materials, refine workflows and take on more ambitious projects.
Co-organised with TroubleMaker, a Shenzhen-based hardware venture platform for makers and product developers, the first edition of Formnext Asia Shenzhen Maker Day links Chinese and international maker networks with Shenzhen’s hardware ecosystem through an open-exchange forum and a series of exhibition and off-site visits. Highlights include:
- Formnext Asia Shenzhen Maker Open Mic: an open forum in which makers, industry experts and representatives from leading 3D printing brands can exchange experience and raise questions on topics ranging from model preparation and print setup to materials and post-processing.
- Formnext Asia Shenzhen Maker Tour: a guided route through the exhibition floor with stops at selected exhibitors showcasing maker-relevant products including AI design tools and desktop systems for 3D printing, CNC milling, engraving and UV printing.
- Desktop & Maker Technology Factory Tours: an exclusive open-day experience taking visitors to the production facilities of leading Greater Bay Area desktop 3D printing manufacturers, with the full list of participating companies to be announced ahead of the event.
Building global channels for China’s additive manufacturing sector
The Global AM Channel Partner & Dealer Matching Meeting will focus on another route through which 3D printing reaches new users and markets: global distribution and service networks. The new one-to-one matching programme will pair international AM distributors, dealers and service providers with Chinese 3D printing companies building overseas partner networks.
It will be co-organised by AM-E-DAO, a specialised media and consultancy platform, with advisory support from the Going-Global Working Group of the Additive Manufacturing Alliance of China (AMAC). Held as part of the returning Overseas Market Opportunities for Chinese 3D Printing Companies Seminar, the discussions will sit within a wider exchange on overseas market needs, product fit and cooperation models.
Pairings will consider AM process, product suitability, application areas and partnership requirements around representation, maintenance and after-sales service. Overseas channel partners with established local sales channels in relevant AM markets may apply for complimentary hotel accommodation through the matching programme registration form. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis subject to verification, and applicants will be asked to submit company documentation for review.
Inside the business of desktop AM
The China 3D Print Farm and Consumer-Grade AM Ecosystem Conference will return in 2026 to explore the production models and business applications taking shape around desktop 3D printing. Previously held as the China 3D Print Farm Conference, the upgraded format will look beyond print-farm operations to the market activity developing around desktop AM, from equipment, materials and software to content creation, sales channels and printed-product businesses.
New areas of focus will include AI-assisted design and content generation, intelligent production scheduling, material development, branding, cross-border e-commerce and global channel development, with application-focused sessions covering toys, home décor, personalised products, fashion, footwear and small-batch industrial production.
The associated consumer AM exhibition area will feature desktop equipment, materials, software tools and printed-product applications. Participating companies include title sponsor Meshy AI; desktop equipment brands and production-solution providers such as Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo, Flashforge, Longer, Snapmaker, TwoTrees, and Xhorse; and AI modelling and software companies including DreamTech, Tripo AI, Deep-Mesh, Hi3D and Hyper3D.
For more information about the exhibition, click below:
