FluidForming Americas attracts record numbers to International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago
HARTSVILLE, TN — Record-breaking crowds flocked to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the 2018 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) last month. Crediting a rapidly-changing industry for the all-time high attendance, the 32nd annual exhibit attracted 129,415 people and covered nearly 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space.
FluidForming Americas was proud to be one of the innovative companies sparking a renewed interest in manufacturing technology. Hundreds of engineers, inventors, designers, and manufacturing executives were impressed by the company’s one-of-a-kind technology and process. Although several remarkable components were showcased at the event, the company’s most striking product example was a FluidFormed satellite dish with a stunning 99.996% first pass yield success rate.
“There was such a great energy at IMTS this year and we excited to be a part of it,” says FluidForming Americas President and CEO, Paul Benny. “FluidForming is the only Six Sigma metal forming process available and the implications of FluidForming on the future of the manufacturing industry are wide-ranging and profound. Ideas that were once deemed too costly, or impossible, to be formed from metal can be produced and perfected in a matter of days. Plus, unlike legacy metal forming methods, FluidForming works seamlessly with additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology.”
“Connectivity, the digital transformation of manufacturing, automation, additive manufacturing, and a strong economy drove record numbers at IMTS 2018,” says Peter R. Eelman, Vice President of Exhibitions & Business Development at the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), which owns and produces IMTS. “Digitization collided with a robust manufacturing industry to create our most dynamic show ever.”
As the first metal forming method to fully embrace additive manufacturing and 3D printing, FluidForming Americas is well-positioned for the future. The groundbreaking technology is ideal for rapid prototyping and low- to medium volume production with the ability to mass produce. FluidForming enables companies to enjoy shorter time-to-market and lower overall cost-to-market ratios. Because the system enables the transition from CAD to 3D-printed tooling, it’s possible to move from design to production in days rather than weeks or even months.
About FluidForming Americas
Founded in Germany in 2000 and established in the United States 2014, FluidForming Americas services clients including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Miele, Sub-Zero, and other industry-leading manufacturers. FFA has a well-deserved reputation for innovation and a clear vision for the future. The company's unique approach to sheet metal forming, tube forming, and rapid prototyping represents the first major advancement in metal forming in 60 years. The FluidForming process and technology have profound implications for manufacturing, manufacturing technologies, product design, and profitability. FluidForming Americas is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Nashville, in Hartsville, Tennessee.