The UK has been selected as the partner country for next year’s Formnext.
The additive manufacturing trade fair, which will run from 17–20 November 2026 in Frankfurt, selects a different partner country each year based on the size of its AM industry, end-user industries and scale of R&D and innovation.
Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK), the UK’s trade body representing UK companies in the 3D printing industry, will lead the country's presence at Formnext 2026 through a dedicated pavilion and coordinated programme of events.
Joshua Dugdale, Head of AMUK, said: “We’re delighted that the UK has been selected as Formnext’s partner country for the 2026 expo, and AMUK is excited to be representing the UK.”
The UK share of the global AM market is said to be around 4-5.5%, which values it in the range £720 million to £900 million. Per AMUK, calculations show that, based on the level of AM R&D, the UK stands to capture around 7% of the global market.
Dugdale continued: “Additive manufacturing has enormous potential to transform the way we design and produce parts and products. That’s why we support our members and the wider UK industry across the entire AM value chain, whilst also educating potential users about the opportunities this technology offers. The UK AM industry is set for significant growth, driven by benefits such as reduced waste, greater efficiency and lower production costs for small-batch manufacturing.”
