The 4^th Symposium on Materials and Additive Manufacturing, also known as Additive 2024, took place in Bremen and Berlin from 12 to 14 June 2024. The conference brought together experts and young scientists from 17 nations to discuss the progress and challenges of additive manufacturing. The hybrid nature of the event, with parallel on-site sessions and digital participants, allowed for a wide range of perspectives and valuable networking.

Opening and Early Highlights

The first day began with opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Vasily Ploshikhin in Bremen and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Skrotzki in Berlin. Both emphasized the importance of additive manufacturing for various industries and the need for intensive cooperation between science and industry.

Afterwards, inspiring lectures and a company presentation by RHP-Technology GmbH provided exciting insights into current developments. The eleven poster pitch presentations, in which researchers presented their projects in three minutes, were particularly dynamic and laid the foundation for further discussions.

The evening in Bremen was dedicated to the poster evening, while a get-together took place in Berlin. Both events provided an opportunity for intensive exchange and networking in a relaxed atmosphere.

Scientific Presentations and Exclusive Insights

The second day was filled with presentations on various aspects of additive manufacturing. In the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to gain exclusive insights into current research topics during a guided tour of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Berlin. Various laboratories were opened and participants were able to see the latest technologies first hand.

The evening ended with a conference dinner in both cities, which provided an opportunity for personal discussions in a convivial atmosphere as well as for professional exchange. Both dinners lasted until late in the evening and demonstrated the great interest in networking and exchange. 

Prizes and Closing

On the last day, prizes were awarded for outstanding poster contributions. The first prize went to Finn Bendixen (M.Sc.) from BIAS GmbH, Bremen, for his work on grain refinement of EN AW-7075 using TiC nanoparticles in the LMD process. Second prize went to Dr. Andreas Diegeler of the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Wertheim, Germany, for his thermo-optical measurement method for characterizing 3D printed PM parts. Dr. Yanran Xun from the National University of Singapore received the third prize for her work on DLP-printed Ni-Mo catalysts.

Prof. Ploshikhin, Prof. Skrotzki and Dr. Stefan Klein, Managing Director of DGM, closed the conference at 01:30 p.m. with a heartfelt thank you and a ceremonial closing. The organizers can look back on three successful days that pave the way for future innovations and collaborations in additive manufacturing. The Additive 2024 Symposium demonstrated the importance of the exchange between academia and industry for the advancement of additive manufacturing. With innovative ideas, practical insights and a global participant base, it once again set the standard and laid the foundation for future collaborations.

Looking to the Future

Everyone is already looking forward to the 5^th Symposium on Materials and Additive Manufacturing, which will take place in Kassel in 2026. More information will be available soon on the DGM website and social media channels; stay tuned and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.

DGM Expert Committee on Additive Manufacturing

The "Additive Manufacturing" expert committee of the German Society for Materials Science (DGM) is dedicated to the challenges and innovations in the field of additive manufacturing. It promotes the interdisciplinary exchange between science and industry in order to develop and optimize new processes and materials. The focus is on the development of standards, the investigation of material properties and the implementation of new technologies in industrial practice. Interested experts are invited to join the Expert Committee and actively participate in the further development of this dynamic field. For more information, please visit the DGM homepage.

Information on all expert committees can be found on the DGM homepage at https://dgm.de/en/network.
If you are interested in actively participating in one of the committees, please send a short email to fachgremiendgm.de. 

In our photo galleryyou can find all the impressions of the symposium.