November 15th – 18th, 2016 Smart Factory team visited the International exhibition and conference on the next generation of manufacturing technologies – FormNext 2016, which took place in Frankfurt.

During the exhibition Smart Factory introduced the Measurements and Quality Control laboratory and quality control services. Visitors were delighted with the available equipment, high quality services and especially advantages of Industrial Micro-Computed Tomography (μCT) and 3D Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), which accuracy is less than 7 μm. This information for visitors and participants were presented using engineers created video about μCT abilities and prepared Case Studies. Visitors specially interested in Reverse Engineering service, which enables the restoration of any man-made object (product) design solutions.

Smart Factory exhibits revealed the 3D printing service capabilities. It was presented the human heart model modelled and printed by Smart Factory. For this model there was made patient heart reconstruction of the available data. Heart was printed from colored plaster with 100μm accuracy using InkJet technology (mode scale: 1:1.5). Also high interest from visitors attracted single engine replica of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas legendary airplane LITUANICA that in 1933 successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean. This engine replica is made using DMLS, SLS and InkJet printing technologies (scale 1: 2). This exhibit presented not only the latest 3D printing technologies and combination of different opportunities, but also an invaluable Lithuanian aviation history, which is very interested in foreigners. Knowledge and experience of Smart Factory engineers and layout designers were revealed by the original life-size white bust of a man with the cathedral drawing inside the bust, made using InkJet 3D printing technology.

Smart Factory team also got a lot of new information about the latest technologies, participated in presentations, whereas in this exhibition attended 307 companies, such as EOS, Stratasys, SLM Solutions, HP, TRUMPF, Concept Laser, CNC Speedform, Siemens et al., and even visited 13384 visitors from a different of industries. It is worth to mention that even 44 % exhibition visitors came from abroad, in order to gain new knowledge.

We came back to Lithuania improved and gained some new knowledge. We also want to thank all visitors who visited us at our booth!

We invite you to look at the exhibition FormNext 2016 moments: