TCT Show draws a global focus

The UK’s annual showcase of 3D technologies for product development, manufacturing and engineering closed its doors in late 2016 to positive reviews from visitors and exhibitors.

TCT Show, which took place for the 21st time in 2016, featured world-class speakers, global technology releases and multiple European and UK debuts for new 3D technologies and their applications. The event drew the global 3D tech industry’s focus, with 20% of the 8,000+ attendees arriving from more than 40 countries to see 250 exhibiting companies from 24 countries.

Visitors saw for the first time technologies from Carbon, RPS, HP, Admatec, Trumpf and more. Hundreds of attendees were able to hear about state-of-the art developments in 3D tech from Airbus, Thales, 3M, DARPA, and Siemens.

Returning for the second year, the TCT Start Up Zone gave international 3D technology start-ups a platform to present to the global stage. Each of the 16 companies were able to give their ‘elevator pitch’ to a packed auditorium — including the judges for the TCT Start Up Zone Award. The eventual winners, Laykanics, pitched an educational initiative with desktop 3D printing at its heart. Advertising in the TCT portfolio and consulting from leading additive manufacturing expert, Todd Grimm, accompanied their cash prize.

The increasing focus on the inspection and metrology needs of the advanced manufacturing industries were reflected on the show floor and Tech Stage with the relaunch of the Inspex brand at TCT Show. Leading inspection companies such as Olympus, Nikon, Faro, Autodesk and EuroPac exhibited under the Inspex banner, with plans to enhance this feature further in 2017.

During the event, organisers Rapid News, announced that from 2017 the show floor would be 30% larger and the event would span three days from 2017 onwards. This increased capacity will allow the Inspired Minds education programme to return, provide space for a larger Start Up Zone and bring for the first time three free-to-attend conference stages to the show floor. Exhibition space for TCT 2017 is already over 50% sold, a testament to the success of the 2016 event.

With the increasing influence of the 3D tech industry, the organisers also announced the TCT Annual Awards, which will be the global black-tie event that recognises the important contributions of this innovative community on the lives and businesses of the wider community.

TCT Show 2017 takes place 26–28 September 2017, Hall 3, NEC, Birmingham, UK.

www.tctshow.com