Sponsors of upcoming 3D printing show expect 400-plus companies to exhibit

The three-day RAPID + TCT 2022 show will be held at Detroit’s Huntington Place. Huntington Place

More than 400 suppliers of additive manufacturing hardware, software, and materials are expected to exhibit at the RAPID + TCT 2022 exhibition and conference May 17-19 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.

The hosts of North America’s largest 3D printing/AM event, SME and The TCT Group, say RAPID lets attendees examine first-hand the most innovative products in AM, learn from industry experts, and network with thousands of their peers.

SME Executive Director/CEO Robert Willig said, “Each year, exhibiting companies push the limits of what’s possible through interactive demonstrations, large-scale models, and an immersive experience you cannot find anywhere else. With over 400 exhibiting companies and 30 OEMs scheduled for this year, attendees will be blown away by the level of innovation.”

Also on tap is a full slate of technical and business strategy presentations. More than 200 AM industry experts will speak. Highlights include three compelling keynote presentations, three leadership panels, and more than 20 technical panels.

At the Podium

This year’s keynoters are:

• Barbara Humpton, president/CEO of Siemens USA, who will share insights on how industrial digitalization and industry’s response to COVID-19 are accelerating “glocalization” (global innovation plus local production). She will discuss how AM localizes production, increases companies’ resilience, and is inspiring a new generation of industry leaders.

• Brian Baughman, chief engineer with Honeywell Aerospace, who will shed light on some of the changes occurring within aerospace manufacturing that are being driven by the industrialization of metal AM.

• Caralynn Nowinski Collens (MD), CEO of Dimension Inx, who will explore whether the promise of AM is being realized in the medical field. According to her keynote description, industry has expanded beyond 3D-printed surgical guides and models, the use of metal and polymer implants is rising, and 3D-printed tissue is becoming a reality. Collens will discuss how additive medical applications have increased and where the industry is headed.

Thought leadership panel topics are:

• Disrupting design and manufacturing in the aerospace and defense sectors.

“Attendees will be blown away by the level of innovation” at RAPID 2022, said SME Executive Director/CEO Robert Willig. SME

• IPOs, SPACs, and mergers and acquisitions.

• The importance of 3D scanning to AM.

Technical presentations will be grouped under industry-specific tracks—automotive, healthcare, aerospace, and general industrial—as well as topic-specific tracks, such as R&D, manufacturing ecosystems, IP, security, and materials processing and development.

In addition, the RAPID + TCT Digital Experience, formerly known as RAPID LIVE!, is returning in 2022. Attendees can access exclusive digital content by live-streaming exhibitors and other sources. The Digital Experience serves as the primary platform for gathering and connecting members of the AM community, whether they are on the show floor or not. Content will be available remotely at all times throughout the event.

Also on Tap

SME will host a program called Bright Minds during the show. The two-day (May 17-18), interactive student experience will bring together more than 1,000 students to explore the world of manufacturing. High school and college students will be exposed to the latest 3D technologies, view high-tech manufacturing demonstrations, hear industry experts speak, connect with colleges and universities with robust engineering programs, and discover leading global companies hiring in the field.

Also scheduled is a certification course focused on the fundamentals of AM. The one-day course will be held May 16, the day before the show begins, at Huntington Place. The program comprises a four-hour review (8 a.m. to noon) and a three-hour exam (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.). The $525 fee includes an exhibition pass.

The review will be a discussion-oriented, interactive session. The course objectives are to help attendees:

• Identify the various 3D printing technologies and their benefits and limitations.

• Learn the basic 3D printing processes.

• Understand the benefits of 3D printing compared to traditional manufacturing processes.

More than 400 exhibitors are expected to display their 3D printing technologies at RAPID 2022. SME

• Understand the hardware and software needed for 3D digital file management.

• Identify common materials used for each 3D printing technology.

• Identify basic safety and quality considerations specific to 3D printing.

Following the review portion, participants will take the Certified Additive Manufacturing–Fundamentals (CAM-F) exam. The open-book exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Individuals who score 70% or higher on the exam will be officially certified and can use the CAM-F designation.

RAPID + TCT 2022 Info

May 17-19, 2022

Huntington Place

Detroit

More than 200 speakers will share their knowledge about AM during RAPID 2022. SME

Hours

Tuesday, May 17: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 19: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Hours

Tuesday, May 17: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 19: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

SME will host a two-day program called Bright Minds during the show. The interactive event will bring together more than 1,000 students to explore the world of manufacturing. SME

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Metal 3D printing is expected to be a popular topic at the show and conference. SME