CMTS Countdown: Showcasing additive manufacturing

As 3D printing continues to gain swift momentum—growing by leaps and bounds in manufacturing, aviation and medical industries in particular—Canada’s comprehensive additive manufacturing/3D printing tradeshow and conference is returning to Toronto.

SME announced that RAPID Canada’s Conference & Pavilion will be featured from September 29-30 at The International Centre as part of the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS) 2015.

First introduced to Canada last year, the RAPID conference and exhibition is an industry-leading forum for the exchange of information related to the latest developments in additive manufacturing, 3D printing and 3D scanning.

It was first introduced by SME in the U.S. market in 1994 and remains the longest-running and most well-respected event in the additive manufacturing industry.

“RAPID has been serving the global marketplace from its base in the U.S. for more than two decades – with the launch of the Rapid Pavilion at CMTS, we’re continuing to give it a uniquely Canadian flavour,” said CMTS event manager Julie Pike, adding that the sale of 3D printing products and services alone is expected to approach $6 billion worldwide by 2017, according to industry consulting firm Wohlers Associates.

“Forecasts show that 3D printers and services will increasingly be used to directly manufacture production parts and finished goods,” she added. “This is still a young market, but with so many industries willing to accept 3D into their practices, adoption is expected to accelerate over the coming year.”

Additive manufacturing technology is used for prototyping and distributed manufacturing with applications in architecture, construction, industrial design, automotive, aerospace, military, engineering, civil engineering, dental and medical industries, biotech (human tissue replacement), fashion, footwear, jewelry, eyewear, education, geographic information systems, food, and many other fields. Many manufacturers apply 3D printing to create cost-effective prototypes using advanced materials.

At CMTS, the RAPID Canada Conference & Pavilion will address 3D printing/additive manufacturing as well as medical/dental device manufacturing. Highlights include:

• A keynote address by former Stratasys Vice-President Jeff Degrange, now Chief Commercial Officer, Impossible Objects LLC, the pioneer of composite-based additive manufacturing technology (CBAM).
• Two full days of expert speaker sessions, including a panel called Medical Additive Manufacturing: The Canadian Conundrum.
• A comprehensive exhibit of the latest technologies, with a special focus on the areas of automotive, aerospace, bio-printing, printed electronics, 3D scanning/imaging and material development.
• The 3D Playground – a chance to see state-of-the-art bio-printing capabilities, delectable edibles printed before your eyes, and 3D-scanned creations of visitor busts.

CMTS 2015 is Canada’s largest and most respected manufacturing event, presenting the largest display of manufacturing equipment and technology to about 10,000 manufacturing professionals from across the country and around the world. With a theme of “Manufacture the Future,” it will feature the latest advancements in machine tool, tooling, metal forming and fabricating, automation, 3D printing/additive manufacturing, design engineering and plant management segments.

For more information about CMTS 2015 and the RAPID Canada Conference & Pavilion, and to register for the  event, visit www.cmts.ca or call 1-888-322-7333, ext. 4435.