The Formnext hangover
The Atomic Layers: S4E23 (00109)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
Let me clarify that “clickbait” title right away—when I say “hangover,” I mean general physical exhaustion. This is my first day this week with fewer than 10,000 steps, and the second day with fewer than 20,000. Even if I had attended this trade fair 20 years ago, I’d still think that’s quite a lot… (so now you know that I’m not in my twenties.)
But beyond the fatigue, I’d rate the event as fantastic. Both from my personal perspective—regarding brand awareness—and the event itself. Maybe there weren’t groundbreaking innovations, or many new machines on display, and perhaps some booths felt like “business as usual.” Still, overall, it was an impressive show with a fantastic atmosphere.
As I promised yesterday, in the coming days, I’ll be quite outspoken about my opinions on selected companies and their products. But for now, I want to express great appreciation for the organizers and all the exhibitors (except for a few cases like VoxelDance, which I mentioned yesterday—they caused the biggest controversy of this fair, possibly in its history).
Looking back at previous visits, I must say that with four halls to explore, four days is the absolute minimum. I needed the first two days just to get my bearings and figure out where each company was located. It wasn’t until the last day, Friday, that I felt confident knowing where to go to meet someone without a map.
Still, I didn’t visit everyone I wanted to. Some I simply forgot about or overlooked amid the trade fair excitement, countless meetings, and spontaneous yet highly productive conversations.
Finally, I’m still amazed at how my LinkedIn popularity seamlessly transferred into real-life interactions. Many people truly appreciate what I do daily, and I want to say how much I value all the kind words and feedback. Those who’ve known me for a while know there’s little difference between what I write and what I think or say in person. Maybe the only difference is that in face-to-face conversations, I’m even less reserved in my opinions.
So, thank you all once again, and I hope we can meet again sooner than a year from now.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
11-23-2011: a brand-new startup, Formlabs, raised $500,000 in its initial funding round.
News & Gossips:
More information and facts about VoxelDance are emerging. I encourage you to read the report by Peter Rogers on LinkedIn.
As I mentioned earlier, Nano Dimension focused on itself and its proprietary products at this year's Formnext (or products previously acquired and successfully integrated into the company). Desktop Metal was reportedly showcased at their booth, but I simply couldn't see it. Regardless of the trade show, Nano Dimension posted another record quarter in terms of revenue. The figures are still relatively small ($14.9 million), but there is some progress.
News beyond Formnext: BICO (a biotechnology company founded on the basis of the bioprinter manufacturer Cellink) announced the sale of Nanoscribe, which it acquired just three years ago. This move aligns with BICO's strategy shift, focusing more on the life sciences sector. In 2021, BICO bought Nanoscribe for $35 million (about $22 million in cash and the rest in Cellink shares). Now, it has sold the company for $26 million.