Formnext 2026: a complete guide to 3D printers, filaments and scanners — and where to find them in Italy

June 29 2026, by STRATO3D, 6 min reading time

Formnext 2026 takes place on 17–20 November at Messe Frankfurt and is the world's number one trade fair for additive manufacturing. Every year it brings hundreds of world launches in 3D printers, technical filaments and scanners. In this guide you will find everything you need to know — and direct links to the products already available on STRATO3D.

In short: Formnext 2026 takes place on 17–20 November at Messe Frankfurt and is the world's number one trade fair for additive manufacturing. Every year it brings hundreds of world launches in 3D printers, technical filaments, scanners, software and automation solutions. In this guide you will find everything you need to know — and direct links to the products already available on STRATO3D.

What Formnext is and why it is the most important 3D printing trade fair

Formnext is the leading international event dedicated to additive manufacturing (AM) and to the industrial production of the future. It is held every November in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition centre, and over four days it gathers the entire supply chain: 3D printer manufacturers, material suppliers (filaments, resins, powders), CAM and slicer software developers, system integrators and buyers from all over the world.

This is not a generalist trade fair: Formnext is where brands announce the following year's products, where international distribution agreements are struck and where 3D printing professionals identify the technologies they will adopt in the months ahead. For anyone working or investing in the sector — from the hobbyist maker to the technical department of a manufacturing company — following Formnext means staying ahead.

Did you know: Italy is the second country in the world by number of international exhibitors at Formnext 2026, with 32 Italian companies present — behind only China (115) and ahead of France (28) and the USA (23). The Italian additive manufacturing market is among the most dynamic in Europe.

Formnext 2026: dates, venue and figures

Info	Detail
Dates	17–20 November 2026
Venue	Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
Expected exhibitors	800+ (579 already registered as of June 2026)
Expected visitors	38,000+
Italy	32 companies (2nd international country)
Official website	formnext.messefrankfurt.com

3D printers at Formnext 2026: what to expect

Formnext is traditionally the moment when the big desktop and professional 3D printing brands announce the following quarter's new products.

Bambu Lab

Bambu Lab has already had an extraordinary 2026 with the launch of the A2L (from €379 in the EU) and the H2S. At Formnext, the announcement of the next generation of the P-series line is expected. Filaments compatible with Bambu Lab printers are available on STRATO3D in the filaments section.

Prusa Research

Prusa has launched the CORE One L with an INDX system supporting up to 10 toolheads. At Formnext 2026 further expansions of the multi-material system and new certified materials are expected.

Creality

Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June 2026 ($177M IPO), Creality arrives at Formnext with KliTek technology — automatic nozzle changeover in under 5 seconds, zero waste. The first machine with KliTek: the K3, expected in Q3 2026.

Elegoo, Snapmaker and industrial brands

Elegoo (Centauri Carbon 2), Snapmaker (U1 tool-changer), EOS, Formlabs, Stratasys, HP, Farsoon and dozens of other brands will be present with the latest SLS, MJF and professional FDM solutions.

Filaments and materials at Formnext 2026

Technical and composite filaments are among the fastest-growing categories. Three main trends:

High-temperature engineering filaments

Nylon (PA12, PA6), Polycarbonate (PC), PEEK, PEI and their variants reinforced with carbon fibre (CF) or glass fibre (GF). On STRATO3D you will find:

Flexible TPU and PEBA filaments

NinjaTek, one of the brands in the STRATO3D catalogue, is among the world leaders in the flexibles segment: NinjaFlex TPU 85A, Cheetah 95A, Armadillo 75D.

Advanced PLA filaments

High-speed PLA, EN 71-3 certified (kid-safe), premium matte. STRATO3D offers the complete range of Polymaker, Sakata3D and its own brand STRATO3D filaments.

3D scanners at Formnext 2026

Formnext is not only about 3D printing: 3D scanning is a fundamental part of the additive manufacturing chain — from reverse engineering to quality control, from rapid prototyping to digital-to-physical. Expected brands: Shining3D (Einstar, EinScan), Creality Raptor, Revopoint, Artec 3D, FARO, ZEISS.

On STRATO3D — 3D scanner section you will find a selection of professional and semi-pro scanners with shipping throughout Italy and technical support in Italian.

Emerging technologies we will see at Formnext 2026

Democratised multi-material printing: systems such as Bambu AMS, Prusa INDX and Creality KliTek bring the ability to print with 4–8+ materials to machines under €1,000.
Full-colour FFF printing: thanks to Bambu Studio's Texture-to-Color Painting function, photographic texture printing on 3D surfaces has become reality.
Silicone and two-component materials: Prusa has announced a toolhead for printing silicone and epoxy for the XL system.
AI in the printing workflow: automatic topology optimisation, AI-driven supports, real-time quality control with computer vision.

Why buy the products seen at Formnext on STRATO3D

STRATO3D is the Italian e-commerce specialising in 3D printing. We distribute the most innovative brands in the sector — the same ones that parade at Formnext every year — with one fundamental advantage: you can buy today and receive tomorrow, with support in Italian.

✅ Polymaker filaments — among the most awarded brands at Formnext in recent years
✅ Sakata3D filaments — European quality, a wide colour range
✅ NinjaTek / NinjaFlex — the benchmark TPU for flexible applications
✅ 3D scanners — a curated selection of professional and semi-pro scanners
✅ 3D printers — Bambu Lab, Prusa, Creality, Elegoo and other Formnext brands
✅ Express shipping throughout Italy · Secure payment · Support in Italian

FAQ — Frequently asked questions about Formnext 2026

When does Formnext 2026 take place?

Formnext 2026 runs from 17 to 20 November 2026 at Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.

Where can I buy the technologies seen at Formnext in Italy?

STRATO3D is the Italian reference point for filaments, 3D printers and scanners presented at or inspired by Formnext. Fast shipping throughout Italy, prices in euros, technical support in Italian.

Which filaments will take centre stage at Formnext 2026?

Technical engineering filaments (Nylon, PC, PEI, PEEK), composites (CF, GF), TPU and flexible PEBA, advanced PLA (high speed, safety certified). All available on STRATO3D.

Which 3D printers will be announced at Formnext 2026?

Formnext is the stage for winter launches. Expected brands: Bambu Lab, Prusa Research, Creality (K3 with KliTek), Elegoo, Snapmaker, EOS, Formlabs, HP, Stratasys. Models announced at Formnext typically reach shops between January and March of the following year.

Which 3D scanners will be presented?

Shining3D (new-generation Einstar), Revopoint, Creality Raptor and industrial scanners from ZEISS, FARO, GOM. The trend is towards portable scanners with sub-millimetre resolution and AI reconstruction. Take a look at the STRATO3D scanner catalogue.

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