Addidex Connect Unites 170 Robotic LFAM Experts in Netherlands

The inaugural Addidex Connect event, held on June 30 and July 1, 2026, at 3D Makers Zone in Haarlem, the Netherlands, convened approximately 170 practitioners in robotic large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM). The two-day gathering focused on robotic additive manufacturing (AM) workflows, uniting designers, engineers, software developers, material specialists, researchers, machine builders, and production teams.

Instead of a traditional trade show, Addidex Connect emphasized dialogue between disciplines that often tackle similar technical issues in isolation. Discussions encompassed the interplay between design and toolpath logic, including multi-axis and non-planar strategies. Material behavior at scale, adaptive fabrication, software workflows, circular feedstocks like bio-based polymers and recycled marine plastics, process control, and the transition from prototyping to production were also key topics.

Michael John Sweers, founder of Addidex Connect, highlighted the event's aim to bridge knowledge gaps, stating, "Robotic 3D printing has no shortage of talent or ambition. What it needs is more connection between the people shaping it. Too often, valuable knowledge stays within one discipline, one machine or one company." The event was held amidst industrial six-axis robots and active fabrication equipment, with extended breaks, live demonstrations, and panel discussions designed to facilitate ongoing conversations.

Speakers included notable figures such as Aldo Sollazzo (LaMáquina/Noumena), Miguel García Jiménez (Nagami), and Francesco De Stefano (Caracol AM), alongside researchers from TU Delft and TU Eindhoven presenting on computational design and large-scale fabrication. Participants represented studios, universities, technology companies, and manufacturing organizations from around the world.

A central theme was that advancement in robotic AM hinges on the alignment of design intent, material knowledge, toolpath logic, sensing, software, and production, rather than solely on machine capabilities. Organizers emphasized the need for closer collaboration, knowledge transfer, and open discussions about failure, qualification, and scaling for the field's next phase. The event was supported by Founding Partners CEAD, MX3D, and 3D Makers Zone, among others. Pre-registration for the next edition in July 2027 is now open.