Additive manufacturing has a new foothold in northern Germany: Niedersachsen ADDITIV is the name of the additive manufacturing center that was opened by the State Minister of Economic Affairs, Olaf Lies, in Hanover on October 20. The Laser Zentrum Hannover (Hanover Laser Center – LZH), the Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (Hanover Institute for Integrated Production – IPH) and the Deutsche Messe Technology Academy , as well as the LZH Laser Akademie , are involved in the project. At the same time, Austrian 3D printing specialist EVO-tech has opened a location in Hanover – right in the new center. The provider supplements the center’s workshops and information events with its own events by the EVO-tech Academy , including some on the topic of filament metal printing. The Austrians developed the FMP process in collaboration with the German chemical company BASF, which supplies the filament Ultrafuse 316LX . FMP is thus competing with the additive SLS (selective laser sintering) and SLM (selective laser melting) processes.

Niedersachsen ADDITIV will take over networking tasks as well as inform user companies from different industries about the possibilities offered by additive processes. The center also features a learning factory, demonstrations and professional development seminars. Interested companies can also receive support for specific integration projects.