Bayreuth AM Days 2026: Connected Process Chains as the Key to Industrial Additive Manufacturing

On September 29 and 30, 2026, representatives from industry, academia, and the Bavaria Makes e.V. network came together at Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH. Presentations, discussions, and personal exchanges made clear how far Additive Manufacturing has developed technologically and which prerequisites are crucial for its scalable industrial use. 

The focus was not on the individual manufacturing system, but on the interaction of all relevant process steps. Industrial Additive Manufacturing only emerges through the combination of material, production, post-processing, quality assurance, and data. Only when these areas are considered holistically and coordinated with one another can reproducible quality, reliable production processes, and economically viable applications be achieved.

Using the SLS demonstrator factory at Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH as an example, the event showed what such a networked reference environment can look like. Among other things, it connects powder condition and material history, different SLS systems, depowdering and surface treatment, measurement and sensor systems, as well as the digital collection of relevant process data. This creates the prerequisites for systematically further developing real components and process chains and scaling them toward series production. 

Contributions from industrial practice also emphasized that reproducible components, traceability, and product and process knowledge that remains available over the long term are essential elements of resilient manufacturing. Additive Manufacturing can open up new options, particularly for small production volumes, in cases of obsolescence, or to reduce dependencies on tools and suppliers. However, a qualified, documented, and controlled process chain remains essential. 

Another focus was the question of how technological excellence can be transferred more quickly into industrial value creation. The discussion showed how important the coordinated collaboration of companies, research institutions, start-ups, networks, and the public sector is for this. Bavaria Makes provides a common umbrella under which expertise can be pooled, technology transfer supported, and concrete activities for Additive Manufacturing in Bavaria initiated. 

Award for Early-Career Researchers

A special highlight of the program was the presentation of the Bavaria Makes Young Talent Award 2026. Outstanding theses from the field of Additive Manufacturing were honored for combining scientific quality with innovation and demonstrable potential for transfer to industrial applications. The award-winning projects exemplify a new generation of specialists and researchers who will help shape the future of Additive Manufacturing. 

The Bayreuth AM Days 2026 demonstrated the strong interest in scalable solutions and joint innovation. The intensive exchange between industry, research, and the Bavaria Makes community provided new impetus, strengthened existing connections, and opened up opportunities for further cooperation.

Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH would like to thank all speakers, partners, and participants for their contributions and their committed discussions. The next step is to further develop the ideas that have emerged and jointly translate them into industrial impact.