Workshop Information

Workshop I: How to network in AM as early stage researcher?

Networking is an essential tool for scientific success. Imagine you want to conduct a study but you are missing certain equipment or you need some expert knowledge for a special topic. How can you find the right partners? In this workshop we want to talk about an effective way of networking.

We will discuss about:

How can we create a network in real life and on social media?
Which are good occassions to network in the ceramic world?
Is there something like a code of conduct for networking?

Workshop II: AM for functional applications

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of functional ceramic components is rapidly evolving, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation in energy, electronics, and medical applications. This workshop opens with an invited contribution on the additive manufacturing of ceramic fuel cell elements, highlighting the unique advantages and technical challenges of AM in this demanding field. The session will foster an in-depth discussion around several key questions:

What are the current obstacles in scaling functional AM applications to serial production, and how can these be overcome?
How can the quality and reliability of functional AM components be ensured and measured, considering the stringent requirements of ceramic materials?

Participants will explore future developments and technologies that could significantly advance functional applications in ceramic AM, including novel materials, process monitoring, and digital workflows. The workshop will address specific manufacturing challenges in ceramics that AM could solve, such as complex geometries, material integration, and rapid prototyping. Market opportunities for AM-manufactured functional ceramic components will be analyzed, with a focus on emerging sectors and application-driven demand. The discussion will also identify which AM methods are likely to become key enablers for functional components and examine the role of multi-material AM in future manufacturing scenarios. Finally, the potential of hybrid technologies—combining conventional shaping methods with AM or segmented manufacturing—will be evaluated, aiming to unlock new capabilities and performance levels in functional ceramic components. This workshop invites researchers, industry experts, and stakeholders to share insights and shape the future of ceramic AM.

Key questions:

What challenges currently exist in scaling functional AM applications to serial production?
How can the quality and reliability of functional AM components be ensured and measured?
Which future developments or technologies could significantly advance functional applications in ceramic AM?
Where are the challenges in manufacturing functional ceramic components which could be addressed by AM?
What are the market opportunities for AM-manufactured components in the field of functional ceramics?
Which AM methods will act as key enablers for functional components?
Which role can multi material AM play for future functional component manufacturing?
What potential can be unlocked using hybrid technologies, e.g., combination of conventional shaping methods with AM or segmented manufacturing?

Workshop III: From laboratory to industry

The main topic of this workshop is to highlight the opportunities that will arise from advances in ceramic additive manufacturing research. These advances should address the needs of the industry and the current problems or shortcomings of AM in industrial use. The two presentations related to the workshop will address both sides of this topic. One will show the development of new processes, and the other will provide insights into the state of classical small-lot manufacturing of ceramics and the view of AM from this perspective.

Key questions:

To what extent can the ceramic industry satisfy customer needs with AM processes?
After more than ten years of industrial AM of ceramics, what use cases exist, and what are future markets?
Does AM actually offer greater flexibility in producing single ceramic parts and small series compared to traditional ceramic manufacturing?

Workshop IV: Are AM-printed ceramics sustainable?

This workshop deals with the sustainability of vat photopolymerization for technical ceramics, considering the entire process chain. Key aspects include powder and binder selection, which influence resource efficiency and recyclability, as well as optimized slurries or pastes enabling effective material use. The CAD design affects material consumption and build efficiency. During printing, energy use and defect minimization are critical. Post-processing, including cleaning and reuse of excess resin, reduces waste. Thermal treatment (debinding and sintering) dominates energy demand and requires optimization. Finally, quality assurance of sintered parts ensures reliability and prevents resource loss.

Key questions:

How can the sustainability of vat-photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing of technical ceramics be assessed across the entire process chain?
What role do powder and binder selection, as well as slurry and paste formulation, play in the environmental impact and material efficiency of ceramic 3D printing?
How do CAD design and printing parameters influence resource efficiency, energy consumption, and defect formation in vat photopolymerization processes?
Why are post-processing steps—such as cleaning, debinding, sintering, and quality assurance—critical for the overall sustainability and performance of 3D printed ceramic components?

Workshop V: New Trends of Ceramic Additive Manufacturing

Ceramic Additive Manufacturing has made significant progress over the past decade. While materials and printing technologies continue to evolve, the focus is increasingly shifting toward industrial adoption, production scalability, and the development of applications that create real value. This workshop will explore the trends that are expected to “shape” the next phase of Ceramic AM development. Discussions will address how the technologies and processes are moving from research and prototyping toward qualification, industrial production, and market acceptance. Particular attention will be given to emerging opportunities in sectors such as aerospace, defense, energy, electronics, and advanced industrial applications.

Key questions:

Which applications are creating the strongest business case for Ceramic AM today?
What are the main challenges when moving from prototyping to industrial production?
Which materials and processes are opening new market opportunities?
How can productivity, repeatability, and cost-efficiency be further improved?
What role will automation, digitalization, and AI play in future Ceramic AM workflows?

Workshop VI: Production of bioceramics by AM

This workshop will explore the potential of additive manufacturing for producing bioceramic dental and medical devices. Starting from a dental perspective, Stefan Rues from the University Medical Centre Heidelberg will present the clinical and technical requirements for 3D-printing in dentistry, including strength, accuracy, aesthetics, firing time, and workflow integration. He will also demonstrate how the workflow was adapted to treat patients with additively manufactured zirconia restorations.

The discussion will then broaden to biomedical devices and address the following key questions:

Where can additive manufacturing create real added value for dental and biomedical bioceramic devices?
What are successful examples of additive manufacturing for medical devices, and what can be learned from them?
What are the current challenges in terms of technical feasibility, quality, dimensional accuracy, mechanical performance, and workflow speed?
What is needed to implement AM bioceramics more broadly in industry and clinical practice?
How can acceptance be increased among clinicians, laboratories, manufacturers, regulators, and patients?