The 3rd edition of the 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference will take place on April 18, 2018, at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands. At the same location, on April 17, 2018, the 3D Printing Materials Conference will be held.

Fast Facts on the Importance of 4D Printing & Meta Materials

Making and utilizing new materials to improve our life is a defining feature of mankind. We moved on from the stone age, to the bronze age, to the age of silicon and plastic. Now we are at the edge of a new episode, where technological breakthroughs allow us to create, investigate and dream of a total new range of structured forms of matter.

Two fields emerge strongly:

1. 4D Printing offers a streamlined path from idea to full functionality.
2. Mechanical metamaterials are structured materials with mechanical properties defined by their structure rather than their composition.

These are highly promising disciplines which develop in a synergistic manner, and which aim at creating entirely new forms of matter, which will lead to applications that have not yet been conceived.

Why is this relevant?
These fields offer not only tremendous opportunities for engineers but also for designers as many new applications will arise. Smart materials will solve design/engineering problems, which often arise from limitations of current materials. Applications can range from new materials for shoes and wearables, to applications in robotics and new type of sensors.

The 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference will not only cover the academic results but will show how designers and engineers will see future applications and new markets.

Who should attend?

The conference is mainly addressed to:

• Engineers
• Designers
• Material researchers
• Material producers
• Academics

… but is open and of interest to anyone who sees potential in 4D Printing and Meta Materials!

The 2nd edition of the 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference took place on February 1, 2017, at the same location. Find more about the 2017 edition.

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