The London show will take place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, from 7 to 9 November before relocating to Paris a week later and to New York next February. The event focuses on live demonstrations, workshops and seminars and is for business and consumers.

Last year’s inaugural event was held at the much smaller London venue, the Brewery, attracting 4,000 visitors and show founder Kerry Hogarth said that following feedback from the show’s attendees 15,000 tickets were going on sale for 2013’s exhibition. Optimism this year reflected burgeoning interest in this expanding sector, she said.

“Last year a lot of conventional printers came to the show to see if they could get involved in 3D printing in future,” she said. “So this year we expect many to be looking at how to bring a 3D printer to their business for prototyping.

“The likes of Amazon are looking at 3D printing and as we see this technology getting bigger in retail it is likely to impact resellers of machines who may look at developing distribution of 3D print. Large-format and large corporate printers may start to look at 3D print modelling.”

Exhibitors include 3D printer suppliers MakerBot, Mcor and Ultimaker, software firm Autodesk, Laser Lines, the supplier of lasers, rapid prototyping kit and vacuum casting gear, EuroPac 3D, supplier of scanners, printers and measurement software and consultant Econolyst.

Live demonstrations would play a core part of this year’s event, she said. Workshops will show off scanners, 3D printers and art applications, while a new design and art gallery will be the world’s biggest, displaying work from 50 creative professionals, she said.

Also new will be a consumer home and food hall, decked out in 3D printed wallpapers. The first day of the show will be targeted at high-end print applications, the second will feature a conference for brands keen on the technology, with the last day aimed at consumers.

Visit www.3dprintshow.com