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Aixway3D

HardwareAachen, GermanyFounded 2018· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

A high-tech spinoff of Fraunhofer ILT specializing in high-precision Micro-Laser Powder Bed Fusion (μ-LPBF) systems for industrial metal 3D printing.

CEO / Founder
Dr. Liyao Wei Shen
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$12.0M
Latest Round
Series A
Key Investors
Plug and Play China, CasStar (Zhongke Chuangxing), Zhongke Chuangxing

Technology & Products

Key Products

Aixway® Precision-100 (an industrial micron 3D metal printer), 3D printing materials, post-processing equipment, and printing services. They also develop micron-scale cooling plates.

Technological Advantage

Utilizes a proprietary Micro-Laser Powder Bed Fusion (μ-LPBF) process featuring modular 'Easy-Access' chambers for rapid material exchange and ultra-fine laser spot control for superior dimensional accuracy.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Delivers industrial-grade metal parts with micron-level precision and superior surface quality through a modular μ-LPBF process, bridging the gap between traditional additive manufacturing and micro-manufacturing.

How They Differentiate

Aixway3D differentiates through its proprietary Micro-Laser Powder Bed Fusion (μ-LPBF) technology, which offers a modular 'Easy-Access' chamber system. This allows for rapid material changes and the processing of precious or specialized metals with minimal waste, backed by a direct technological lineage from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT).

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Medical device manufacturers, aerospace engineers, dental laboratories, and R&D institutes requiring micron-level metal components.

Industry Verticals

["Medical Technology (e.g., endoscopic components, implants)","Aerospace & Defense","Dental","Automotive","Precision Tooling & Molding","Academic & Industrial Research"]

Competitors

3D MicroPrint GmbH; Incus GmbH; Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Reported approximately $1.04M in revenue for the German entity in 2023; expanded operations to a secondary headquarters in China to capture the Asian electronics and medical markets.

Major Milestones

["Spun off from Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) in 2018","Launched the Aixway® Precision-100 high-precision metal 3D printer","Established Chinese headquarters (Yunyao Shenwei) to scale manufacturing","Completed Series A funding in 2023 to accelerate industrialization"]

Notable Customers

Fraunhofer ILT; RWTH Aachen University; Undisclosed Medical Device Manufacturers; Dental Laboratories

https://aixway3d.de

Why this company matters

Aixway3D occupies a narrow but defensible niche in metal additive manufacturing: high-precision Micro-Laser Powder Bed Fusion (μ-LPBF). Spun out of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) in 2018, the company builds industrial systems that produce metal parts with micron-level dimensional accuracy and superior surface finish, bridging the gap between conventional LPBF and micro-manufacturing techniques like micro-EDM or LIGA.

The core product is the Aixway Precision-100, a μ-LPBF printer that uses a proprietary modular chamber design for rapid material exchange and ultra-fine laser spot control. This setup reduces waste when processing precious or specialty metals and enables faster changeovers between builds. The company also offers printing services, post-processing equipment, and develops micron-scale cooling plates for electronics thermal management.

Target customers include medical device manufacturers (endoscopic components, implants), dental laboratories, aerospace engineers, and R&D institutes. Named partners include Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen University. Aixway3D has established a secondary headquarters in China via its entity Yunyao Shenwei, aiming to scale manufacturing and capture Asian demand from electronics and medical markets. The company reported roughly $1.04 million in revenue for its German entity in 2023 and completed a Series A round in 2023 backed by Plug and Play China and CasStar.

Aixway3D's primary competitive risk is scale. Competitors such as 3D MicroPrint, Incus, and Boston Micro Fabrication target overlapping applications with different process technologies (e.g., micro-LPBF, lithography-based metal manufacturing). The company's Fraunhofer lineage and modular chamber design provide a technology moat, but its small team (11–50 employees) and early revenue base limit its ability to outspend larger rivals on R&D or sales coverage.