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Concept Laser

Brand of Colibrium Additive

HardwareLichtenfels, GermanyFounded 2000· One of 1733 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Concept Laser manufactures advanced industrial laser machines designed for the additive manufacturing of metal components, employing proprietary LaserCUSING technology.

CEO / Founder
Frank Herzog (Founder and CEO)
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
Undisclosed
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
General Electric (acquired 75% stake)

Technology & Products

Key Products

Powder bed-based laser additive manufacturing machines, including MLab Cusing, MLab Cusing R, M1 Cusing, M2 Cusing, and XLine 2000 R. Their LaserCUSING® process is used to create high-precision metallic components for aerospace, medical, dental, automotive, and jewelry industries.

Technological Advantage

Leverages GE Additive’s resources and expertise post-acquisition, driving innovation and market expansion.

Patent position

Concept Laser filed 15 patent families in 2022–2024 versus 34 in 2019–2021, a 56% fall; tracked AM filings in the same patent offices fell 26%, so Concept Laser fell more sharply. AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
15 families filed 2022–2024, 34 in 2019–2021 (-56%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -26%
Process mix, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Powder bed fusion 100% → 100%
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Materials 97% → 100%Equipment 97% → 100%
Filed in
EP 46%US 33%CN 19%WO 5%
Named competitors, AM patent families
EOS 185Arcam AB 128

106 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Pioneering LaserCUSING technology for precise and efficient metal 3D printing solutions.

How They Differentiate

Focus on high-quality, large-scale metal 3D printing systems using exclusive LaserCUSING technology, which enables the creation of high-precision, mechanically and thermally resilient metallic components.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Industries such as aerospace, medical, dental, automotive, and jewelry

Industry Verticals

Aerospace, Medical, Dental, Automotive, Jewelry

Competitors

EOS, Arcam AB, SLM Solutions

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Significant growth post-acquisition, with expanded facilities and enhanced global market presence.

Major Milestones

Acquisition by GE Additive, Expansion into the US market, Joining the ADAPT Consortium

Notable Customers

US Navy; Medical institutions

https://www.concept-laser.de/en/home.html

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
112
Granted
25
Families
106

Leading domains: process (112), equipment (104), material (101)

Filings by year: 2025: 1 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 8

  1. Apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects11433616 · US
  2. FILTER DEVICES FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING APPARATUSES04616926 · EP
  3. Apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects111745973 · CN
  4. APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS20200316860 · US
  5. METHOD FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURING AT LEAST ONE THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT3995293 · EP

Funding rounds

  • Corporate Majority$599.0M2016-10Lead: General Electric · Source: GE Aerospace Press Release

Equipment deals on record

Publicly disclosed purchases or installs only.

All equipment activity

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

Concept Laser GmbH, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Lichtenfels, Germany, established itself as a pioneer in metal additive manufacturing by inventing LaserCUSING technology. This proprietary powder bed fusion process (PBF-LB) distinguishes the company from competitors like EOS, Arcam AB, and SLM Solutions by emphasizing high precision and thermal resilience in metallic components. The company's acquisition by GE Additive provided access to significant resources and a global distribution network, accelerating its market expansion and R&D capabilities.

The core product line includes powder bed-based laser systems such as the MLab Cusing, M1 Cusing, M2 Cusing, and the large-format XLine 2000 R. These machines are designed to produce mechanically robust parts from metals like Inconel 718 and Ti-6Al-4V, targeting industries that demand tight tolerances and repeatability. Key applications span aerospace primes, medical device OEMs, dental labs, automotive tier-1 suppliers, and jewelry manufacturers. Notable customers include the US Navy and various medical institutions, though specific contract details are not disclosed.

Concept Laser's strategic moat rests on its proprietary LaserCUSING process and the backing of GE Additive, which funds innovation and provides a captive industrial customer base. The company also participates in the ADAPT Consortium, signaling engagement with defense and aerospace supply chains. A key open question is how the company will maintain differentiation as PBF-LB technology becomes commoditized and as competitors like SLM Solutions and EOS continue to scale their own large-format systems. With over 168 registered patents, Concept Laser holds a defensible IP position, though the competitive landscape in metal AM remains intense.