METROM
Developer of patented pentapod parallel kinematics CNC machines (stationary & mobile 5-axis) and SEAMHex industrial 3D printer (hexapod extrusion system), enabling hybrid additive-subtractive manufacturing for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications with 200x lower material cost than traditional filament-based printing.
- CEO / Founder
- Susanne Witt
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Established
- Total Funding
- $78K
- Latest Round
- Bootstrapped
- Key Investors
- German government/regional economic development
Technology & Products
Key Products
P-Series Pentapod 5-axis CNC Stationary Machining Centers; PM-Series Mobile Pentapod 5-axis CNC (launched 2008); Interchangeable Heads: CNC Milling, SEAM Extrusion (FDM), WAAM (wire-based DED), Laser DED; SEAMHex Industrial 3D Printer (7-axis hexapod extrusion, pellet-fed); On-site Mobile Machining Services (worldwide deployment)
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: 20-year pentapod domain expertise, patented hexapod kinematics offering superior stiffness and dynamic accuracy vs. Cartesian systems. VERIFIED: Fraunhofer IWU partnership on SEAM technology (co-developed, peer-reviewed). Hybrid additive-subtractive capability (single machine tool eliminates secondary machining step, reducing throughput time). Pellet-based extrusion (200x material cost reduction vs. virgin filament) defensible via exclusive SEAM licensing. Mobile pentapod differentiates on-site machining for repair/rework (unmatched by desktop/factory-floor competitors).
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Unique hybrid additive-subtractive platform reducing metal component lead time from weeks to days while cutting plastic part costs 40-50% vs. filament extrusion (uses standard pellets). Mobile pentapod enables on-site repair/machining of large assemblies (power plants, oil & gas). SEAMHex prints at 1 m/s (8 kg/h output) with hexapod kinematics for part geometry flexibility unmatched by Cartesian competitors.
How They Differentiate
Pentapod hexapod parallel kinematics (vs. Cartesian) offers superior stiffness at smaller footprint. SEAM pellet extrusion (200x cost savings, $0.50/kg vs. $100+/kg filament) defensible via Fraunhofer partnership. INTEGRATED pentapod + extrusion + milling in one platform (vs. competitors offering separate machines). Mobile variant (PM-Series) for on-site repair/deposition (unique in hybrid segment). 20-year pentapod track record vs. newer competitors entering hybrid space.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Tier-1 industrial manufacturers, aerospace component shops, automotive suppliers, job shops requiring on-site or in-house metal/plastic hybrid machining and 3D printing
Industry Verticals
Aerospace & Defense; Automotive; Power Generation; Oil & Gas; Additive Manufacturing (Generative Joining/Repair); Construction (large-format facade printing); Industrial Equipment Manufacturing
Competitors
Hexapod kinematics: Mikron (Helitronic H400 Series, Switzerland); Hermle (5-axis CNC with hexapod options); Hybrid additive-subtractive: Optomec (LENS systems for metal DED on 5-axis mills); Sciaky (electron beam welding on movable arm); Large-format extrusion 3D printing: Wasp (Italian large-scale FDM); BigRep (German industrial FDM printers); Pellet-based polymer extrusion: Frac Industries (recycled pellet extrusion); Others in emerging space
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Employees: 11-50. Founded 2001 from Fraunhofer Institute research project; Award: Most Innovative East German Company (Auszeichnung für innovativstes ostdeutsches Unternehmen); Partnership with Fraunhofer IWU for SEAM technology integration
Major Milestones
2001: Company founded; Dr. Michael Schwaar invents pentapod parallel kinematics; 2008: PM-Series Mobile Pentapod launched for on-site machining; 2010: Headquarters relocated from Chemnitz to Hartmannsdorf; 2016: Susanne Witt becomes CEO (second generation leadership); 2018+: SEAMHex development underway with Fraunhofer IWU; 2022: German Innovation Award (Susanne Witt & Marcus Witt); 2024: Formnext exhibition showcasing multi-head modular platform (WAAM, extrusion, CNC milling)
Notable Customers
SLV Halle GmbH (welding research center, generative joining applications); BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg (aerospace titanium component 3D printing, hybrid manufacturing research); Power plant operators, automotive suppliers, oil & gas majors (mobile on-site machining); Large-format construction facades (Fraunhofer SEAM collaboration deployments)