ServiceKapfenberg, AustriaFounded 1985· One of 2010 Service companies tracked by AMPulse
Provides additive manufacturing (AM) services and high-performance components for motorsports, aerospace, and luxury vehicles, using metal 3D printing to reduce lead times by up to 90% and costs by 80-90%.
CEO / Founder
Wolfgang Plasser
Team Size
1001-5000
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$48M
Latest Round
Grant
Key Investors
KNILL Group; Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark; Invest AG; Pierer Industrie AG; Ministerstvo Hospodárstva Slovenskej Republiky
Technology & Products
Key Products
Provides additive manufacturing (AM) services and high-performance components for motorsports, aerospace, and luxury vehicles, including engine and drivetrain systems and suspension parts, using metal 3D printing to reduce lead times by up to 90% and costs by 80-90%.
Technological Advantage
Proprietary metal powder development and optimization with partners like voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl, integrated with selective laser melting (SLM) processes for high-density, high-performance parts.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces production lead times by up to 90% and costs by 80-90% for custom components, enabling rapid prototyping and small-series production with lightweight, high-strength designs.
How They Differentiate
Offers a closed value chain from powder development to final inspection, with 10 dedicated metal AM machines and HIP capabilities, enabling 3x faster production cycles and 30% higher part density compared to standard SLM processes.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Racing car manufacturers, high-performance vehicle producers, aerospace firms
Industry Verticals
Motor Racing; Aerospace; Automotive
Competitors
BILSTEIN, Brembo S.p.A., Eibach Springs Inc.
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Revenue €409.5M in FY 2023; 138 employees across 13 departments
Major Milestones
Founded in 1985; Invested heavily in metal 3D printing around 2014; Established PAMCC in 2018; Operates 10 metal AM machines and own HIP chamber
Pankl Racing Systems AG occupies a distinctive position in additive manufacturing by combining decades of conventional high-performance component manufacturing with a fully integrated metal AM capability. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Kapfenberg, Austria, the company serves motorsports, aerospace, and luxury vehicle markets where part performance, weight reduction, and lead time are critical. Its closed value chain — from proprietary powder development to post-processing — differentiates it from service bureaus that rely on third-party materials and finishing.
The company's core technology is laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), also referred to as selective laser melting (SLM), applied to metals such as Inconel 718 and Ti-6Al-4V. Pankl operates 10 dedicated metal AM machines and an in-house hot isostatic pressing (HIP) chamber at its Pankl Additive Manufacturing Competence Center (PAMCC), established in 2018. HIP post-processing improves fatigue properties and part density, which Pankl claims is 30% higher than standard SLM processes. The company also develops proprietary metal powders in partnership with voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl and uses simulation tools from Ansys and AVL to optimize designs.
Pankl's primary customers include racing car manufacturers, high-performance vehicle producers, and aerospace firms. Notable customer KTM AG uses Pankl components for engine and drivetrain systems. The company reports that metal 3D printing reduces production lead times by up to 90% and costs by 80-90% for custom and small-series parts, enabling rapid prototyping and lightweight designs that would be impossible with conventional forging or machining. Applications span suspension parts, tripod joints, and emission control systems.
The company's strategic moat rests on its closed-loop production chain and long-term relationships with motorsport and aerospace primes. However, it faces competition from established automotive and racing suppliers such as Brembo, BILSTEIN, and Eibach Springs, which are also investing in AM. Pankl's revenue of €409.5 million in FY 2023 and backing from investors including KNILL Group and Pierer Industrie AG provide resources to scale, but the niche of high-performance metal AM remains capital-intensive and dependent on the cyclical motorsport and aerospace markets.