Strong Outlook for Additive Manufacturing

3D technologies are electrifying the markets with continuous growth reports. Additive manufacturing has long been no secret among experts, having become a strategic industrial production strategy. In fact, predictions of up to 400 percent growth for additive manufacturing methods are estimated within the next five years.

Forecasts like these are forcing the main players in the market to step up their technological and capacity efforts. Concept Laser GmbH (Lichtenfels, Germany), as an owner-operated medium-sized business, is relying on organic growth. “We invest nearly 10 percent of our sales revenue directly back into research and development,” says Frank Herzog, the president and chief executive officer of the company. “The conservative and long-term mindset of small and medium-sized businesses offers, in my view, the ideal basis for fully realizing our strengths in the market.”

These efforts clearly paid off in 2014 as the company was voted one of Bavaria’s “Best 50” firms by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs for its innovative capacity and its entrepreneurial philosophies and practices, and was also a finalist for the 2014 German Innovation Award for co-developing the first additive manufactured titanium component onboard the Airbus A350 XWB.

The fast growing market acceptance of additive manufacturing and the attractiveness of laser melting systems from Concept Laser are reflected in above-average growth figures of 110 new machine orders in 2014 vs. 84 in 2013, a 31 percent increase. With annual sales growth in recent years averaging 40 percent to 50 percent, sales last year were up 75 percent from the previous year, driven primarily by large-system growth in the 1,000 W laser class. The number of staff also increased by 30 percent to 103 employees.

According to Herzog, 2014 was the most successful year in the 15-year history of his company. “In our competitive environment, we not only kept pace with the rapid growth in the market, we even exceeded it,” he said. “This was the result of our R&D efforts and continuous product expansion, where 40 of our 103 staff members work in research and development.”

Key focus areas include series adaptation of multilaser technology for increased building speed, as well as pioneering work in the area of real-time monitoring for quality assurance, known as “QMmeltpool 3D.” Multilaser technology has a direct impact on exposure times, for instance. Empirical values show an increase in build rates of up to 80 percent. For 2015, an X line 2000R has been announced that will feature two 1,000 W lasers and variable optics.

The company infrastructure at the headquarters in Lichtenfels also expanded last year to meet demand, including a brand new 3,500 sq m production hall that is nearing completion and will increase machine output by a factor of 2.5. Separate inspection chambers for confidential customer projects and improved delivery times are important considerations for customers. A new, 600 sq m state-of-the-art process development and material research center was also launched. To meet the enormous demand from the aerospace industry in the U.S,, Concept Laser Inc. (Dallas, TX) was founded last summer.

OUTLOOK FOR 2015
2015 marks the 15-year anniversary of Concept Laser, which has continued to pioneer numerous patents and innovative products that are technology groundbreakers. Based on extremely solid sales figures and the more than favorable forecast for additive manufacturing, the company has announced midterm plans to continuously expand its capacity and develop ambitious new products.

The R&D department has been working hard on various projects for LaserCUSING with a focus on increased productivity and effective 3D process monitoring, material qualification and automation. The Benchmark division was also greatly expanded at the beginning of the year. As a “reference workshop,” Benchmark plays an important service role for customers. In addition to adding more space, the division has increased its capacity to ten machines.

The high demand in recent years has also required changes in logistics, including a new 1,200 sq m logistics center that is slated for operation in Q1 2015. Ground will also soon be broken on a new administrative building. The international sales network is slated for further expansion. Concept Laser Inc. will add new service staff and soon occupy a new building with its own showroom.

China continues to be one of the fastest-growing sales markets for LaserCUSING technology. Currently there are concrete plans to increase the company’s presence in the Middle Kingdom with more staff and infrastructure. Herzog commented, “I believe we are optimally positioned at all levels to be just as successful and innovative in the future as in the past.”

www.concept-laser.de