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█ Laser Melting with Metals (LaserCUSING)
Information on the results for the first six months of the 2015 financial
year
Concept Laser reports further revenue
growth in the first half of 2015
Large-scale
laser
melting
systems
boost
incoming orders and revenue in the first half of
2015
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“3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize
the way we make almost everything.”
US President Barack Obama, February 2013
Lichtenfels, September 04, 2015: Concept Laser's 15th anniversary in 2015 is a
brilliant performance – and it has the figures to prove it. After revenue growth of
75% in 2014, Concept Laser consolidated its growth at a high level with a further
35% revenue increase in the first six months of 2015. While 45 systems were sold
in the same period of the previous year, the company has already received 68
orders this year, a significant increase of roughly 50%.
Concept Laser's growth continues unabated in 2015. Frank Herzog, CEO & President of
Concept Laser: “We are very proud that we not only succeeded in maintaining the great
growth from last year, but have even managed to build on it. That shows that we are still
moving in the right direction. However, anyone who knows Concept Laser knows that
our passion for technology and the strong drive for innovation will not allow us to rest on
our laurels. As a result, I can assure you that our research and development department
is already working on new projects which will change future manufacturing processes
sustainably.”
2015 semi-annual financial statements indicate growth
The continued rising acceptance of additive manufacturing in the markets and the
attractiveness of laser melting systems from the Lichtenfels-based manufacturer are
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reflected once again in Concept Laser's growth figures. In the first six months of 2015,
orders were placed for 68 machines (1st 6 months of 2014: 45 machines). This is
equivalent to growth of 51% compared to last year (cut-off date June 30, 2015). In
addition to this, the revenue as of June 30, 2015 was 35% higher than in the same
period of the previous year. Once again, the revenue growth was solely due to sales of
large-scale systems in the 1000W laser class, and demand from the aerospace industry
in the USA. Staff numbers also increased by a further 30% compared with 2014 in the
first half of 2015.
Large-scale system segment fills order books and boosts revenue
Demand for the X line 1000R remained high in the 1st half of 2015, driving our revenue.
From January 2015 on, the new X line 2000R® supplemented our range in the largescale system segment. It combines a large build envelope with increased build rates.
With a build envelope of 800x400x500 mm3, the X line 2000R® currently offers more
space than any other system for laser melting metals. The X line 2000R®'s multilaser
technology with variable optics has a direct effect on the exposure time. Its heart, the
dual laser system in the X line 2000®, is based on two 1,000 watt lasers. The useful
build volume is also increased a further 27% from 126 l to 160 l compared with an X line
1000R. The X line 2000R® also features a new sieving station that uses a quiet vibrating
sieve instead of the tumbler sieve. The concept is incredibly compact, as the oversized
particle container is now smaller, and has been integrated into the sieving station. The
dosing unit is filled completely and fully automatically within one cycle. Compared with
competitors' systems, the X line 2000R® offers almost three to four times the build
volume. Key buyers are from the automotive and aerospace sectors.
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Expansion of infrastructure progresses
The new manufacturing facility in Lichtenfels, with 3,500 m² of floor space, was already
running at full capacity in the first half of 2015. It increases Concept Laser's system
production capacity by a factor of 2.5. The logistics centre, which is also new, pulls the
strings for global logistics management in a 1,000 m² facility. It processes incoming
goods, outgoing goods, machine dispatch and supplies of spare and wearing parts. A
team of external consultants optimised the plant intralogistics for the value stream. To
cope with the strong sales of machines, the warehouse handling area was quadrupled in
size, while the parts flow and the throughput times were accelerated. Overall, Concept
Laser is also structurally ideally prepared for continued growth, and will make further
investments in its infrastructure in future.
Outlook for the second half of 2015
All signs on the global markets indicate that the trend set in the first six months will
continue in the second half of the year. Following sales of 110 systems in the previous
year, the Lichtenfels-based company expects this figure to reach more than 150
machines by the end of this year. Revenue growth is forecast to remain at 35% for the
entire 2015 financial year. Frank Herzog, CEO & President of Concept Laser: “We are
pleased to announce that growth will stabilise at a high level.” Accordingly, the plant
engineering provider also plans to introduce new products at the upcoming formnext
powered by TCT trade fair in Frankfurt. The company's R&D activities are running at a
high level. This suggests that it will introduce further innovations in laser melting
technology
in
the
second
half
of
2015
and
the
following
financial
year.
For example, Concept Laser, which has been focusing on quality monitoring since 2004,
will supplement QMmeltpool, introduced in 2010, with QMmeltpool 3D. This tool will
allow position-related real-time monitoring and three-dimensional visualisation of the
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part. It identifies and analyses local effects that arise during building of the part clearly.
In addition to this, Concept Laser, which is also a pioneer in the field of quality
assurance/monitoring for laser melting with metals, is already working simultaneously on
other modules, which will take the sector to a whole new level.
Reprint permitted – Copy requested
Captions
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Caption 1: Frank Herzog, CEO & President of Concept Laser: “We are very proud that
we not only succeeded in maintaining the great growth from last year, but have even
managed to build on it. That shows that we remain on the right way. However, anyone
who knows Concept Laser knows that our passion for technology and the pronounced
innovative drive will not allow us to rest on our laurels.”
Caption 2: The X line 2000R® combines the world's largest build envelope
(800x400x500 mm3) for laser melting with metals with faster build rates. The X line
2000R®'s multilaser technology, with 2 x 1,000 Watt lasers, has a direct impact on the
exposure time.
Caption 3: Manufacturing capacity expanded: The new manufacturing facility is already
running at full capacity. It increased Concept Laser's system production capacity by a
factor of 2.5.
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Caption 4: Value stream-optimised logistics centre: The warehouse handling area was
quadrupled to 1,000 m², accelerating the parts flow and throughput times.
All image sources: Concept Laser GmbH, Lichtenfels, Germany
Concept Laser trade fair appearances ██████████████████████████████████
MSV, Brünn (CZ)
September 14 – September 18, 2015
WESTEC, Los Angeles (USA)
September 15 – September 17, 2015
Dental-Expo, Moscow (RUS)
September 28 – October 01, 2015
TCT, Birmingham (UK)
September 30 – October 01, 2015
Contact ████████████████████████████████████████████████████
Concept Laser GmbH
An der Zeil 8
D-96215 Lichtenfels
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)9571.1679 - 0
Internet:
www.concept-laser.de
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Press contacts:
Daniel Hund
Phone:
+49 (0) 9571 / 1679-251
E-mail:
d.hund@concept-laser.de
About LaserCUSING®
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Keyword: LaserCUSING®
The LaserCUSING® process is used to create mechanically and thermally stable metallic
components with high precision. Depending on the application, it can be used with stainless and
tool steels, aluminum and titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, cobalt-chromium alloys or
precious metals such as gold or silver alloys.
Procedures
With LaserCUSING®, finely pulverized metal is fused using a high-energy fiber laser. After
cooling, the material solidifies. Component contour is achieved by directing the laser beam with
a mirror deflection unit (scanner). Construction takes place layer by layer (with each layer
measuring 15-150 microns) by lowering the bottom surface of the construction space, then
applying and fusing more powder.
Concept Laser systems stand out due to their stochastic control of the slice segments (also
referred to as "islands"), which are processed successively. The patented process significantly
reduces tension during the manufacture of very large components.
Concept Laser Overview
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Concept Laser GmbH is an independent company based in Lichtenfels, Germany. Since its
founding in 2000, it has been a leading innovator in the field of laser melting with the patented
LaserCUSING® technology across many industries.
The term LaserCUSING®, a combination of the C from CONCEPT Laser and the word FUSING
(to fully melt) describes the technology: the fusing process generates components layer by layer
using 3D CAD data.
The method allows the production of complex component geometries without tools to create
parts that are difficult or even impossible to achieve through conventional manufacturing.
With the LaserCUSING® process, conformal cooling can be used to create tool inserts as well
as direct components for the jewelry, medical, dental, automotive and aerospace industries. This
applies to prototypes and series parts.
The company offers both standard systems and custom concepts for metal laser melting. With
Concept Laser, full-service as an option means that customers can either purchase their own
metal laser melting systems or rely directly on service and development services.
Laser machining systems from Concept Laser process powder materials made from stainless
steel, hot work tool steels, cobalt-chromium alloy, nickel-base alloy as well as reactive powder
materials such as aluminum and titanium alloys. Precious metals such as gold or silver alloys for
jewelry making are also an option.
LaserCUSING® offers new perspectives in terms of cost and speed for efficient product
development in industries such as:
•
Jewelry
•
Medical and dental technology
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•
Aeronautics and space industry
•
Tool and mold construction
•
Automotive and racing
•
Mechanical engineering
The systems reduce development time and costs substantially while offering much greater
flexibility in product development.
The high quality standards, level of experience and successful track record of Concept Laser
guarantee reliable and cost-effective solutions with proven performance in daily production, with
a particular focus on unit cost reductions.
The art of LaserCUSING® by Concept Laser
Ideas for laser melting with metals in the following areas of application: automotive and
motorsport, aerospace, medical and dental technology, die and mold making as well as
the wider engineering business.
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