In Lichtenfels, two hours’ drive north of Munich, there’s a globally acknowledged 3D printing middle with a contemporary infrastructure and lots of corporations specializing in this future expertise. On the finish of the Nineteen Eighties, the area was one of many first in Europe the place 3D printing grew to become established.
That is due in no small half to the founders of Idea Laser, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog, who’re additionally the founders of the HZG Group. By means of their joint efforts, they based the expertise firm Idea Laser and constructed it into one of many international market leaders within the subject of steel 3D printing.
After promoting their firm, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog returned to their entrepreneurial roots. Along with the HZG Group staff, they’re investing particularly in promising start-ups within the subject of additive manufacturing.
In Lichtenfels, additionally they function their very own improvement and utility middle, “naddcon,” the place they work with essentially the most thrilling applied sciences that 3D printing at present has to supply.
“The portfolio of our first start-up fund is full,” says Frank Carsten Herzog. “Since our launch 2022, we’ve got screened over 2,700 start-ups and invested in promising enterprise concepts. We’ve additionally participated within the first follow-up rounds of our start-ups.”
Frank Carsten Herzog, Founder and Managing Director of the HZG Group. Copyright: Sebastian Buff
Within the US, Speedy Liquid Print, a spin-off of the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how (MIT), and Axtra3D from trade veteran Gianni Zitelli are a part of the HZG Group’s portfolio. For the HZG Group, the decisive consider deciding on the startups was that they should have the potential to result in lasting change within the trade. Above all, nonetheless, the expertise should encourage and stimulate the creativeness: How can this innovation be launched in a helpful and worthwhile approach in a longtime surroundings and additional developed in a forward-looking method?
Implementing effectivity positive aspects
HZG is specializing in the important thing drivers that can deliver 3D printing expertise into industrial manufacturing: light-weight development, purposeful integration, and simplification by combining many particular person components right into a single part. The automated design and manufacture of fixtures, in addition to the usage of digital intelligence akin to part and development course of simulation, result in lasting change to the manufacturing course of. This additionally consists of course of monitoring, and constructing on this, synthetic intelligence for additive manufacturing sooner or later. This won’t solely take the controllability of the expertise to the subsequent degree, but in addition additional enhance the robustness and reliability of the expertise and thus of the manufacturing course of.
The naddcon staff helps clients alongside all the additive manufacturing worth chain. Copyright: Fotostudio BeWe – Stefanie Brehm
Herzog: “We’re nonetheless originally of the chances of 3D printing for the trade. There may be nonetheless room for leaps ahead in all areas.” Then again, it is usually clear that after years of hype, the marketplace for additive manufacturing now appears to have cooled down considerably and turn into extra sensible. How does HZG assess the scenario? Regardless of all due sobriety, Frank Herzog is satisfied of the alternatives available in the market: “In the long run, we consider {that a} consolidated, specialised AM market will set up itself and play an necessary function within the industrial surroundings. The startups in our portfolio are ideally positioned to play a number one function on this improvement.”
Greater than ever, you will need to focus in the marketplace and buyer wants. Frank Carsten Herzog: ”We inform all our portfolio corporations: Settle for that you’re growing a product for an actual market want – not simply on your founding thought. Which means being near the shopper, listening, and actually understanding the every day challenges in manufacturing.“
The naddcon manufacturing facility. Copyright: naddcon
That is an strategy that the HZG Group additionally pursues with its personal improvement and utility middle. naddcon Managing Director Christian Steinhage says: ”We have a look at 3D printing alongside all the course of chain and have an summary of the potential we will leverage with the expertise in varied industries. Generally, clients are usually not specialists in 3D printing, however strategy us as a result of they’re curious to search out out whether or not the expertise may also help them turn into extra environment friendly. We’ll discover out along with our clients.”
HZG Group is a Bronze Sponsor of Additive Manufacturing Methods (AMS) 2026, a three-day trade occasion happening February 24–26 in New York Metropolis. The convention brings collectively trade leaders, policymakers, and innovators from throughout the worldwide AM ecosystem. As a sponsor, Arcway will assist discussions centered on scaling additive manufacturing, industrial adoption, and rising manufacturing applied sciences. Registration is open by way of the AMS web site.
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