In Lichtenfels, two hours’ drive north of Munich, there’s a globally acknowledged 3D printing middle with a contemporary infrastructure and lots of firms specializing in this future know-how. On the finish of the Eighties, the area was one of many first in Europe the place 3D printing turned 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. Via their joint efforts, they based the know-how 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, in addition they function their very own growth and software middle, “naddcon,” the place they work with probably the most thrilling applied sciences that 3D printing presently 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 now have 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, Fast 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 think about deciding on the startups was that they should have the potential to result in lasting change within the trade. Above all, nonetheless, the know-how should encourage and stimulate the creativeness: How can this innovation be launched in a useful and worthwhile means in a longtime surroundings and additional developed in a forward-looking method?
Implementing effectivity beneficial properties
HZG is specializing in the important thing drivers that may carry 3D printing know-how into industrial manufacturing: light-weight building, practical integration, and simplification by combining many particular person components right into a single element. The automated design and manufacture of fixtures, in addition to using digital intelligence resembling element and building course of simulation, result in lasting change to the manufacturing course of. This additionally contains course of monitoring, and constructing on this, synthetic intelligence for additive manufacturing sooner or later. This won’t solely take the controllability of the know-how to the following stage, but additionally additional enhance the robustness and reliability of the know-how and thus of the manufacturing course of.
The naddcon staff helps clients alongside the complete additive manufacturing worth chain. Copyright: Fotostudio BeWe – Stefanie Brehm
Herzog: “We’re nonetheless at first of the chances of 3D printing for the trade. There’s 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 develop into extra lifelike. 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 imagine {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 growth.”
Greater than ever, it is very important focus available on the market and buyer wants. Frank Carsten Herzog: ”We inform all our portfolio firms: Settle for that you’re creating a product for an actual market want – not simply in your founding concept. Which means being near the shopper, listening, and actually understanding the each day challenges in manufacturing.“
The naddcon manufacturing facility. Copyright: naddcon
That is an method that the HZG Group additionally pursues with its personal growth and software middle. naddcon Managing Director Christian Steinhage says: ”We take a look at 3D printing alongside the complete course of chain and have an outline of the potential we are able to leverage with the know-how in numerous industries. Most often, clients should not consultants in 3D printing, however method us as a result of they’re curious to search out out whether or not the know-how may help them develop 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 going down 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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