Concept Laser achieves record sales in 2015
March 21, 2016
Concept Laser, Lichtenfels, Germany, has reported that in 2015 orders for the company’s Additive Manufacturing systems totalled 161 machines, up 46% on the previous year’s figure. The company achieved record sales that were up 54% on 2014 and it stated that staff numbers rose by 67% to 172 employees. The company added that to-date over 550 laser melting machines have been installed by Concept Laser around the world.
The X line 2000R is equipped with two 1,000 watt lasers
“We are very proud that we have managed to further expand the growth of the previous year. This shows that we continue to follow the right path. But anybody that knows Concept Laser knows that the passion for the technology and the strong drive for innovation will not allow us to rest on our laurels,” stated Oliver Edelmann, VP Global Sales and Marketing.
The most successful year in the company’s history culminated with Frank Herzog, President and CEO of Concept Laser, being nominated for the German Future Prize 2015 and being crowned as the ‘Best CEO in the Additive Manufacturing Industry.’
At the start of 2015 Concept Laser expanded its range of systems in the large machine segment with the X line 2000R. The new machine had a build envelope of 800 x 400 x 500 mm, increasing what was already the world’s largest build envelope for the laser melting of metals found in the company’s X line 1000R (630 x 400 x 500 mm). The usable build volume was increased by some 27% from 126 to 160 litres, roughly three to four times larger than many rival systems.
In-situ process monitoring was also enhanced with the introduction of the company’s QM Meltpool 3D tool for process monitoring. QM Meltpool 3D delivers relevant data for process monitoring and documentation in real time. The system records positional characteristics of the meltpool while the part is being created. This data can be visualised in a three-dimensional map and analysed by the user. According to the manufacturer, this analytical tool is comparable to the HD resolution of computed tomography (CT).
