SCANLAB celebrates 25th anniversary and expands headquarters
SCANLAB AG is celebrating its 25th anniversary and continues growing. Based in the Munich suburb of Puchheim, the OEM manufacturer of laser scan solutions is one of the photonics industry's ‘hidden champions’. The scanner specialist's products find use worldwide in countless industrial and medical applications requiring precise positioning of laser beams. Developing galvanometer scanners and control electronics was the company's original focus and remains one of its core competencies. SCANLAB's headquarters is undergoing further expansion to better cope with increasing sales and staff. The ground-breaking ceremony will take place shortly.
Since 1990, SCANLAB has emerged as a technology driver for scan solutions. Dr. Hans J. Langer founded the company shortly after creating EOS GmbH, today's market leader in additive manufacturing (3D printing). Dr. Langer perceived a broad need for high-quality scan solutions such as those EOS used in its own systems. SCANLAB's mission was and is to provide the laser market with these deflection solutions. Then, highly dynamic rotary drives (known as galvanometer scanners) and related electronics first had to be developed. Today, these meanwhile further-refined drives remain core components and competencies of SCANLAB's scan solutions.
R&D and Manufacturing ‘Made in Germany’
The fundamental manufacturing strategy remains unchanged – SCANLAB relies on leading R&D expertise and a broad product palette of galvanometer scanners, optics, hardware, software and control solutions – at a relatively low degree of vertical integration. SCANLAB produces scan systems in high volumes, alongside niche products and customer-specific solutions. This is precisely why Germany remains the undisputed location of choice for not only R&D and production, but also expansion. A ground-breaking ceremony will take place in August 2015 for the third expansion phase of SCANLAB's modern headquarters, adding 5,500 m² of floor space to the already existing 6,500 m². The new building sections will be ready for occupancy by the end of 2016. And the company possesses additional land reserves for future expansions.
SCANLAB CEO Georg Hofner explains the positive developments: "2015 is a milestone not only in terms of our anniversary, but also because we introduced more new products than ever at this year's Laser World of Photonics tradeshow in Munich. Our focus on serving the market as an experienced OEM manufacturer with long-term customer relationships has proven its worth. In general, the photonics industry continues growing while new laser-scanner applications arise worldwide. And the laser market's many new developments, such as ultra-short-pulse (USP) lasers, inspire us to view the future confidently."
