• The 3D Printing Pioneers’ Journey from HZG Group: From Bavaria to the World Share this Article In Lichtenfels, two hours’ drive north of Munich, there is a globally recognized 3D printing center with a modern infrastructure and many companies focusing on this future technology. • At the end of the 1980s, the region was one of the first in Europe where 3D printing became established. • This is due in no small part to the founders of Concept Laser, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog, who are also the founders of theHZG Group. • Through their joint efforts, they founded the technology company Concept Laser and built it into one of the global market leaders in the field of metal 3D printing. • After selling their company, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog returned to their entrepreneurial roots. • Together with the HZG Group team, they are investing specifically in promising start-ups in the field of additive manufacturing.

Article Summaries:

  • The HZG Group, founded by former Concept Laser leaders Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog, has pivoted from selling its metal‑3D‑printing company to investing in promising additive‑manufacturing start‑ups. Since launching its first venture fund in 2022, HZG has screened over 2,700 companies, invested in a portfolio that includes MIT‑spin‑off Rapid Liquid Print and Axtra3D, and participated in follow‑up rounds. The group focuses on technologies that enable lightweight construction, functional integration, and single‑piece manufacturing, while advancing digital intelligence and AI for process control. Despite a cooling hype cycle, HZG remains optimistic that a consolidated, specialized AM market will emerge, positioning its portfolio firms as industry leaders.
  • In Lichtenfels, two hours’ drive north of Munich, there is a globally recognized 3D printing center with a modern infrastructure and many companies focusing on this future technology. At the end of the 1980s, the region was one of the first in Europe where 3D printing became established. This is due in no small part to the founders of Concept Laser, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog, who are also the founders of the HZG Group. Through their joint efforts, they founded the technology company Concept Laser and built it into one of the global market leaders in the field of metal 3D printing. After

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