‘We are very honoured to be one of six teams in Germany to receive the Gründungspreis+,’ says founding member Lukas Pelzer, who was already researching non-planar path planning in plasticising additive manufacturing as part of his dissertation at IKV in 2018. This gave rise to the Layer Performance approach: while conventional 3D printing is characterised by the two-dimensional stacking of layers, the spin-off uses three-dimensional methods such as non-planar slicing and multi-axis slicing for process preparation.
The innovative technology offers a whole range of advantages: The stair-step effect typical of previous 3D printing is avoided and a previously unrivalled surface quality of the components is achieved. This eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming post-processing steps. The strength of the components is increased many times over, allowing up to 90% of support material to be saved. The printing process is optimised and the process setup is accelerated. This can also significantly reduce production times and energy consumption.
Ten times faster, less use of resources, better quality - the great potential for increasing efficiency and the high demand from the market also convinced the jury. The first pilot projects have already been launched, including in areas of application where 3D printing was previously not possible. The additional option of being able to print directly onto existing components is particularly in demand from industry, opening up new dimensions for individualised mass production.
Until the end of 2025, Layer Performance still has the opportunity to continue growing on IKV's premises and to utilise the institute's network for the acquisition of pilot customers and investors. We are proud of your achievements and look forward to accompanying you on this journey!
Contact
Lukas Pelzer
+49 151 70885990
lukas.pelzer@layerperformance.com