Of course. Here is an English news article based on the provided content from the Siemens website.
Munich Startup LEAM and Siemens Ignite a New Era for Industrial 3D Printing
MUNICH, Germany – A groundbreaking innovation from the startup LEAM Technologies, developed in collaboration with Siemens, is set to finally bridge the gap between 3D printing prototyping and industrial serial production. By solving the long-standing problem of weak inter-layer bonding in additive manufacturing, the partnership is unlocking the full material strength of 3D-printed parts for the first time.
For decades, the analogy of building a structure with poorly bonded floors has described the fundamental flaw in 3D printing. While materials were deposited layer by layer, the bonds between these layers were a critical weakness, resulting in parts that achieved only 40-60% of a material's potential strength. This limitation confined the technology primarily to prototyping.
LEAM Technologies, a spin-off from the Chair of Carbon Composites at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has overcome this hurdle with its proprietary Directed Energy Material Extrusion (DEMEX) system. Instead of relying on surface adhesion, the DEMEX technology uses high-intensity LEDs to precisely heat the underlying surface just before a new layer is deposited. This creates a molecular fusion between layers, resulting in a genuine, robust bond.
"This isn't an incremental step; it's a transformative leap that unlocks entirely new industrial applications," said Patrick Consul, Founder and CEO of LEAM Technologies. "Our technology delivers 3D-printed parts with 100 percent material strength for the first time. We use First-Time-Right instead of Trial & Error to propel 3D printing from prototyping to series production."
The collaboration began in 2022 when Siemens Business Development Manager Markus Obermeier recognized the potential of LEAM's technology at a startup event at the Munich Urban Colab. The partnership deepened through workshops and was formally accelerated in October 2024 when LEAM was integrated into Siemens' "Kicks For Edge" funding project. This initiative allowed the startup to explore and implement Siemens' Industrial Edge platform and SINUMERIK controls within an operational technology (OT) environment.
"For Siemens, the LEAM solution is a perfect complement to our 3D printing portfolio, suddenly enabling a host of new use cases," explained Obermeier.
The integration provides significant benefits for end-users. LEAM's technology works seamlessly with existing Siemens controls and customer hardware, eliminating the need for costly new investments or disruptive workflow changes. Furthermore, the system can process high-performance plastics like PEEK (Polyether ether ketone), which was previously challenging in large-format 3D printing.
A key advantage for series production is the integrated, AI-powered quality assurance. The system monitors every print job with infrared cameras, collecting data that is analyzed by AI to ensure every part meets stringent quality requirements without time-consuming post-inspections.
"As a startup, people don't always believe we'll be around in three weeks. But with Siemens on board, doors suddenly open," Consul noted, highlighting the value of the industrial partnership.
The success story, born from the Siemens Research and Innovation Ecosystem in Munich, has rapidly progressed to the global stage. Since November 2024, LEAM's technology has been available on the Siemens Xcelerator marketplace. By January 2025, the startup had already secured three new pilot customers in the high-demand oil & gas, aerospace, and automotive industries.
This collaboration between an agile startup and an industrial powerhouse is a decisive catalyst, collectively forging a path to establish additive manufacturing as a reliable, high-quality, and indispensable production method for Industry 4.0.
About LEAM Technologies:
LEAM Technologies (Light Enabled Additive Manufacturing) is a Munich-based startup founded in 2023 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich. The company is focused on industrializing additive manufacturing for serial production.
About Siemens Digital Industries:
Siemens Digital Industries is a leading innovator in automation and digitalization, helping industries of all sizes to transform their operations through its Siemens Xcelerator business platform.