Batteries for electric cars, production of photovoltaic systems, 3D printing and innovative welding, cutting and labeling processes using laser technology: “Laser material processing” is the name of the broad business area of the Weßlingen company “Raylase GmbH”. With its technology, the 150-strong company serves the future markets of tomorrow – especially in Europe. But sales markets are already being developed in Asia and America. The company does not manufacture the actual laser machines with which car batteries or solar panels can be manufactured, but rather produces “software, electronic components and opto-mechanical units” for machines from various major customers, explains Managing Director Phillip Schön: “The laser is a light source that has to pushed in a certain direction via software, electronics and optics.” The necessary components and computer programs are produced in Weßling. When it comes to laser production, there is no getting around Raylase technology, says Schön.
The company currently makes almost 60 million euros in sales per year
“Every electric car currently has a great many laser processes. We offer solutions for this,” says Schön. The Oberpfaffenhofen site currently employs 100 people, another 50 in Shenzhen, China, and a few in a sales office in the US state of Massachusetts. However, Oberpfaffenhofen is the creative headquarters. “With this team, we make just over 60 million euros in sales a year with annual growth of 15 percent,” explains Schön. It usually doubles every five years. For reasons of data protection, Schön cannot reveal who counts among the customers. However, among Raylase’s business partners, almost all “big manufacturers that you know” are from e-mobility.
“It doesn’t matter who applies to us: He’ll probably be accepted if he’s good”
Laptops, cars, airplanes – “Batteries are needed everywhere,” says Schön. Raylase’s segment is an industry of the future. Also because the company considers the replacement of the combustion engine by e-mobility to be inevitable in the medium term.
Accordingly, the managing director sees the biggest growth hurdle in the acquisition of new employees. “From logisticians up to engineers, sales people or product management” they are currently looking for staff, explains Schön. “It doesn’t matter who applies to us: He’ll probably be accepted if he’s good.” The company could grow by up to 40 percent in the coming year – if only there were enough workers. That’s why Schön is currently assuming ten percent.