Eight million euros for the 3D printing revolution by xolo
- The 3D printing pioneers of the HZG group, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog, along with the DeepTech & Climate Fonds, Onsight Ventures and the current investor SquareOne, are investing in the company xolo GmbH from Germany
- Xolo’s novel technology enables the production of intricate components in mere seconds.
- Xolo focuses on optical applications, bioprinting and the dental and acoustics industries.
Berlin, Bonn, Coburg, 20.2.2023. The DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF) has successfully closed its first investment in a series A financing round. Together with the HZG Group, Onsight Ventures and the current investor SquareOne, DTCF is investing eight million euros in the company xolo GmbH. This funding supports xolo’s vision to transform the 3D printing industry through the use of its revolutionary new process “xolography”.
Xolography is a volumetric printing process that is fast and produces very smooth surfaces. It also makes use of materials that could not previously be used for 3D printing. This addresses three of the major challenges that the 3D printing industry typically has to face. The aim is to achieve a breakthrough with the novel technology of xolography and thus open up completely new fields of application for 3D printing. For example, in medical technology for the reproduction of organs or in the optical industry for the production of high-precision lenses.
Objects created out of nowhere
The printing process was developed at the Technology Park Berlin Adlershof by xolo founders Prof. Dr. Martin Regehly, Prof. Dr. Stefan Hecht and Dirk Radzinski. Xolography sounds like science fiction, because objects are seemingly created out of thin air. In the 3D printer Xube, the three founders are putting the technique of xolography into use. Unlike conventional 3D printing processes, which use layered generation techniques, xolography is a volumetric printing method. It is based on a cuvette with liquid resin continuously moving through a light sheet, into which an additional light projection is focused. By enriching the liquid resin with photoactive specialty chemicals developed by xolo, the so-called photoinitiators, the final product is produced within a very short time and with smooth surfaces. Read more about the details in the scientific journal “Nature”, in which the researchers described their process: nature.com
Expertise, financial strength and network
xolo co-founder and CEO Dirk Radzinski: “Xolography represents a fundamental shift in the 3D printing industry. From hardware to materials, everything is being rethought. Our investors understand the importance of this paradigm shift and support us with their financial strength, expertise and network towards making it a success.”
Frank Carsten Herzog, managing partner of the HZG Group, adds: “Xolography significantly improves the resolution and volume generation rate of previous processes. This means that in the future, the process will be able to produce large numbers of highly detailed objects in a short time – the economic potential is enormous.”
The DTCF focuses its investments on the capital-intensive growth phase of companies. The aim is to develop the technology champions of the future of tomorrow. With its first investment, the DeepTech & Climate Fonds aims to enable the transition of xolo’s revolutionary 3D printing technology to industrial-scale use. Co-Managing Director Tobias Faupel: “xolo has all the prerequisites to become a future market leader in the field of 3D printing. We are pleased to support this development together with HZG, Onsight Ventures and SquareOne.”
About xolo GmbH
The company xolo GmbH, founded in 2019 by Prof. Stefan Hecht, Prof. Martin Regehly and Dirk Radzinski in Berlin-Adlershof, is a pioneer in the field of volumetric 3D printing. With the invention of xolography, xolo is revolutionizing the way we make things. This innovative process offers fast manufacturing and smooth surfaces and expands the material spectrum for 3D printing. The Xube, the world’s first volumetric 3D printer from xolo, is already being used by researchers and developments are already underway regarding industrial printers for the optics and biomaterials industries.
About HZG Group
HZG Group is composed of the business units venture capital investment, business angel investment, and research, development, and application, all focusing mainly on 3D printing. In its venture capital activities, HZG Group focuses on investments in the DACH region, starting from series A stage. In its business angel activities, the group gets involved in seed phase ventures via HZG NewConcepts. In addition, the company is currently building NADDCON, a research, development, and application center in Lichtenfels. The NADDCON will give portfolio companies access to this facility at the highest international level.
Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog are founders and managing partners of HZG Group. With founding Concept Laser in 2000 based on their own research work, the company’s development into a technology and innovation leader in the field of metal 3D printing, and the successful integration into global corporation General Electric, they can draw back on more than 25 years of experience in 3D printing. Accordingly, they complement their financial investments through HZG Group with their know-how, understanding of the industry, network, and passion for technology. In addition to their entrepreneurial activities, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog are regionally involved as promoters in the field of education and in bringing science and business together.
About the DeepTech & Climate Fonds
The DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF) is a new fund that invests in the growth of technology-based companies. It is financed with funds from the “Zukunftsfonds” and the ERP Special Fund and helps build the European ecosystem of tomorrow’s technology champions. To this end, the DTCF will invest up to one billion euros over the next years. As an anchor investor and partner to institutional investors and family offices, the fund helps ensure the development of commercially successful and independent technology companies for a climate and helps them establish themselves on the market. Since February 1st, 2023, the DeepTech & Climate Fonds has been operating from Germany throughout Europe. Managing Directors are Dr. Elisabeth Schrey and Tobias Faupel.
Presse contact DTCF
Alexander Brenner
MSLGroup
T: +49 (0) 151 5330 4575
M: alexander.brenner@mslgroup.com
Press contact
Max Lange / Philipp Krüger
Hoschke & Consorten
T: +49 (0) 170 66 19 566 / 170 66 19 566
M: hzg@hoschke.de
Pressekontakt xolo
Dirk Radzinski
M: dr@xolo3d.com
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