What Clean-Laser does

Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH, operating as IPG | cleanLASER, is a German manufacturer of precision laser systems for industrial surface processing, headquartered in Herzogenrath near Aachen. Founded in 1997 by Edwin Büchter and Dr. Winfried Barkhausen (both former Fraunhofer ILT researchers), the company is recognized as the inventor of laser cleaning technology and describes itself as the world market leader in this niche. Its core technology uses diode-pumped solid-state and fiber lasers to remove coatings, contaminants, oxides, and paint through controlled ablation without chemicals, abrasives, or media, eliminating secondary waste streams. The company was acquired by IPG Photonics Corporation in 2024 and now operates as a Center of Excellence within the IPG group.

The product portfolio spans Low Power (12-200W), Mid Power (150-600W), and High Power (1000-2000W) laser systems, complemented by a broad range of optics (1D, 2D, and specialized such as bakeLINE, wireLINE, and motion optics), automation cells (safeBOX, cleanCELL, roboCELL, cleanGANTRY), and ancillary products including the cleanSORT spectroscopy module for metal recycling and the cleanMARK marking laser. Recent launches include the CL 500iM handheld 500W fiber laser, the CL 1000iF automated high-power cleaning system, and the backpackLASER portable 30-50W unit. Pricing is quote-based, with entry-level Low Power systems starting near €40,000 and high-end automated configurations priced materially higher.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time capital equipment sales supplemented by recurring service, spare parts, training (cleanACADEMY), and application testing services. The company sells directly from its German headquarters and through approximately 20 distribution and service partners spanning Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. Its customer base is concentrated in automotive (pre-treatment for bonding, paint removal, e-mobility applications), aerospace, medical technology, and industrial services, with a publicly disclosed installed base of more than 2,000 systems across 30+ countries. Notable customers include AUDI AG and other global premium automotive OEMs; Clean-Laser cites 30+ distinct automotive applications alone.

Name

Clean-Laser

Legal name

Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH

Website

https://cleanlaser.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH (IPG | cleanLASER) develops and manufactures diode-pumped and fiber laser systems for chemical-free industrial surface cleaning, decoating, and pre-treatment, serving automotive, aerospace, medical, and metal-recycling OEMs through direct sales and a 20-partner global distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Herzogenrath

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laser Systems and Hardware Sales: Sale of laser systems across various power classes (Low Power 12-200W, Mid Power 150-600W, High Power 1000-2000W), optics, and automation systems. One-time capital equipment sales with prices starting from approximately 40,000 EUR for Low Power systems.
2. Service, Support and Spare Parts: Product service, installation support, preventive maintenance, remote diagnostics via onboard telediagnostics, and spare parts supply from global warehouses in Asia, Europe, and North America.
3. Application Testing and Development Services: Application testing, feasibility studies, process validation, small series processing, and prototype machining services from application centers with nine fully equipped laser laboratories.
4. Training and Education: Training services through cleanACADEMY for maintenance personnel, operators, laser personnel, and safety training. Individual training and education programs offered.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH develops, manufactures, and implements precision diode-pumped solid-state laser systems for industrial surface cleaning, decoating, pre-treatment, structuring, and restoration. Its portfolio spans Low Power (12-200W), Mid Power (150-600W) and High Power (1000-2000W) laser systems, 1D/2D/specialised optics, automation cells, robot-guided systems, and gantry systems. Revenue is generated through capital equipment sales, global service contracts, spare parts, application testing, and training.

Product overview

Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH (IPG | cleanLASER) is a world market leader in laser-based industrial surface processing, offering a comprehensive portfolio of laser systems, optics, automation solutions, and services. The product range spans Low Power (12-200W), Mid Power (150-600W), and High Power (1000W+) laser systems, including portable units (backpackLASER), compact lasers (streamLINE, lightCASE), and advanced models (CL 500iM, CL 1000iF, CL 1000, CL 2000). Supporting hardware includes 1D/2D optics, specialized optics (bakeLINE, wireLINE, Motion series), and automation systems (safeBOX, compactCELL, cleanCELL, roboCELL, cleanGANTRY). The company also provides application testing services, global product support, cleanACADEMY training, and specialized products like cleanSORT for metal recycling and cleanMARK for laser marking. Founded in 1997, the company was acquired by IPG Photonics in 2024 and operates as a Center of Excellence for laser cleaning within the IPG group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• backpackLASER: Portable backpack laser system for field applications with battery operation up to 6 hours
• cleanSORT
• cleanMARK
• cleanCELL
• cleanGANTRY
• cleanACADEMY
• cleanTOUCH
• cleanSTUDIO

Products and services

• Low Power Laser Systems Compact diode-pumped solid-state microsystem lasers in the 12-200W power range with Q-switch capability reaching pulse powers up to 200 kW. Designed for gentle cleaning, selective adhesive pre-treatment and high-precision component processing with maintenance-free operation. Used by industrial customers with delicate substrates.
• Mid Power Laser Systems Versatile diode-pumped solid-state lasers in the 150-600W power range with pulse power up to 400 kW, used for gentle decoating and cleaning of industrial components, pre-treatment for bonding, selective paint removal and tool/form cleaning. Suited for production-line integration.
• High Power Laser Systems (CL 1000, CL 2000) High-power laser systems including CL 1000 (1000W mobile) and CL 2000 (up to 1600W water-cooled), built for large-area applications and thicker coatings. Capable of nuclear decontamination, large-scale decoating and preparation for non-destructive testing.
• backpackLASER Portable backpack-style laser system providing up to 6 hours battery operation at 30-50 Watt output. Built for mobile field applications including small-scale paint removal, restoration, sandstone cleaning, mobile derusting, deoiling, annealing colour removal, selective paint stripping and pre-treatment for bonding.
• streamLINE Kompaktlaser Compact portable cleaning laser available in four power classes up to 300 Watt, featuring modern industrial design, cleanTOUCH touch-based operation, WiFi remote connectivity, integrated status lights and optional FFC fibre coupler for beam homogenisation. Priced as a competitive entry-level system.
• lightCASE Kompaktlaser Compact portable cleaning laser with up to 300 Watt power in a highly portable form factor. LED-illuminated handle provides process status feedback and the unit can be mounted directly on robots with both processing optic and laser source combined.
• CL 500iM Handheld Fiber Laser Next-generation 500W handheld fiber laser with up to 30% plug efficiency, pure air cooling, single-phase household socket operation, mobile chassis with 7m fibre-optic cable, cleanTOUCH touch interface and IPG Photonics beam source technology. Suited to laser cleaning, weld pre/post-treatment, derusting, paint removal and decontamination.
• CL 1000iF High Power Automated Laser Cleaning System Automated high-power laser cleaning system delivering 1000W with feed speeds up to 30 m/s and area rates up to 120 cm²/s. Features homogeneous top-hat beam profile, 2D scanner, robust industrial enclosure and fieldbus interface for integration with factory automation. Automotive-production-qualified.
• 1D Optics One-dimensional cleaning optics for manual and automated applications, including ergonomic hand-guided options (OSH20, OSH50, OSH80) and automated variants (OSA20, cleanCUBE 15, OSA70) with integrated scanners for various power classes. Compatible across the cleanLASER power range.
• 2D Optics (STAMP series) Two-dimensional scanning optics for automated applications requiring precise pulse distribution patterns. Used for adhesive pre-treatment, decoating and selective layer removal with deflection speeds up to 50 m/s.
• Special Optics (bakeLINE, Motion series, wireLINE) Specialised optics including bakeLINE (heat-resistant for continuous oven cleaning), rotation optics (singleMOTION, shareMOTION, turnMOTION) for radial and surface processing, and wireLINE systems for inline wire decoating of copper wire.
• safeBOX / compactCELL Compact Processing Stations Compact processing stations where safeBOX is an economical Class 1 laser-safety entry solution for small manually-loaded parts and compactCELL combines compact design with semi-automatic processing using a servo-driven linear axis.
• cleanCELL Modular Automation Cell Modular turnkey automation cell, the company's most-sold automation solution, available in three size classes for work areas up to 1500 x 700 mm. Supports 24/7 three-shift operation with solid linear axis systems and laser-safe machine construction.
• RoboCELL Robot-Guided Laser Systems Robot-guided laser systems offering maximum flexibility for fully automated cleaning with constant quality. Compact optics connect via flexible cables to a base unit and are connectable via digital I/O or fieldbus to industrial robots.
• cleanGANTRY Portal Systems Turnkey gantry system for large-scale components and assemblies, combining high-precision laser surface technology with high-dynamic gantry mechanics. Delivers large-area partial processing of functional surfaces with accuracy under 1mm.
• cleanSORT Laser Metal Sorting System Laser-based real-time analysis system for scrap metal recycling combining laser spectroscopy and laser ablation to recognise metal type and quality at conveyor speeds of ~6 m/sec, enabling sort-pure separation and recycling of valuable metals even through coatings and paint. Current installations sort approximately 35,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap annually and save approximately 290,000 MWh of primary energy.
• cleanMARK Marking Laser Ultra-compact marking laser with integrated PC control, LCD menu interface and network connectivity for remote programming. Up to 50W power for marking metals, plastics and composites with texts, barcodes or data matrix codes at over 300 dpi resolution.
• Application Testing and Development Service Application testing, feasibility studies, process validation, small-series processing and prototype machining service delivered through the company's application centre with nine fully equipped laser laboratories and comprehensive analytics for component sizes from 3x3mm to 3x3m. Includes complimentary first testing, economic viability analysis and process capability documentation.
• cleanACADEMY Training Programs Training and education centre for laser technology, particularly laser cleaning and surface processing. Offers structured courses for maintenance personnel, machine operators, laser safety officers and individual/customised training programmes.
• Global Product Service and Support Global product service and support offering worldwide installation, remote diagnostics via onboard telediagnostics, preventive maintenance, augmented-reality support and spare parts supply from warehouses in Asia, Europe and North America.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy consumption reduced by up to 87% compared to conventional cleaning methods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and strategic.

• IPG Photonics CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, cleanLASER was acquired by IPG Photonics Corporation. Edwin Büchter remains CEO of Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH. The acquisition aims to combine expertise for joint growth, with cleanLASER serving as a Center of Excellence. IPG provides laser beam sources for cleanLASER systems.
• Glatt Laser Process Technology GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService partner providing laser cleaning services in Binzen, Dresden, Eggesin, Weimar, and Wiesbaden. Industries served: food, medical, chemical, semiconductor, railway, nuclear, wind power, aerospace, defense, hydro, metal industries, public sector, plastic processing. Global service radius. Also serves as cleanLASER service and validation partner.
• adapt laser systems LLCmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales & Service Partner for USA and Canada. Located in Kansas City, MO. Provides local sales and service support for North American customers.
• MELIAD Inspiring InnovationregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales & Service Partner for France. Contact: Mr. Philippe Jacob, 6 rue des Orfèvres, 44840 Les Sorinières, France.
• Loop Technology Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor
• Kedtek Technology Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales & Service Partner for China and Taiwan. Provides local support in Kunshan/Suzhou (China) and Taipei (Taiwan).
• cleanLASER JapanregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales & Service Partner for Japan. Located in Yokohama. Contact: Kosaku Motomura.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders Edwin Büchter and Dr. Winfried Barkhausen originated from Fraunhofer ILT in Aachen. Ongoing cooperation in research and development projects. cleanLASER maintains close ties with the institute for technology development.
• Fraunhofer IFAM (Applied Materials Research)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for laser technology development, particularly in surface treatment, cleaning, and bonding applications. IFAM has cleanLASER equipment in-house for targeted research.
• RWTH Aachen UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen for research in laser surface technology. One of Germany's leading technical universities.
• Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with one of Europe's largest research centers, located near Aachen.
• LASER.region.AACHEN e.V.strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnercleanLASER is coordinator of the LASER.region.AACHEN network, a regional cluster of laser technology companies and institutions. Edwin Büchter serves as chairman of the board. Includes Fraunhofer ILT, RWTH Aachen, and other laser technology companies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Coherent Corp. Major US-based laser and photonics company spanning industrial, medical, and semiconductor applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose industrial laser portfolio overlaps with cleanLASER's surface-processing value proposition.
• Trumpf: German-based global leader in industrial laser technology (cutting, welding, marking) and machine tools. Comparable as a broad incumbent laser OEM with overlapping industrial customers and a deep installed base in European manufacturing.
• IPG Photonics Corporation: Acquired cleanLASER in 2024 and is the leading global manufacturer of fiber lasers and laser sources. Overlaps in industrial materials processing and supplies the laser beam sources used in cleanLASER systems, making it both parent and the most relevant broad incumbent.
• Lumentum Holdings: US-based designer and manufacturer of photonics and laser products for industrial, communications, and 3D sensing applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent in laser and photonic technology with overlapping industrial laser category.
• Bystronic Laser: Swiss-based global supplier of laser cutting systems and sheet-metal processing machinery. Comparable as a broad incumbent laser-systems OEM with shared industrial customers and similar technology stack, albeit focused primarily on cutting rather than cleaning.

Regional players

• Maxphotonics: Chinese fiber laser and laser equipment manufacturer serving industrial cutting, welding, and cleaning applications. Comparable as a regional competitor with overlapping technology (fiber lasers, cleaning systems) targeting similar industrial end users.
• Han's Laser Technology: China's largest laser equipment manufacturer offering cutting, welding, marking, and surface treatment systems. Comparable as a major Asian laser OEM that increasingly targets the same industrial cleaning and surface-preparation segments as cleanLASER.
• Wuhan Raycus Fiber Laser Technologies: Leading Chinese manufacturer of fiber lasers and laser cleaning systems. Comparable as a regional player providing lower-cost laser cleaning equipment to industrial customers in Asia and increasingly in global markets.

Emerging players

• nLIGHT: US-based manufacturer of semiconductor and fiber lasers used in industrial, aerospace/defense, and additive manufacturing. Comparable as a focused laser-source player whose industrial offerings intersect with cleanLASER's surface-processing customer base.

Direct peers

• Laser Photonics Corporation: US-based publicly traded company that develops and sells industrial laser cleaning, surface preparation, and marking systems. Competes directly with cleanLASER in portable and automated laser cleaning equipment across industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cleanlaser
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanlaser_de

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean-Laser