3D.aero
3D.aero GmbH is a Hamburg-based automation company, wholly-owned by MTU Aero Engines since December 2024, that builds white light interferometry sensors, robotics, and the 3D.OS software platform for µm-accurate surface inspection and no-CAD paint automation serving aerospace MRO and industrial manufacturing customers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What 3D.aero does
3D.aero GmbH is a Hamburg-based automation and sensor-systems company founded in 2017 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTU Aero Engines since December 2024. The company designs and integrates white light interferometry (WLI) sensors, proprietary 3D sensors (LC-X with up to 30m range, MC-X with up to 40cm range), industrial robotics, and the in-house 3D.OS software platform to deliver µm-accurate surface inspection and no-CAD paint automation for aerospace and industrial customers. Its product portfolio is anchored by the HP-X inspection family — HP-FX (flexible/cobot), HP-AX (automatic/robotic), and HP-SX (stationary tool inspection) — and the 3D.PaintPilot / 3D.EasyTeach / 3D.PositionDetection paint-automation stack, supported by 3D.StereoVision for large-structure measurement at <0.1mm absolute accuracy.
The company sells turnkey custom automation projects, modular hardware systems, and a recurring software layer through direct enterprise sales engineering, with multi-year contracts and consultation-based engagement. Primary customer segments are aerospace MRO operators (MTU Maintenance Hannover, Lufthansa Technik, N3 Engine Overhaul Services) and industrial coating/precision-manufacturing OEMs (Airbus, FANUC, BITZER, Andreas Stihl, John Deere). Operations span Europe, North America, and Singapore, with active trade-show presence at MRO Asia-Pacific, Fabtech, MRO Europe, and Aircraft Interiors Expo. Headcount is 50+; the founding team (Sönke Bahr, Michael Ernst, Dr. Tomas Domaschke, Tobias Flüch) continues to lead the company under MTU ownership.
3D.aero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3D.aero
- Legal name
- 3D.aero GmbH
- Website
- https://3d-aero.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 3D.aero GmbH is a Hamburg-based automation company, wholly-owned by MTU Aero Engines since December 2024, that builds white light interferometry sensors, robotics, and the 3D.OS software platform for µm-accurate surface inspection and no-CAD paint automation serving aerospace MRO and industrial manufacturing customers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
3D.aero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Automation Systems
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Inspection, QA & Certification for Finished Parts (NDT, CT, Surface Roughness, Documentation) (IMAAAGAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Metrology Automation & Robotics (Automated Cells, In-Line Gauging) (IMAAAHAH), Metrology & Inspection Systems (CMM, Laser Trackers, Optical Comparators) (IMAAAHAC), Aircraft Painting & Surface Treatment (IMABALAI), 3D Scanning Hardware (Handheld, Desktop, Long-Range, In-Line) (IMAAAHAA)
Keywords
Where 3D.aero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
3D.aero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Inspection & Measurement Systems: Sale of hardware systems including HP-FX, HP-AX, and HP-SX for surface inspection and tool measurement. Systems combine proprietary sensors with robotics and software.
- Paint Automation Systems: Sale of paint automation solutions including 3D.PositionDetection, 3D.EasyTeach, and 3D.PaintPilot systems with proprietary sensors (LC-X, MC-X) and 3D.OS software platform.
- Software & Licensing: 3D.OS software platform for data acquisition, processing, interpretation, and documentation. Includes modules for defect detection, classification, and reporting.
- Custom Machine Engineering: Turnkey end-to-end automation solutions including concept, design, commissioning, and CE certification. Full system integration from mechanical design to software.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise solutions - pricing based on configuration and scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
3D.aero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3D.aero develops and manufactures proprietary 3D sensors (LC-X, MC-X), µm-accurate surface inspection systems (HP-FX, HP-AX, HP-SX), and robotic paint automation solutions (3D.PositionDetection, 3D.EasyTeach, 3D.PaintPilot), all orchestrated through the in-house 3D.OS software platform. The company delivers turnkey automation solutions including concept, design, commissioning, and CE certification for aerospace MRO and industrial coating customers.
Product overview
3D.aero offers a portfolio of precision inspection and automation products organized around the proprietary 3D.OS software platform. The core surface inspection line (HP-X family) includes HP-FX (flexible/cobot-based) and HP-AX (automatic/robotic) for µm-accurate surface inspection using white light interferometry, plus HP-SX for tool measurement. The paint automation suite comprises three modular systems—3D.PositionDetection (position detection), 3D.EasyTeach (no-code robot teaching), and 3D.PaintPilot (automated path generation)—all built on the 3D.OS platform. Custom solutions are available for specialized aerospace automation needs. The company also develops proprietary sensors (LC-X, MC-X) and specialized 3D stereo vision technology for large-structure measurement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HP-FX (High Precision - Flexible) Flexible surface inspection system using white light interferometry for µm-accurate measurement of aerospace components. Operates as a cobot in hand-guided mode or with automated measurement routines for localized defect measurement. Achieves 0.1 µm damage depth resolution with full damage reports available within 2 minutes, reducing surface inspection time for engine components from 1-2 days to minutes.
- HP-AX (High Precision - Automatic) Automatic surface inspection system for large components using industrial robots with extended workspace. Provides complete 3D digitalization and µm-accurate inspection, designed to replace fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI). Supports 24/7 continuous operation.
- HP-SX (High Precision - Stationary) Stationary inspection system for fully automated µm-accurate 3D measurement of precision tools (milling cutters, drills, cutting tools) using white light interferometry. Enables 100% inspection directly in production environments.
- 3D.PositionDetection Automated part position detection system using 3D sensor technology for adaptive paint-path guidance without requiring CAD data. Enables reliable automatic coating even with varying component positions, recognized components of any size, and adaptive path guidance.
- 3D.EasyTeach Intuitive robot teaching system using infrared motion tracking that converts manual paint gun movements into optimized robot programs within seconds, without requiring programming knowledge. Generates ready-to-use robot programs in approximately 20 seconds.
- 3D.PaintPilot Automated paint path generation system that creates ready-to-use robot programs from real component geometries using LC-X or MC-X sensors, in approximately 20 seconds, without requiring CAD data. Independent of robot manufacturer.
- 3D.OS Platform In-house software platform that orchestrates sensors, robotics, and analytics for end-to-end automated inspections. Enables reliable detection, classification, and reporting of defects within an integrated workflow with AI/ML-based defect detection and classification.
- Custom Automation Solutions (Sonderlösungen) Turnkey end-to-end automation solutions for individualized aerospace and industrial manufacturing needs, including concept, design, commissioning, and CE certification. Full system integration from mechanical design to software for special machinery and complex automation challenges.
Quantifiable outcome
- Surface inspection time reduced from 1-2 days to minutes while maintaining µm-level accuracy
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use 3D.aero
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
3D.aero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature10 records
3D.aero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Institute of Aircraft Production Technology (IFPT) at TU HamburgcoreOrigin of 3D.aero's technology from research collaboration at IFPT. The company emerged from research environment focused on aircraft production technology. Continued collaboration with academic research for technology development.
- Hamburg AviationminorActive member of Hamburg Aviation aerospace ecosystem. Part of strong aerospace network maintaining close exchange with companies, research institutes, and universities in the Hamburg region.
- ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical ResearchminorParticipates in selected research activities within ZAL's broader research environment for aerospace technology development and validation.
- HAW Hamburg (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences)minorCollaborates on project basis with HAW Hamburg for research and development activities and student thesis support.
- AirbusminorCollaborated on BiSconA research project for automated side shell measurement using 3D stereo camera systems for stress-compliant aircraft assembly.
- Fraunhofer IFAMminorResearch partner in BiSconA project for developing automated measurement solutions for aircraft assembly processes.
- cenitminorTechnology partner in BiSconA research project for industrial assembly automation.
- BroetjeminorIndustry partner in BiSconA project for aircraft assembly process development.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
3D.aero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ISRA VISION (Atlas Copco): Atlas Copco's machine vision division (formerly ISRA VISION) provides automated surface inspection systems for industrial production, directly comparable to 3D.aero's HP-X surface inspection family for defect detection on manufactured parts.
- GOM (ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions): ZEISS-owned GOM provides optical 3D metrology, scanning, and inspection systems for industrial and aerospace applications, competing with 3D.aero's WLI-based and stereo-vision inspection offerings.
- Renishaw: Renishaw supplies high-precision measurement, probing, and scanning systems used in aerospace and manufacturing QA, directly comparable to 3D.aero's high-precision tool and surface inspection products.
- Creaform (AMETEK): Creaform (part of AMETEK) offers portable 3D scanners and automated quality control solutions for industrial inspection, directly overlapping with 3D.aero's 3D scanning and inspection offerings.
- Dürr AG: Dürr is a leading supplier of paint finishing and robot-based paint automation systems for automotive and aerospace customers, directly competing with 3D.aero's paint automation product family.
Broad incumbents
- Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Hexagon offers a broad portfolio of 3D scanning, CMM, and industrial metrology solutions for aerospace and manufacturing, making it a larger incumbent competing across multiple of 3D.aero's product lines.
- Nikon Metrology: Nikon Metrology supplies laser trackers, optical CMMs, and 3D scanning systems used in aerospace assembly and MRO, overlapping with 3D.aero's metrology and large-structure measurement offerings.
- FARO Technologies: FARO provides portable 3D measurement and imaging hardware for industrial metrology and inspection, broadly comparable to 3D.aero's scanning and inspection portfolio though at different scale and price points.
- KUKA AG: KUKA supplies industrial robots and integrated painting/automation cells used in aerospace and industrial coating, a broader incumbent operating in the same automation space as 3D.aero.
- Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology: ZEISS Industrial Metrology provides precision optical metrology and coordinate measurement systems for aerospace and industrial QA, overlapping with 3D.aero's WLI-based precision inspection.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
3D.aero social profiles
Digital presence3D.aero compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
3D.aero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3D.aero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
3D.aero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3D.aero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 3D.aero
What does 3D.aero do?
3D.aero develops and manufactures proprietary 3D sensors (LC-X, MC-X), µm-accurate surface inspection systems (HP-FX, HP-AX, HP-SX), and robotic paint automation solutions (3D.PositionDetection, 3D.EasyTeach, 3D.PaintPilot), all orchestrated through the in-house 3D.OS software platform. The company delivers turnkey automation solutions including concept, design, commissioning, and CE certification for aerospace MRO and industrial coating customers.
Is 3D.aero a public or private company?
3D.aero is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 3D.aero founded?
3D.aero was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 3D.aero based?
3D.aero is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does 3D.aero make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Inspection & Measurement Systems are the primary driver. The others are paint Automation Systems, software & Licensing and custom Machine Engineering.
Who are 3D.aero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ISRA VISION (Atlas Copco), GOM (ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions), Renishaw, Creaform (AMETEK) and Dürr AG. Broad incumbents are Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Nikon Metrology, FARO Technologies, KUKA AG and Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology.
Does 3D.aero have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3D.aero.
What industry is 3D.aero in?
3D.aero's product category is Industrial Automation Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAAGAM, Inspection, QA & Certification for Finished Parts (NDT, CT, Surface Roughness, Documentation), with a secondary code of IMAAAHAH, Metrology Automation & Robotics (Automated Cells, In-Line Gauging). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3823.