What Raylase does

RAYLASE GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of galvanometer-based laser beam deflection systems, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Weßling, Germany, with a regional office in Shenzhen, China. The company designs and produces precision scanners, prefocusing deflection units, focus shifters, integrated welding modules, image processing and measurement systems, control electronics (SP-ICE 3), and proprietary process software (RAYGUIDE, RAYBOARD) for industrial laser-based manufacturing. Its underlying technology centers on high-precision mirror-based beam steering combined with the proprietary RAYVOLUTION DRIVE voice-coil z-axis technology for synchronous focus tracking, supported by optional integration with third-party OCT sensors and proprietary distance measurement sensors.

The company's products are sold directly to machine manufacturers and system integrators worldwide who embed RAYLASE technology into laser processing machines for cutting, welding, marking, structuring, cleaning, and additive manufacturing. End-application verticals include battery and e-mobility production, solar/photovoltaic cell manufacturing (PERC, M12 wafers), electronics and PCB manufacturing, additive manufacturing (SLS/SLM), automotive, medical devices, packaging, and textiles. Notable technical capabilities include processing fields up to 2000x2000 mm, laser power handling up to 8 kW, ±10 µm positioning accuracy, marking speeds exceeding 60 m/s, and ISO Class-7 cleanroom-manufactured AM modules.

RAYLASE generates revenue through hardware sales of its scanner and module product lines, complemented by software and calibration tools, under a direct enterprise field sales model with regional distributor support. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, has executed over 600 projects over its 20-year operating history, and participates in major photonics industry events including Laser World of Photonics China. The company is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or external funding rounds.

Name

Raylase

Legal name

RAYLASE GmbH

Website

https://raylase.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RAYLASE GmbH is a German privately held manufacturer of galvanometer-based laser beam deflection systems, prefocusing units, welding modules, and process software, sold to machine builders and integrators for battery, solar, electronics, additive manufacturing, and automotive laser processing applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Laser Scanning Systems

NAICS

Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Calibration, Metrology & QA Consumables (Calibration Artifacts, Test Coupons, Gauge Tools) (IMAAAIAG)

Keywords

• Laser scanner systems
• Galvanometer deflection units
• Laser beam steering
• Laser welding modules
• Additive manufacturing optics

Headquarters

HQ city

Weßling

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laser Scan System Hardware Sales: RAYLASE generates revenue through the sale of hardware products including galvanometer scanners, deflection units, focus shifters, control electronics, and integrated welding modules. Products are sold to machine manufacturers and system integrators for integration into laser processing machines. The company also offers complementary software products for process control and optimization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Raylase GmbH manufactures and sells modular galvanometer-based laser beam deflection systems, including 2-axis deflection units, prefocusing deflection units, focus shifters, integrated welding modules, image processing and measurement systems, control electronics, and process software. These products are sold to machine manufacturers and system integrators for industrial laser processing applications such as cutting, welding, marking, drilling, and additive manufacturing.

Product overview

RAYLASE develops highly advanced modular laser scan systems, primarily galvanometer-based laser beam deflection units (scanners) and scan solutions for the deflection and control of laser beams. The product portfolio is organized into several categories: (1) 2-Axis Deflection Units including MINISCAN III, SUPERSCAN IIE, SUPERSCAN IV, SUPERSCAN IVHL-15, SUPERSCAN IV SOLAR, SUPERSCAN V, and HIGH POWER SCHWEISSMODUL for 2D laser beam steering with small-to-medium processing fields; (2) Prefocusing Deflection Units including AXIALSCAN-30 DIGITAL II, AXIALSCAN-30 DIGITAL II HP, AXIALSCAN-50 DIGITAL II, AXIALSCAN RD-14, AXIALSCAN FIBER RD-30, AXIALSCAN FIBER RD-50, AM-MODULE III (for additive manufacturing), and BUSBAR WELDING MODULE for large-field processing with dynamic z-focus adjustment; (3) FOCUSSHIFTER products (RD-14 and DIGITAL II) combining f-Theta optics with a z-axis for 2.5D processing; (4) Image Processing and Measurement Systems including RAYDIME, RAYSPECTOR, and SCAN FIELD CALIBRATOR; (5) Control Electronics SP-ICE for scanner and laser control; and (6) Software including RAYGUIDE and RAYBOARD. RAYLASE's deflection units support multiple digital protocols (XY2-100, SL2-100, RL3-100) and integrate with optional sensors such as the RAYLASE DISTANCE MEASUREMENT SENSOR and third-party OCT systems (Lessmüller OCT250). The company also offers a proprietary RAYVOLUTION DRIVE technology for high-dynamic z-axis focus correction across its prefocusing products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MINISCAN III Compact and robust 2-axis galvanometer scanner with digital regulation for marking, additive manufacturing (SLM/SLS), and ablation tasks. Supports SL2-100 (20-bit) and XY2-100 (16-bit) protocols. Offered in 10, 14, and 20 mm apertures.
• SUPERSCAN IIE High-precision 2-axis deflection unit with innovative temperature management and modular design for demanding laser applications. 'Enhanced' option offers 50% better long-term drift. Available apertures: 7, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 mm.
• SUPERSCAN IV Fully digital 2-axis deflection unit with highest dynamics and end speed up to 200 rad/s; water-cooled master block supports laser powers up to 6 kW. Designed for Marking On The Fly (MOTF) applications. Available apertures: 10, 15, 20, 30 mm.
• SUPERSCAN IVHL-15 Optimized 2-axis deflection unit for high-dynamic applications (laser cleaning, via-hole drilling, electrode foil notching) with optimized water cooling and integrated temperature sensors. IP64 dust-tight housing.
• SUPERSCAN IV SOLAR Specialized 2-axis scanner for solar industry wafer processing with ±10 μm accuracy, marking speeds over 60 m/s, and 100-300 lines per wafer in under 1 second. Designed for PERC solar cell laser contact opening and M12 wafer production up to 210x210 mm².
• SUPERSCAN V Fully digital 2-axis deflection unit with continuous monitoring of mirror position and speed; supports SL2-100 (20-bit) and XY2-100 (16-bit) protocols. Suitable for drilling or structuring semiconductor wafers, medical products, and document security features. Available in 15 mm and 30 mm apertures.
• HIGH POWER WELDING MODULE (HIGH POWER SCHWEISSMODUL) Fully integrated f-Theta-based welding solution with modular architecture. Optional integrated OCT sensor (OCT250 by Lessmüller Lasertechnik), on-axis camera/pyrometer monitoring, and integrated SP-ICE control. Supports infrared, green, or blue wavelengths with laser working fields up to 300x300 mm and laser powers up to 6 kW (8 kW at 75% duty cycle).
• AXIALSCAN-30 DIGITAL II 3-axis deflection unit with digital linear translator module LT-II-15 offering smallest spot diameters at large field sizes, high deflection speeds, long-term stability, and lowest drift at 20-bit position resolution. Variable processing fields from 100x100 mm to 1,800x1,800 mm.
• AXIALSCAN-30 DIGITAL II HP High-power version of AXIALSCAN-30 DIGITAL II with LT-II-20 linear translator module, optimized optics for CO2 wavelengths and 1,060-1,070 nm, supporting laser powers up to 4 kW. Variable processing fields from 200x200 mm to 1,200x1,200 mm.
• AXIALSCAN-50 DIGITAL II 3-axis deflection unit with digital control electronics, smallest spot diameters at large field sizes, and lowest drift at 20-bit resolution. PWM final stages for minimal heat; optional RL3-100, SL2-100, or XY2-100 protocols. Laser power up to 5 kW. Processing fields from 300x300 mm to 1,000x1,000 mm.
• AXIALSCAN RD-14 3D deflection unit combining high dynamics of MINISCAN III with dynamic prefocusing via RAYVOLUTION DRIVE technology. Enables processing of large components with flexible 2.5D and full 3D processing. Compact design with multiple mounting options. Applications include additive manufacturing and PCB cutting/marking.
• AXIALSCAN FIBER RD-30 Highly integrated prefocusing beam deflection unit with dust-tight IP64 housing and integrated collimation optics. Features RAYVOLUTION DRIVE high-dynamic z-axis, laser power support up to 6 kW, and a quadruple design enabling four lasers to work simultaneously on one component. Processing fields up to 1,000x1,000 mm.
• AXIALSCAN FIBER RD-50 High-integrated prefocusing beam deflection unit with large 50 mm free aperture enabling smallest spot diameters in processing fields from 300x300 mm to 1,200x1,200 mm. Supports fiber lasers and ring-mode lasers with high beam quality. Dust-tight housing with integrated fiber adapter/collimator.
• AM-MODULE III Integrated prefocusing beam deflection unit designed for additive manufacturing production. Features dust-tight housing, ISO Class-7 cleanroom manufacturing, integrated collimation/scanner optics, and dynamic zoom enabling up to 2x focus diameter adjustment. RAYVOLUTION DRIVE for stable focus. Scalable design with 100% overlap for multi-laser systems. Processing fields up to 900x900 mm.
• BUSBAR WELDING MODULE Complete turnkey solution for precision welding of current collector bars (busbars) in battery production. Combines AXIALSCAN FIBER RD-30, RAYLASE DISTANCE MEASUREMENT SENSOR, and RAYGUIDE MATCH software plugin for automatic 3D position correction. Handles height differences up to 1 mm. Processing fields up to 500x500 mm with laser powers up to 6 kW.
• FOCUSSHIFTER RD-14 Combines f-Theta-based deflection unit with optical z-axis for dynamic adjustment of the processing plane, enabling efficient 2.5D laser processing. Compact housing with multiple mounting options. Applications include laser cleaning, PCB cutting, glass display/polarization foil cutting, and surface texturing/structuring.
• FOCUSSHIFTER DIGITAL II Focus shifter combining f-Theta-based deflection with digital drive technology for simple and cost-effective integration. Available apertures: 10 and 15 mm.
• RAYDIME Image processing and measurement system for automated laser process field calibration of the next generation, with significant gains in time and precision.
• RAYSPECTOR Measurement and process monitoring system for use with Raylase deflection units. Features dynamically tracked camera port for on-axis process observation with high-speed cameras and pyrometer integration. Supports integration with SP-ICE 3 for combined scanner and sensor data readout.
• SCAN FIELD CALIBRATOR Calibration tool for precise calibration of multi-head AM machines. Automatically measures processing field with typically 49x49 measurement points and creates optimized correction files. Achieves average correction accuracy of ±15 μm within the process field.
• SP-ICE 3 Control card with feedback function serving as the control center for time-critical process steps. Synchronous control of deflection unit, laser, and periphery. Links scanner and sensor signals. Supports XY2-100 (16-bit) and SL2-100 (20-bit) protocols. Includes functions for welding ramps, tracking error compensation, and dashed-line features for solar wafer processing.
• RAYGUIDE Intuitive process software for fast and easy programming of Raylase scan solutions. User-friendly setup and calibration of deflection units; automation via its own API/SDK. Includes solar wafer plugin for dashed-line patterns, CLICK&TEACH for camera-based position recognition, and MATCH for automated feature recognition.
• RAYBOARD Software product for laser processing applications including marking, welding, cutting, cleaning, and perforating.
• RAYLASE DISTANCE MEASUREMENT SENSOR Proprietary distance measurement sensor developed for prefocusing laser deflection units. Provides precise distance measurements within processing fields of 500x500 mm with accuracy of ±10 μm, without moving the component or scan head. Used in combination with AXIALSCAN FIBER RD-30 for automatic focus position adjustment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Solar wafer marking of 100-300 lines per wafer in less than 1 second
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for OCT250 optical coherence tomography integration into HIGH POWER WELDING MODULE. Lessmüller provides the coaxial interferometric inline measurement system for high-precision keyhole depth measurement during welding processes. The measurement operates directly in the beam path in real-time without additional calibration effort.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCANLAB GmbH: Germany-based direct competitor in galvanometer scanners and laser beam deflection systems. Closest comparable to RAYLASE in product portfolio (2-axis galvos, 3-axis scan systems, control electronics) and serves the same battery, solar, and additive manufacturing verticals. SCANLAB is the European market leader in the same product category.
• Novanta (Cambridge Technology): US-headquartered photonics and motion specialist whose Cambridge Technology division is the global leader in galvanometer scanners. Directly competes with RAYLASE's SUPERSCAN and MINISCAN families across marking, welding, and additive manufacturing applications, with comparable product-line depth and broader international reach.
• Aerotech: Precision motion and scanning systems provider offering galvanometer scanners and integrated laser scanning subsystems. Competitor in the high-precision 2-axis and 3-axis deflection unit market, with comparable focus on industrial laser machining and additive manufacturing.

Broad incumbents

• IPG Photonics: World's largest fiber laser source manufacturer whose lasers are paired with RAYLASE competitor scanners in OEM machines. Indirectly comparable through shared customer base in battery welding, automotive, and metal cutting; IPG could also vertically integrate further into scan heads.
• Trumpf: Global leader in industrial laser systems and machine tools. Overlaps with RAYLASE through its laser welding and cutting systems business that integrates scanner/prefocusing optics internally, and competes for similar battery, automotive, and electronics manufacturing customers at the system level rather than the component level.
• Jenoptik: German laser and optics group with a dedicated Light & Optics division producing optical components and laser processing subsystems. Comparable to RAYLASE as a German photonics supplier serving industrial manufacturing, with a broader portfolio across laser sources, optics, and metrology systems.
• Coherent: Large US-based laser and photonics company with materials processing exposure. Comparable through its laser-based system business serving electronics, solar, and battery manufacturing — adjacent to RAYLASE's scanner technology, though Coherent operates at a broader systems level.
• Han's Laser: China's largest industrial laser systems integrator with broad portfolio including laser marking, welding, and cutting systems. Comparable to RAYLASE through its scan head subsystems and end-customer overlap in Chinese battery and consumer electronics manufacturing.

Emerging players

• nLight: US-based high-power semiconductor and fiber laser manufacturer with growing presence in additive manufacturing and battery welding. Comparable to RAYLASE in serving metal AM and battery OEMs, but at the laser source layer rather than the scan head layer.

Others

• Thorlabs: Broad-line photonics components supplier offering scanning galvo systems, optomechanics, and laser components. Thematically comparable to RAYLASE in supplying optical scanning hardware, though Thorlabs primarily serves research and OEM component markets rather than dedicated industrial laser processing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/raylasegmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Raylase