1zu1

What 1zu1 does

1zu1scale GmbH (formerly 1zu1, originally HTS Humml und Hämmerle Tooling Service Ges.mbH) is an Austrian plastics contract manufacturer founded in 1996 and headquartered in Dornbirn. The firm has operated as a subsidiary of Sweden's Prototal Group since February 2022. Its core offering combines industrial additive manufacturing — Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), SLS-FDR, Stereolithography (SLA), and Hot Lithography — with conventional injection molding and vacuum casting. Production is anchored by more than 20 injection molding machines and EOS P500 SLS systems, supported by an ISO Class 8 cleanroom. The customer base is concentrated in medical technology, electronics, and mechanical engineering / robotics / automation, with named commercial customers including OXXID and Qatna Medical GmbH.

The business model is hybrid. On one track, the firm delivers contract-manufacturing services for series production under EN ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 quality systems, with regulatory certifications enabling medical-device work. On the other, the 1zu1direkt self-service online platform routes prototyping and small-series orders through a low-touch digital channel, broadening reach into long-tail SMB demand. The company operates a Knowledge Lab workshop program that doubles as customer education and lead generation. Revenue is generated via per-order/prototype fees on the digital channel and per-part or per-batch contract terms for series work, with no disclosed subscription or usage-based pricing.

In January 2026 the firm rebranded from 1zu1 to 1zu1scale and introduced the proprietary "SCALE" methodology, repositioning explicitly around scaling customers from prototype to series production. Leadership is headed by CEO Thomas Kohler (appointed June 2023) and CFO Diana Busch. The strategic posture under Prototal Group ownership is one of expanding regulated manufacturing capacity, broadening the additive technology stack, and converting prototyping customers into recurring series-production accounts.

Name

1zu1

Legal name

1zu1scale GmbH

Website

https://1zu1prototypen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prototype Jigs, Fixtures & Assembly Aids (Additive) (IMAAAFAE), Precision & Micro Injection Molding (IMANAFAH)

Keywords

• Industrial 3D printing
• Plastic injection molding
• Vacuum casting
• Additive manufacturing services
• Prototype to series production

Headquarters

HQ city

Dornbirn

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial 3D Printing Services: Manufacturing services using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), SLS-FDR, and stereolithography for series production from individual parts to 100,000+ units. Revenue generated per production run with typical turnaround of 2-5 business days.
2. Plastic Injection Molding: Series production using injection molding with quantities from single pieces to large series (up to 1,000,000 parts with aluminum tools). Revenue per production order based on complexity, quantity, and material.
3. Vacuum Casting: Small to medium series production using silicone molds for PU, silicone, and rubber components. Revenue per casting run with one mold enabling up to 1,000 parts.
4. Knowledge Lab Workshops: Educational workshops on additive manufacturing at 150 EUR per hour, with modular bundles and funding credits (10-30% offset on subsequent AM projects).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

1zu1scale manufactures precision plastic components for industrial customers using three core technologies under one roof: industrial 3D printing (Selective Laser Sintering, SLS-FDR, stereolithography), plastic injection molding (10–160 ton clamping forces), and vacuum casting. Production runs from individual prototypes up to 1,000,000+ units, with ISO Class 8 cleanroom capability and EN ISO 13485 certification for medical-device applications. Orders are guided through the SCALE five-phase methodology from prototype validation to full series production.

Product overview

1zu1scale is a plastic component manufacturer offering three core manufacturing technologies — Industrial 3D Printing (SLS, SLS-FDR, SLA), Plastic Injection Molding (10–160 ton clamping force), and Vacuum Casting — supported by ISO Class 8 cleanroom production capabilities. Customers interact primarily through the 1zu1direkt online ordering platform and are guided through the SCALE five-phase methodology from prototype to series production. The Knowledge Lab provides complementary AM training and consulting services. The company operates as part of PROTOTAL GROUP with approximately 30 years of industry experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1zu1direkt: Online ordering platform for quotes and orders outside office hours
• Knowledge Lab
• SCALE

Products and services

• Industrial 3D Printing Industrial additive manufacturing service using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), SLS-FDR (Fine Detail Resolution), and stereolithography to produce plastic components from individual parts to 100,000+ pieces without tooling costs. Typical turnaround is 2–5 business days.
• Plastic Injection Molding Series production of precision plastic parts using aluminum and steel molds with clamping forces from 10 to 160 tons. Supports quantities from individual parts to large series (up to 1,000,000+), with optional ISO Class 8 cleanroom production for medical applications. Quotes delivered within 2 working days.
• Vacuum Casting Economical production of near-series plastic components using specially reinforced silicone molds for PU, silicone, and rubber resins. One mold can yield up to 1,000 parts with Shore hardnesses from 10 to 85, suited to functional prototypes, pre-series, and small series.
• Cleanroom Production (ISO Class 8) Certified ISO Class 8 cleanroom manufacturing with separate material and personnel airlocks, HEPA filtration, laminar flow areas, and overpressure control. Houses three encapsulated ARBURG injection molding machines (2x70 ton, 1x100 ton). Targets medical technology, pharmaceuticals, microelectronics, and life sciences customers requiring regulatory compliance.
• 1zu1direkt Online Ordering Platform Self-service online portal for configuring and ordering SLS, SLS-FDR, SLS flexible, SLA, injection molding, vacuum casting, and machining jobs 24/7, with access to previous orders and documents outside of office hours.
• Knowledge Lab Workshops Modular workshop program on Additive Manufacturing covering 17 3D printing technologies, design for AM, sustainability, and series-vs-injection-molding decisions. Conducted by Head of Trends & Innovation Markus Schrittwieser, with funding credits applicable to subsequent AM projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 1,000 parts per mold in vacuum casting vs typical 15-20 parts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PROTOTAL GROUPflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 20221zu1scale became part of the Swedish Prototal Group in February 2022, strengthening future prospects and international orientation. The group is a leading European manufacturing partner for industrial customers, offering additive manufacturing, injection molding, and other production technologies with an international network of local manufacturing sites.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Materialise: Belgium-based industrial 3D printing service provider with strong medical-device focus and ISO 13485-certified production. Highly comparable to 1zu1scale's SLS-based AM services and regulated-vertical orientation, including cleanroom-adjacent capabilities.
• Protolabs: Global digital custom manufacturer offering on-demand prototyping and series production in plastics (injection molding, CNC, 3D printing). Directly comparable to 1zu1scale's online platform-plus-enterprise hybrid model and short lead-time positioning across multiple plastics technologies.
• Shapeways: Digital manufacturing service offering plastic 3D printing (SLS, SLA) and injection molding for low-to-mid volume production. Comparable to 1zu1scale's online-enabled plastics services and small-series orientation.
• Fathom: North American custom manufacturer combining injection molding, 3D printing, and CNC machining for prototype-to-series production. Comparable to 1zu1scale's multi-technology, prototype-to-series positioning, albeit with broader US-centric geographic reach.
• Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs): Online platform aggregating manufacturing capacity for prototyping and on-demand plastic parts. Highly comparable to 1zu1scale's 1zu1direkt self-serve ordering motion and to its injection molding / SLS service offering.
• Stratasys Direct Manufacturing: Service bureau operated by a major AM OEM, offering series production in plastics via SLS, SLA, and PolyJet. Directly comparable to 1zu1scale's industrial 3D printing services for end-use plastic components.
• Xometry: Global online marketplace for custom manufacturing including injection molding and 3D printing. Comparable as a self-serve digital ordering platform competing for the same SMB and mid-market custom plastics workload.

Others

• ARBURG: German manufacturer of injection molding machines whose ARBURG presses (including the 70–100 ton encapsulated units in 1zu1scale's cleanroom) underpin much of European plastics manufacturing. Included as an enabling technology supplier rather than a direct competitor.
• EOS GmbH: Supplier of the EOS P500 industrial SLS systems and PA materials used by 1zu1scale for series 3D printing. Included as a strategic technology partner and equipment/material vendor rather than as a direct service competitor (although EOS also operates its own service network).

Broad incumbents

• Prototal Group: Swedish parent company of 1zu1scale, operating a broader European network of additive manufacturing and injection molding facilities. Functions both as a strategic owner and a wider incumbent peer offering the same plastics manufacturing services across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/7189705

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 1zu1