What SCAPS does

SCAPS GmbH (legally scanner application software GmbH) is a privately held German software and electronics company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Deisenhofen, near Munich. The company develops integrated software and hardware for controlling laser scanner systems used in industrial marking, engraving, cutting, and welding applications. Its core proprietary software platform is SAM (Scanner Application Module), on which the user-facing GUI application SAMLight is built, supplemented by optional SAMOptions modules. The hardware lineup consists of three generations of USB/Ethernet Scanner Controllers (USC-1, USC-2, USC-3) and the DSD (Digital Servo Driver). USC hardware is designed to operate exclusively with SCAPS software, enforcing tight vertical integration; DSD uniquely supports standalone third-party software. The company is led by Andreas Rönner and Dr. Sonja Westermayer as managers, operates with 1-10 employees, and holds no disclosed external investors, parent entities, or subsidiaries.

SCAPS operates a direct-sales B2B model targeting machine manufacturers of laser processing systems and industrial end users. Revenue is generated through one-time perpetual software license fees priced via an undisclosed SCAPS price list and through bundled hardware sales, with hardware and software sold together as a package. Licensing is enforced via license keys and optional dongles, with SCAPS retaining strong contractual rights including on-site audit and termination for breach. Customer support is delivered by email, telephone, and online sessions, and demo versions are offered free of charge for evaluation. The company claims worldwide service reach with no third-country data transfer, though its physical footprint remains limited to a single German office.

Name

SCAPS

Legal name

scanner application software GmbH

Website

https://scaps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SCAPS GmbH develops and sells proprietary software (SAM/SAMLight) and hardware (USC-1/2/3 controllers, DSD servo driver) for controlling industrial laser scanner systems, serving machine manufacturers and industrial end users worldwide via direct B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Deisenhofen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: SCAPS licenses its SAM software platform and SAMLight application. Customers pay a one-time license fee for the full version, receiving a license key (password) and optionally a dongle. The license grants non-exclusive rights to use the software in object code.
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of USC hardware modules (USC-1, USC-2, USC-3), extensions, and DSD (Digital Servo Driver). Hardware is sold as package pricing together with software licenses and remains property of SCAPS until full payment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

SCAPS GmbH develops and sells integrated software and proprietary hardware for controlling laser scanner systems used in industrial marking, engraving, cutting, and welding applications. The core offering combines the SAM (Scanner Application Module) software platform, with the user-facing SAMLight application, and purpose-built USC-1/2/3 USB Scanner Controller cards plus the DSD (Digital Servo Driver) for servo motor control. SCAPS licenses software on a perpetual basis and ships hardware as a package to machine manufacturers and industrial end users worldwide.

Product overview

SCAPS GmbH offers an integrated portfolio of licensed software and purpose-built hardware for controlling scanner and laser systems. The software core is SAM (Scanner Application Module), on which SAMLight — the user-facing application — is built. SAMLight is available alongside optional modules branded as SAMOptions. The hardware lineup consists of the USC-1, USC-2, and USC-3 USB Scanner Controller cards (with USC Options for extensions) and the DSD (Digital Servo Driver). USC-1 is the first-generation controller, while USC-2 and USC-3 are advanced versions with USB and Ethernet connectivity, support for MOTF (Moving Object Tracking Feature), and multi-head configurations. USC hardware modules are designed exclusively for use with SCAPS software; the DSD uniquely supports stand-alone software operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAM (Scanner Application Module): Core software developed by SCAPS for scanner control applications
• SAMLight
• USC
• DSD (Digital Servo Driver)

Products and services

• SAM (Scanner Application Module) Core scanner application software module developed by SCAPS, serving as the foundational software engine that powers SAMLight and other SCAPS software solutions. Licensed to machine manufacturers and industrial end users for laser scanner system control.
• SAMLight Primary user-facing application built on the SAM platform, providing a GUI for controlling laser scanner systems. Available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions with latest and latest-stable release channels. Targeted at industrial operators of laser marking, engraving, cutting, and welding equipment.
• USC-1 USB Scanner Controller First-generation USB Scanner Controller hardware module by SCAPS, communicating with scan heads via the XY2-100 protocol. Features opto-isolated inputs/outputs with configurable pull-up/pull-down resistors for industrial integration.
• USC-2 USB Scanner Controller Second-generation USB Scanner Controller with both USB and Ethernet connectivity options. Supports advanced MOTF (Moving Object Tracking Feature), multiple scan heads, and configurable digital and stepper outputs for dynamic marking on moving objects.
• USC-3 USB Scanner Controller Third-generation USB Scanner Controller, an advancement of the USC-2, offering higher performance and additional features. Supports USB, Ethernet, MOTF (Moving Object Tracking Feature), and multi-scan-head configurations for high-end industrial laser processing.
• DSD (Digital Servo Driver) Hardware module developed by SCAPS for servo motor control. Uniquely supports operation with both SCAPS software and standalone third-party software, broadening its use beyond the SAM ecosystem.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• IPG Photonics Corporation: IPG Photonics is the leading manufacturer of fiber lasers and increasingly offers bundled laser sources with processing heads and control electronics for welding and cutting applications. It intersects with SCAPS at the laser processing control stack and could be a strategic acquirer or competitor as it moves further into system-level control.

Direct peers

• ACS Motion Control: ACS Motion Control supplies high-performance motion controllers, EtherCAT-based multi-axis controllers, and laser-specific control libraries used in laser processing equipment. It is comparable to SCAPS because both sell motion/laser control hardware plus software toolchains to machine OEMs, and both support encoder-based dynamic processing similar to SCAPS' MOTF feature.
• Raylase AG: Raylase makes laser deflection units (scan heads) and the control boards/software (e.g., AXIALSCAN, SP-ICE-3 controllers) that drive them. It directly overlaps SCAPS' product portfolio of scanner controllers and associated software, and targets the same machine-OEM customer base in marking and material processing.
• SCANLAB GmbH: SCANLAB is a leading German manufacturer of galvanometer-based laser scan heads and associated control electronics (e.g., RTC control boards). It is directly comparable to SCAPS because both serve laser processing OEMs with hardware-software control stacks for marking, engraving, and cutting, and both are German-headquartered specialists in scanner control. SCAPS sits one layer below as a controller-only vendor that complements or competes with SCANLAB's bundled offering.
• SCANcube / arges GmbH: arges GmbH (formerly part of 4JET) develops laser scan heads and controller electronics (SCANcube product line) and laser processing software. It directly competes with SCAPS in providing scanner control hardware and software to laser system builders.

Broad incumbents

• Trumpf SE + Co. KG: Trumpf is one of the world's largest manufacturers of laser processing machines (cutting, welding, marking) and develops substantial proprietary control electronics and software. It is comparable to SCAPS as a customer/competitor at the laser machine controller layer and is a potential acquirer of specialist controller vendors.
• Bystronic Laser AG: Bystronic produces laser cutting systems with proprietary control software and motion subsystems. While more downstream, it operates in the same laser-machine value chain and represents both a potential OEM customer and a benchmark for what vertically integrated control stacks look like at scale.
• Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group: Han’s Laser is a major Chinese integrator of laser marking, cutting, and welding systems, with in-house scan head and control development. While vertically broader, it competes with SCAPS-attached OEMs in the same end-markets and represents a downstream channel that could substitute for SCAPS-based controllers.
• Aerotech Inc. Aerotech manufactures precision motion control systems, including controllers and galvo/drive electronics used in laser micromachining and additive manufacturing. It overlaps with SCAPS in supplying integrated motion control hardware and software to OEMs building laser-based production equipment.
• Cambridge Technology (Novanta): Cambridge Technology, part of Novanta, is a major supplier of galvanometer scanners and associated scan head electronics to industrial laser system builders worldwide. It competes with SCAPS indirectly through its integrated scanner-plus-controller offerings and represents the global scale incumbent in the same laser scanning value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTQIN6Da9_Dz6lWuZEbSgUQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scaps-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 SCAPS