What LAM PLAN does

LAM PLAN S.A.S. is a French industrial manufacturer founded in 1962 in Gaillard, France, specializing in equipment, consumables, and services for lapping, polishing, and metallographic surface preparation. The company operates three interconnected business lines: Metallography (cutting, mounting, prepolishing, and polishing for microstructure analysis), Lapping & Polishing (flat-surface finishing equipment for precision components), and Geometric Polishing (micromotors and tools for shaped-surface finishing). Its product range spans lapping and polishing machines (M.M.9400, M.M.9100 S, SMARTLAM, MASTERLAM, RECTILAM series), patented pre-polishing discs (CAMEO®DISK with honeycomb structure, including variants for ductile, ferrous, ceramic, and soft materials), diamond abrasive liquids (NEODIA, NEOLAP, BIO DIAMANT), mounting resins (613LT low-temperature epoxy), polishing supports, and complementary accessories (AUTOPLAN plate geometry system, BOXLAM storage, COVER LAM protective film).

The company monetizes through one-time equipment sales, recurring consumable revenue (abrasives, fluids, resins, discs) tied to installed-base replenishment, and ancillary technical services (preventive maintenance contracts, customer test center method development). Go-to-market is sales-led, executed through a worldwide commercial network of agents and distributors across approximately 27 countries (Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia, North America), supplemented by direct sales via website and contact channels. Channel partners include ASTEC LAM PLAN SRL (Italy, regional subsidiary) and FINFOCUS INSTRUMENTS (Finland). Customer segments span industrial laboratories, materials testing/QC departments, precision component manufacturers, geological/petrographic labs, and academic institutions, with named users including ROPLAN Sweden (mechanical seals) and the University of Montpellier (lithopreparation training). LAM PLAN holds ISO 9001 certification and maintains an extensive trademark portfolio (LAM PLAN, NEW LAM, CAMEO, FAS, BOX LAM, FIX LAM, AQUA LAM, NEODIA, NEOLAP, ECO A, DIALAM, Bio Diamant, TOUCHLAM, Astec).

Name

LAM PLAN

Legal name

LAM PLAN S.A.S.

Website

https://lamplan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LAM PLAN is a French industrial manufacturer (founded 1962) that designs and sells lapping, polishing, and metallography equipment plus consumables, serving industrial laboratories, precision component manufacturers, and geological/academic institutions through a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metallography and Surface Preparation Equipment

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Rolling Mill and Other Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (333519)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Lapping machines
• Metallography equipment
• Polishing consumables
• Diamond abrasives
• Surface preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaillard

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of lapping and polishing machines, cutting machines, mounting machines, micromotors, and accessories. Machines include M.M.9400, M.M.9100 S, SMARTLAM 2.0/3.0, MASTERLAM 1.0/1.1/3.0, RECTILAM 2.0 models. Pricing is quote-based, ex-works.
2. Consumables: Sale of diamond abrasives, composite abrasives, lubricating fluids, additives, lapping supports, polishing supports, hot and cold mounting resins, cut-off wheels, and accessories. Recurring revenue from consumables as they are replenished by industrial customers.
3. Technical Services and Maintenance: Preventive maintenance contracts tailored to each equipment, technical support, and customer test center services for surface preparation method development and testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LAM PLAN manufactures and sells industrial lapping, polishing, and metallography equipment and consumables. Its product range covers cutting machines, mounting machines, pre-polishing and polishing machines, lapping machines, micromotors, diamond abrasives, polishing supports, lubricating fluids, and embedding resins used by industrial laboratories and precision manufacturers for surface preparation, microstructure analysis, and finishing of metal, ceramic, and geological components.

Product overview

LAM PLAN is an industrial equipment manufacturer specializing in surface preparation solutions, operating since 1962 from Gaillard, France. The company offers three interconnected product lines: Metallography (cutting, mounting, prepolishing and polishing equipment and consumables for microstructure analysis), Lapping & Polishing (flat surface finishing equipment and consumables including lapping machines, diamond abrasives, and polishing supports), and Geometric Polishing (micromotors, tools, and consumables for shaped surface finishing). Key product families include SMARTLAM/MASTERLAM/RECTILAM polishing machines, M.M.9400/M.M.9100 lapping machines, CAMEO®DISK pre-polishing discs with patented honeycomb structure, and branded consumables (NEODIA®, NEOLAM®, BIO DIAMANT®). The company also provides technical services including a customer test centre with 360° virtual tour, technical support, and maintenance contracts. LAM PLAN serves industries including optics, watchmaking, nuclear, petrochemistry, and general manufacturing through a global commercial network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Box of Knowledge (BOK): Test laboratory service that guarantees tailored responses to surface preparation needs.
• New Lam
• Cameo Disk
• Aqua Lam
• Touch Lam
• Neodia
• Neolap
• Bio Diamant
• Ecoa
• Smartlam
• Masterlam
• Rectilam
• LAM PLAN M.M.
• Boxlam
• Cover Lam

Products and services

• SMARTLAM 2.0 Polishing Machine Polishing machine used in industrial metallography laboratories for sample preparation prior to microstructure analysis.
• SMARTLAM 3.0 Polishing Machine Polishing machine for metallographic sample preparation in industrial quality-control laboratories.
• MASTERLAM 1.0 Polishing Machine Polishing machine for metallographic sample preparation.
• MASTERLAM 1.1 Polishing Machine Polishing machine for metallographic sample preparation.
• MASTERLAM 3.0 Polishing Machine Polishing machine for metallographic sample preparation.
• RECTILAM 2.0 Pre-Polishing Machine Pre-polishing machine for metallographic sample preparation.
• M.M.9400 Lapping Machine Lapping and polishing machine for industrial surface finishing of flat components, with touchscreen control and recipe memory.
• M.M.9100 S Lapping Machine Pneumatic-pressure lapping machine for precision flat-surface finishing, typically supplied with NEWLAM plates and AUTOPLAN geometry control.
• CAMEO®DISK Platinium Pre-Polishing Disc Diamond disc with patented honeycomb structure used for fast fine grinding of metallographic samples; available in grit sizes P80 to P1200.
• CAMEO®DISK Silver Pre-Polishing Disc Pre-polishing disc with honeycomb structure for medium-hard to very hard iron alloys, used with NEODIA diamond abrasive (3-15 µm).
• CAMEO®DISK Gold Pre-Polishing Disc Pre-polishing disc with honeycomb structure for soft and non-ferrous materials, used with NEODIA diamond abrasive (3-6 µm).
• CAMEO®DISK Rhodium Pre-Polishing Disc Pre-polishing disc with honeycomb structure for ceramics and cermets, used with NEODIA diamond abrasive (3 µm).
• CAMEO®DISK DMD Pre-Polishing Disc Diamond pre-polishing disc for ductile materials such as aluminum and copper alloys; enables polishing sequences without SiC paper, using an innovative fixed-abrasive honeycomb structure.
• BOX LAM®M Storage System Stackable storage cabinet for organizing lapping and polishing discs up to 300 mm diameter, with 8 extendable shelves and a transparent retractable door.
• BOX LAM® Storage System Economical storage cabinet for 6 pre-polishing and polishing discs up to 300 mm, with transparent latch door and dust protection.
• TOUCHLAM® Polishing Disc Polishing disc/support used during metallographic sample preparation.
• NEODIA® Diamond Polishing Liquids Liquid diamond abrasive used for precision polishing of metallographic samples, typically with CAMEO®DISK pre-polishing discs.
• NEOLAM® Diamond Lapping Liquids Liquid diamond abrasive used in lapping processes for industrial flat-surface finishing.
• BIO DIAMANT® Diamond Superfinishing Products Diamond superfinition products used for precision finishing of components.
• 613LT Low-Temperature Embedding Resin Low-temperature cold-mounting epoxy resin with a 27°C exothermic temperature, transparent and colorless, designed for embedding temperature-sensitive metallographic samples.
• Booster Lubricant for CAMEO®DISK Ready-to-use lubricant formulated for use with CAMEO®DISK Platinium pre-polishing discs, maintaining disc efficiency and reducing water consumption.
• COVER LAM® Protective Film Self-adhesive protective film applied to polished metallographic samples to prevent tarnishing between preparation and microscopic examination.
• AUTOPLAN System Exclusive accessory system integrated with LAM PLAN lapping machines to control the geometry and grooving of lapping plates for flatness quality control.
• Customer Test Centre Service Service offering surface-preparation method modeling and testing at the LAM PLAN Gaillard facility before production, with formal test reports delivered to industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• The CAMEO®DISK DMD enables prepolishing of ductile materials (aluminum and copper alloys) in a single step without using SiC paper, reducing process time and waste
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FINFOCUS INSTRUMENTSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 March 2024Finnish partner representing LAM PLAN in Finland for metallography products. Exhibited LAM PLAN's metallography offerings at Nordic Welding Expo 2024 in Finland.
• ROPLAN SWEDENminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2023ROPLAN Sweden acquired new LAM PLAN equipment including M.M.9100 S pneumatic-pressure lapping machine with NEWLAM M'M' Ø 1000 mm plate, P803 temperature control system, and exclusive AUTOPLAN system for high quality mechanical seal production. LAM PLAN provides equipment, technical support, and monitoring of the installation.
• UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIERminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Partnership for lithopreparation training and knowledge exchange. LAM PLAN's technical and sales teams were trained by the head of the lithopreparation department of UMR 5243 GM at the University of Montpellier in production of thin sections for geological sample study. Two-day event in Haute-Savoie, France.
• ASTEC LAM PLAN SRLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian subsidiary/distributor based in Magenta, Milan, representing LAM PLAN products in Italy. Participated in MECSPE 2024 trade show in Bologna representing LAM PLAN.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Struers: Danish manufacturer of metallographic preparation and testing equipment (cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing). Closest direct competitor to LAM PLAN's core metallography line, serving the same materials-science and QA labs with comparable machines and consumables.
• PRESI: French manufacturer of metallographic and hard-material sample preparation equipment. Comparable mid-sized European peer with overlapping product portfolio in cutting, mounting, polishing, and thin-section preparation.
• PACE Technologies: US manufacturer of metallographic equipment and consumables (cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing). Comparable product breadth and target customer base of metallurgical and materials-testing labs.
• Kemet International: UK-based manufacturer of lapping, polishing, and precision finishing equipment and consumables. Directly comparable to LAM PLAN's lapping and polishing line for industrial flat-surface finishing applications.
• Metkon: Turkish manufacturer of metallographic sample preparation equipment and consumables. Comparable product scope across cutting, mounting, grinding, and polishing with global distribution to industrial and academic labs.
• Allied High Tech Products: US supplier of metallographic consumables, precision diamond abrasives, and sample-preparation equipment. Comparable consumables portfolio (diamond suspensions, polishing pads) used alongside LAM PLAN products.
• Lapmaster Wolters: Precision surfacing solutions manufacturer specializing in flat lapping, polishing, and grinding machines for industrial applications. Comparable to LAM PLAN's M.M. series lapping machines and lapping consumables.
• Buehler (ITW): US-headquartered metallographic equipment and consumables brand owned by Illinois Tool Works. Directly competes with LAM PLAN across cutting, mounting, and polishing machines plus abrasive consumables in industrial QA labs.

Broad incumbents

• Tyrolit: Austrian broad-line manufacturer of grinding, dressing, and precision tooling products. Adjacent incumbent with industrial abrasives and polishing consumables that overlap LAM PLAN's diamond abrasive and polishing-support offerings at scale.
• 3M Abrasives: Global diversified manufacturer with a large abrasives division serving metalworking and finishing. Overlaps with LAM PLAN's consumables categories but as part of a much broader industrial portfolio rather than a specialty metallography focus.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lam-plan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 LAM PLAN