What Digital Additive Production DAP - RWTH Aachen does

Digital Additive Production DAP is a research chair at RWTH Aachen University, one of Germany's leading technical universities, focused on the science and industrial implementation of additive manufacturing (AM). The chair investigates the entire AM process chain — from digitization and production networking, through materials (metal, polymer, ceramic) and manufacturing processes such as Powder Bed Fusion – Laser Beam (PBF-LB/M) and Extreme High-Speed Laser Material Deposition (EHLA/DED), to post-processing and quality assurance. Infrastructure comprises over 3,200 m² of laboratory space and more than 40 AM systems (25+ metal-based, 15+ polymer-based), supported by 120+ staff including researchers, technicians, and administrative personnel, and led by chair holder Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Henrich Schleifenbaum with Chief Engineer Dr.-Ing. Moritz Kolter.

The chair's outputs span research publications, open-source software, and applied training. Proprietary contributions include the DAPComputationalGeometry (DAP-CG) open-source geometry algorithm library released in July 2026 under the Boost Software License, the Open Vector Format (OVF) for industrial AM data exchange presented at ICAM 2025, and process recipes such as crack-mitigation methods for nickel-based superalloys (CM247LC via Zr/TiC addition) and YBCO high-temperature superconductor AM with property recovery. The chair is integrated into the broader RWTH Aachen ecosystem, including ACAM (Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing), the Internet of Production Excellence Cluster, SFB 1120, the International Center for Turbomachinery Manufacturing (ICTM), Forschungscampus DPP, Fraunhofer ILT, and Lehrstuhl für Lasertechnik LLT.

DAP operates as a public-law institution within RWTH Aachen, with no external shareholders or venture capital. It is funded through German federal ministries (BMWE, BMFTR, DFG), base university budgets, and industry cooperation agreements (e.g., AddMamBa, IDAM), with cooperative research, advanced training, and workforce qualification programs (including AR/VR-based learning that has reached 1,500+ automotive industry employees) functioning as its primary go-to-market channels. Customer engagement is project-based rather than subscription-based, and pricing is set through grant structures and cooperative research agreements rather than commercial terms.

Name

Digital Additive Production DAP - RWTH Aachen

Legal name

RWTH Aachen University – Digital Additive Production DAP

Website

https://dap-aachen.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RWTH Aachen's Digital Additive Production (DAP) chair researches metal and polymer additive manufacturing across the full process chain, publishing open-source software and training programs for industry partners in aerospace, turbomachinery, automotive, construction, and biomedical sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: Funded by government agencies including BMWE (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), BMFTR (Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space), and DFG (German Research Foundation). Projects include AddMamBa (FKZ 03LB3019B), IDAM (FKZ 13N15084), and Exploratory Research Space programs.
2. Industry Cooperation and Services: Collaboration opportunities, technical services, and advanced training programs for industry partners. Includes continuing education and qualification programs.
3. Education and Training: University-level education, apprenticeships (MATSE, materials tester, management assistants), practical projects, internships, and thesis supervision.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DAP is a university research chair that conducts applied research across the entire additive manufacturing process chain — from digitization and production networking through materials and manufacturing to post-processing and quality assurance — covering PBF-LB/M, EHLA/DED, and metal/polymer/ceramic AM. It sells no commercial hardware; instead, it delivers cooperative R&D projects, industry services, open-source AM software (DAP-CG, Open Vector Format, Nesting/Orientation tools), and professional training/qualification programs to industrial partners in aerospace, automotive, turbomachinery, construction, and biomedical sectors.

Product overview

RWTH Aachen DAP is a university research chair focused on additive manufacturing (AM), operating across the entire AM process chain from digitization and production networking through materials and manufacturing to post-processing and quality assurance. The chair's portfolio includes research software tools such as DAPComputationalGeometry (open-source geometry algorithms for AM-CAM), Open Vector Format (open production data format), DAP Nesting Software, DAP Orientation Software, and Rapid Alloy Development approaches. With over 3200 m² of laboratory space, more than 120 employees, and over 40 AM systems (25 for metal-based and 15 for polymer-based AM), the chair provides research, education, industry cooperation, and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAPComputationalGeometry (DAP-CG) Open-source geometry algorithm library for AM-CAM software development, providing robust algorithms for part orientation, support structure generation, nesting, slicing, and scan strategy optimization. Available free for research, industry, and commercial use under the Boost Software License.
• Open Vector Format (OVF) An open, extensible, and lean production data format for industrial additive manufacturing that enables open interfaces, quality control, and process integration across the additive manufacturing value chain. Paves the way for Industry 4.0 in AM.
• DAP Nesting Software Software for overlap-free positioning of parts in the build space (nesting) using quality and cost-relevant target criteria. Used by AM process planners to optimize build-plate utilization.
• DAP Orientation Software Software that determines optimal part orientation based on quality and cost-relevant target criteria, calculating support structure requirements for various orientation options.
• Rapid Alloy Development (RAD) An approach using the EHLA process for rapid screening and development of alloy compositions, enabling quick variation of chemical composition and solidification conditions to accelerate new alloy qualification for AM.
• Cooperative research and industry R&D services Applied research and development projects conducted jointly with industrial partners (e.g., AddMamBa, IDAM), covering AM process development, material qualification, component design, topology optimization, and lifecycle-oriented design across the AM process chain.
• AM qualification, training and continuing education programs Vocational training, continuing education, and professional qualification programs for AM adoption, including long-term AM qualification programs, workshops, and AR/VR-based immersive training reaching industrial workforces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Polygon compression algorithm reduced nesting memory requirement by factor of 5
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ACAM Aachen Center for Additive ManufacturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing network, connecting AM research and industry in the RWTH campus ecosystem
• Exzellenzcluster Internet of Production (IoP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative excellence cluster focused on digitalization and networking in production, part of RWTH's strategic research initiatives
• Sonderforschungsbereich SFB 1120 - BauteilpräzisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research unit (DFG-funded) focused on component precision in manufacturing processes
• Forschungscampus DPPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch campus initiative focused on digital planning and production technologies
• International Center for Turbomachinery Manufacturing (ICTM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research center for turbomachinery manufacturing technology and innovation
• Kueppers Solutions GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project development of components demonstrating AM capabilities for industrial applications
• Physikalisches Institut III - RWTH AachencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on high-temperature superconductors combining DAP's AM expertise with the institute's physics capabilities
• Fraunhofer ILTmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartner institute for laser technology within the RWTH Aachen ecosystem
• Lehrstuhl für Lasertechnik LLTmajorTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative partner chair for laser technology within RWTH
• Institut für Stahlbau - RWTH AachenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in AddMamBa project providing expertise in sustainability and metal lightweight construction
• Lehrstuhl für Stahlbau und Leichtmetallbau (STB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in AddMamBa project for structural engineering applications of AM
• ESA and NASAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research presentation at Worldwide Advanced Manufacturing Symposium (WAMS26) on superalloy processing for space applications
• Projektträger Jülich (PTJ)majorOthersProject management organization administering the AddMamBa funding program

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Materialise: Belgian provider of AM software (Magics, Streamics) and on-demand 3D printing services, with deep industry collaborations and a Magics suite that competes with DAP's open-source CAM tooling. Materialise is a direct industrial counterpart in AM-CAM software and AM-enabled manufacturing.
• SLM Solutions: Hamburg-based manufacturer of selective laser melting systems for metal AM, with active R&D in nickel-based superalloys and process parameter development. Directly competes with DAP's PBF-LB/M research agenda and shares the German AM research ecosystem.
• Burloak Technologies: Canada-based AM service bureau specializing in complex metal and polymer parts for aerospace, automotive, and industrial customers. Comparable to DAP's metal AM process chain focus and a likely partner or competitor for industry-funded research translation.
• Fraunhofer IAPT: Germany's leading applied research institute for additive manufacturing, also based in the Hamburg/Hamburg region. Fraunhofer IAPT operates directly comparable AM research capabilities, material and process development, and industry partnership models, making it the closest functional peer to DAP within the German research ecosystem.
• ACAM Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing: RWTH Aachen-affiliated competence center linking AM research and industry. Listed as a core strategic partner of DAP; functions as a sister organization within the same ecosystem, providing industry-partner access that directly anchors DAP's collaborative research model.

Broad incumbents

• EOS GmbH: Global leader in industrial metal and polymer AM systems with broad software and services. EOS is a frequent industry partner of university research institutes and competes with DAP's R&D output by industrializing process knowledge faster into commercial systems.
• Stratasys: Global AM incumbent with a strong polymer and growing metal/polymer systems portfolio. Overlaps with DAP's polymer AM research (15 polymer AM systems) and serves as a comparison point for academic-industry collaboration models.
• 3D Systems: US-based broad-line AM hardware, software, and services company. 3D Systems delivers end-to-end AM solutions that touch DAP's full process chain (design, materials, production, post-processing) and is a key industrial partner for research translation.
• Autodesk (Generative Design & AM Solutions): Provides Fusion 360 and generative design tooling widely used in AM design workflows. Overlaps with DAP's open-source computational geometry and orientation software as a leading commercial platform for designers adopting AM.

Emerging players

• nTopology: US-based engineering software company focused on design for additive manufacturing, providing topology optimization and lattice-generation tools. Overlaps with DAP's DAP-CG and orientation/nesting capabilities and competes for industry mindshare in AM design software.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dap_rwth
• Facebookfacebook.com/daprwth
• Instagraminstagram.com/daprwth/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/dap-rwth-aachen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Digital Additive Production DAP - RWTH Aachen