3D-Micromac AG

Their core work

3D-Micromac is a German SME specializing in laser micromachining systems and processes for advanced manufacturing applications. They develop laser-based tools for precise material processing — from ablating barrier films on electronic devices to structuring solar cells and supporting pilot lines for medical implants. Their core value lies in providing high-precision laser processing technology that enables manufacturing breakthroughs across multiple industries, including photovoltaics, medical devices, and flexible electronics.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

3D-Micromac began their H2020 participation focused on laser ablation for organic electronics (ALABO, 2015), then broadened into medical device manufacturing (POSITION-II, 2018) and photovoltaic module production (HighLite, 2019). The shift shows a deliberate move from niche thin-film processing toward higher-volume industrial applications in energy and medtech. Their largest funding came from the most recent energy project, suggesting PV manufacturing is becoming a priority growth area.

Moving from R&D-stage thin-film processing toward industrial-scale laser manufacturing for solar energy and medical devices, with growing project budgets reflecting increasing commercial relevance.

How they like to work

3D-Micromac consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, which is typical for a technology SME that provides specialized equipment or processes within larger innovation projects. With 65 unique partners across just 3 projects, they engage in large consortia (averaging 20+ partners per project), indicating comfort working within complex, multi-partner Innovation Actions and pilot lines. This makes them a reliable, low-friction technology partner who integrates well into large EU projects.

Despite only 3 projects, 3D-Micromac has built a broad network of 65 partners across 15 countries, reflecting their participation in large-scale Innovation Actions and pilot lines with pan-European reach.

What sets them apart

3D-Micromac occupies a rare niche as a laser micromachining SME that can transfer its core technology across very different application domains — from solar cells to medical implants to flexible electronics. This cross-sector versatility, combined with their base in Chemnitz (a strong German manufacturing and semiconductor cluster), makes them an attractive partner when a consortium needs precision laser processing capability. For coordinators building pilot-line or manufacturing-scale projects, they bring proven equipment expertise without the overhead of a large corporation.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HighLite
  Their largest H2020 project (EUR 648,375), focused on competitive EU PV manufacturing across multiple solar cell technologies including SHJ, IBC, and shingle modules.
• POSITION-II
  A cross-sector move into medical device pilot lines for smart catheters and implants, demonstrating the versatility of their laser micromachining technology beyond electronics and energy.