EOS North America integrates with ALM and Integra

11 Jun 2014

Reorganization creates a single company with years of laser-sintering knowledge.

3D laser additive manufacturing company EOS has announced the integration of Advanced Laser Materials and Integra, both based in Texas, USA. EOS describes the move as, “a strategic development to strengthen service and application offerings in response to the continued growth and evolution of the North American customer base."

The development expands the company’s total service capacity in North America for EOS systems and positions service assets closer to industrial manufacturing customers. The new arrangement will allow the group to more efficiently partner with customers to create customized system and process solutions and take new manufacturing applications rapidly to market.

Donald Vanelli, newly-appointed president and COO of EOS of North America, commented, “Business is growing at a fantastic rate in part because our technology allows customers to shift from prototyping into manufacturing. There are laser-sintered components in flight in aircraft as well as FDA-approved implants in the human body, for example. “While the three organizations have worked together for more than a decade, the reorganization now also consolidates a central management team, drawing on experience from all areas while maintaining their multiple operational locations to offer expertise in existing specialties.”

The reorganization was in part orchestrated by Bruce Thornton, former chairman of ALM and new chairman of EOS of North America, Inc. Thornton, with over 30 years of experience executing strategic growth development for various organizations, will oversee the integration and overall strategy.

Single company

Overall, the alignment creates a single company with years of laser-sintering knowledge from different perspectives. “We’ve worked with each other practically from our inception, and we understand how to unite our talents and experience to offer customers a one-stop shop of everything they need for industrial 3D-printed applications,” says Andrew Snow, promoted to Senior VP of EOS of North America.

Dr. Hans J. Langer, CEO EOS Group, is steering the strategic direction of EOS, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The company opened North America operations in 2001. With over 500 employees, customers in more than 50 countries and close to 1,500 systems installations worldwide, EOS is focusing on innovation and quality as well as customer orientation.

Langer commented, “Globalization is changing us into a company where customer proximity and local value add are critical success factors to best serving our local markets. Integrating all our activities in one North American entity will allow us to better support North American customers.”

The new field service initiative, now spearheaded by Integra’s Lance Shanklin, VP applications and development, and Mike Conner, vice president of service, will speed response time, increase uptime, and provide the highest levels of expertise to customers.

About the Author

Matthew Peach is a contributing editor to optics.org.