DirectPhotonics Industries GmbH has secured an investment of up to €3.3 million (about $3.7 million) from existing shareholders and a new, significant industrial strategic partner. The capital will be used to accelerate growth and further develop a cost-reduced product line of kilowatt lasers for materials processing. "This investment is another important step in the development of the company," said DirectPhotonics Founder and CEO Wolfgang Gries. "It aims to create a mature industrial organization, which ensures that product qualification, manufacturing processes and customer services are in line with market expectations." Founded in 2011, DirectPhotonics provides ultrahigh-brightness direct diode laser systems for micro and macro materials processing.