Machine technology developer Concept Laser GmbH, a part of GE Additive, has laid the foundation for a new facility in Lichtenfels, Germany. Groundbreaking ceremony for new location for 3D metal printing in Lichtenfels. Courtesy of Concept Laser. The new campus will unite R&D with production, service and logistics. The offices will be finished in 2019, with 40,000 sq m of room for 500 employees. The future machine production capacity will be four times higher than its current capacity, making Concept Laser’s Lichtenfels facility a global GE center for the production of 3D metal printing machines. About €105 million ($123.5 million) will be invested into the location. “I am pleased to take the next step in our growth strategy with today’s groundbreaking,” said Frank Herzog, founder, chairman and CEO of Concept Laser. “We are not only laying the foundation for a new facility, but also creating skilled jobs in the region. Lichtenfels will become a global beacon for industrial 3D printing as the new GE center. Today is a good day for Lichtenfels and the region. I would like to thank everyone involved for making this advancement possible.” The 3D Campus will accommodate Concept Laser's growth and make room for further expansions. “The investment made by GE and Concept Laser is a clear statement of confidence in the location,” said Ilse Aigner, Bavarian minister of economic affairs and media, energy and technology. “It secures jobs and provides a vital boost to growth in the region. The 3D Campus will create a center for 3D metal printing that offers real added value for the whole of Bavaria. 3D printing is becoming more prevalent in almost all sectors because it allows lighter, more variable and more stable components to be produced using fewer resources. Additive manufacturing therefore has an important role to play for Bavaria as a forward-looking industrial location.” Concept Laser is a provider of machine and plant technology for the 3D printing of metal components. Since December 2016, Concept Laser has been part of GE Additive, a division of General Electric Co.