Nanoscribe

Nanoscribe GmbH & Co. KG, established in 2007 as a spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has carved out a significant niche in the high-precision microfabrication market. The company was founded by Martin Hermatschweiler, Michael Thiel, Georg von Freymann, and Martin Wegener, leveraging their collective expertise in physics and engineering to pioneer advanced 3D printing technologies. This foundation was built upon research into two-photon polymerization (2PP), a technique that enables the creation of structures at the nano- and micrometer scale with exceptional precision.

The firm's core business revolves around the development, production, and sale of 3D printers specifically designed for microfabrication. These systems are not your typical consumer-grade 3D printers; they are sophisticated instruments that serve a demanding clientele across academia, research institutions, and various industrial sectors, including micro-optics, photonics, material engineering, and life sciences. Nanoscribe's revenue is primarily generated through the sale of these high-value capital equipment systems, complemented by the ongoing provision of specialized printing materials (photoresins), software solutions, and customer support services.

At the heart of Nanoscribe's offering are its printers, such as the Photonic Professional GT2 and the Quantum X series. These machines utilize the proprietary Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP) and Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2GL) technologies. The 2PP process involves focusing a femtosecond laser beam into a photosensitive material, solidifying it at the focal point. By moving the focal point in three dimensions, intricate and complex structures can be built layer by layer with sub-micron accuracy. This capability allows for the creation of components that were previously impossible to manufacture, opening up new possibilities in areas like on-chip printing of micro-optics and the development of novel biomedical devices. In 2021, the company was acquired by BICO Group (formerly Cellink), a move that integrated Nanoscribe's microfabrication strengths into a broader bioconvergence portfolio, aiming to advance applications in life sciences and medicine.

Keywords: microfabrication, 3D printing, two-photon polymerization, micro-optics, photonics, nanotechnology, additive manufacturing, bioprinting, lithography, high-precision manufacturing