12.09.2022 • News • Acquisitions and mergers • Laser

Lasea acquires Laser Cheval

Continuing on its growth trajectory, Lasea consolidates its strong position in Switzerland and France and extends its offer in welding and marking applications.

The Lasea Group, a designer and manufacturer of precision laser machines, announced the acquisition of Laser Cheval, located in Marnay, near Besançon, France. With offices in Belgium, France, Switzerland and the United States, Lasea develops and produces extremely precise laser micromachining systems and solutions for various industries. Its main customers, spread over five continents, are leading players or technological innovators active in the luxury sector, medtech, big tech and electronics, as well as research institutes.

Laser Cheval headquarters in Marnay (Source: Lasea)

White engraving for the watch industry (Source: Lasea)

Lasea’s new building in Belgium (Source: Lasea)

Previously a member of the Industries Micromécaniques Internationales (IMI), Laser Cheval strengthens Lasea’s European presence while expanding its product range. With fifty years of laser expertise, Laser Cheval designs and manufactures proven and effective solutions for laser marking, engraving, fine welding and micro-cutting applications. Located in the center of a region specializing in high precision machining, Laser Cheval is the leading French manufacturer of industrial lasers. Through its values, its know-how and its detailed knowledge of the trades – watchmaking, jewellery, luxury, medical technologies, micromechanics, aerospace, etc. – it is a reference in this market.

“The IMI Group is experiencing strong growth in the manufacturing of components for the luxury sector. We have therefore decided to strategically refocus on our activity of manufacturing components for the watchmaking, jewellery and high-tech industries. In this context, we wanted to sell Laser Cheval to a solid industrial player that would guarantee its continuity while embracing its development. We are convinced that the Lasea Group has these qualities,” said Antoine Gérard, president of the IMI Group.

Following this acquisition, Laser Cheval will continue to carry out its activities autonomously under the direction of its Managing Director, Emric Verwaerde: “Within the IMI Group, Laser Cheval has grown for fifty years. In recent years, we have known major technical developments and successes with the redesign of our range of machines, the integration of femtosecond technology and the strengthening of our customer services. By joining the Lasea group, we will be able to take advantage of these and also Lasea’s strengths with the sole objective of adding more value to our customers. We are therefore starting this new collaboration with great enthusiasm and anticipation.”

The new group will employ 160 people at six locations in four countries.

Axel Kupisiewicz, CEO of Lasea: “We are delighted to welcome new passionate employees to Lasea. This merger is fully in line with our growth strategy and will also allow interesting technical synergies. The complementarity between our innovative texturizations and microwelding will, for example, offer new opportunities for our customers in the field of batteries and fuel cells.”