The capital injection from M80 will drive international expansion and investment opportunities. It will boost innovation in areas such as new optical components, machines, and software. And it will enable further integration of the recently acquired Belgian company Optec. M80 becomes the second largest investor and will be an active partner in the company’s further development. Lasea’s founder, Axel Kupisiewicz, remains the largest shareholder and will continue to steer the organization as its CEO.

With offices in Belgium, France, Switzerland, and the US, Lasea develops and produces extremely precise laser micromachining machines and solutions for global industries. Its top clients across five continents are leading brands in the luxury goods industry, the medtech industry, big tech and electronics, and research institutes.

Lasea has seen continuous impressive growth, doubling revenues every couple of years. The company invests heavily in research and development with a portfolio of over one hundred laser technology patents. Both Noshaq and SRIW – together with the Épimède fund early backers of Lasea – have expressed their continued support by increasing their shareholdership, maintaining Lasea’s ties to Liège and the Walloon region.

Axel Kupisiewicz, CEO Lasea: “We found in M80 the right partner to further enable our growth. They will not just provide funds, but especially act as the right soundboard and hands-on partner that we need to bring us to the next level.” 

Carl Annicq, M80 Partners: “With high-end laser machining technology breaking through on many fronts, this is an exciting industry for M80 to invest in. Lasea has strong leadership and a long list of top tier clients.  The management’s dedication to R&D means it is one of the most innovative companies around. Now is the right time for scale-up and we’re delighted to be on board.”

Further reading: L. Cangueiro, D. Bruneel (both: Lasea), T. Kiedrowski (Bosch), N. Schroeder, A. F. Lasagni (both: TU Dresden), J. A. Ramos-de-Campos (Lasea): Heat accumulation in metals under femtosecond irradiation: simulation and experimentation – Research on predicting the quality of laser processing of metals using femtosecond lasers for industrial purposes, PhotonicsViews 18(5) October/November 2021, pp. 30-33; DOI: 10.1002/phvs.202100056