The process of handing over the reins of the company was completed in August 2016. Peter von Jan, founder and long-term managing director/CEO, stepped down from the board of Raylase after 17 years at the helm. The process of handing over the reins of Raylase AG was successfully completed over the course of 2016. Dr. Philipp Schön took over as chairman of the board/CEO, with responsibility for strategy and markets. In addition, Christoph von Jan took over as COO in charge of operations, and Berthold Dambacher became the new CTO heading up technology. Meanwhile, Peter von Jan stepped down from the company's board of management. Peter von Jan will continue to contribute the experience he has gained over many years and, at the request of the board, will continue to run the business in Asia.

The new board members have already stimulated new growth in various ways over the past 12 months. For example, they have honed the identity of Raylase AG as a company that is highly customer-focused, quality-conscious and innovative. They have also optimized processes and brought several innovations to market, including a particularly powerful and easily integrated module for 3D printing systems in additive manufacturing. Raylase also recently established a new subsidiary in the USA, which will allow it to tap into the North-American market to a greater extent, complementing the already strong presence it enjoys in Europe and China.

Raylase AG benefits from the complementary skills and experience of its board members. Up until almost two years ago, Dr. Philipp Schön was managing director of a Swiss technology company focused on developing new business segments and markets. In this new role at Raylase, he is using his foresight to focus the business on existing customers and new target markets.

Before his appointment to the board, Berthold Dambacher led technical development within Raylase AG. In that role, his extensive experience gained from many leadership positions with a major global corporation contributed to the success of the company. As CTO, he and his team research and develop innovative solutions for laser material processing for customers worldwide.

Christoph von Jan has been with the company for 16 years. As head of operations, he has responsibility for finance, production, quality management, and all other central services in the organization.