Laserhub apparently growing despite "crisis year"

Although the year was not easy for the metalworking industry, the start-up reported growth.

The Stuttgart-based start-up Laserhub can look back on an eventful year: the pandemic took its toll on the metalworking industry, which is particularly important for the start-up. The company also embarked on a strategic consolidation. Despite all the challenges, Laserhub reported that it was able to achieve record sales. Revenue per customer also increased. In December, Laserhub cracked the 100-employee mark.

"In the crisis year 2021, our platform achieved record sales and we shipped a total of over 3,000 tons of material," says co-founder Christoph Rößner. "The network of producers in Germany, France and Austria has also grown to over 80. The 100 mark is also within reach here." Laserhub is planning to open up new national markets in 2022. Laserhub's demand increased in the winter months in particular, with a Black Friday promotion attracting many customers.

For the coming year, the company is expecting a steeper increase in growth. The outlook for metal processing is good. In fact, the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) has increased its growth forecast for 2022 from five to seven percent. The association had been forced to lower its forecast for 2021: from ten to seven percent.

Laserhub GmbH was launched four years ago. The company claims to be gradually digitalizing the metalworking industry, which it considers to be "largely analogue". To this end, the start-up launched an automated platform for initiating business and handling processes. An algorithm links customer requests with producer resources from the Laserhub network. This should reduce process and parts costs as well as ordering and processing times for procurers. Meanwhile, manufacturers can use free production resources, which should lead to an increase in efficiency. The company's customers include traditional craft businesses, SMEs as well as DAX companies.