--- title: "Colibrium Additive Lichtenfels grew by 50% in 2023 but heavy losses lead to layoffs" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/colibrium-additive-lichtenfels-grew-by-50-in-2023-but-heavy-losses-lead-to-layoffs/ date: 2025-01-16 modified: 2025-01-16 lang: en author: "Davide Sher" description: "Growing in revenues - even by a rate as significant as 50% - is no guarantee of success in the AM hardware business. We've seen this happen for many large..." categories: - "3D Printer Hardware" - "Additive Manufacturing" - "AM Industry Analysis and Market Data" - "Financial Reports" - "Metal Additive Manufacturing" - "Money & Funding" tags: - "insights" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GEADPR025c-640x426.jpg word_count: 731 --- # Colibrium Additive Lichtenfels grew by 50% in 2023 but heavy losses lead to layoffs Growing in revenues - even by a rate as significant as 50% - is no guarantee of success in the AM hardware business. We've seen this happen for many large companies and the trend seems to continue with Colibrium Additive. According to the NorthData platform (the Hamburg-based company that analyzes mandatory publications of European companies) – [as reported by German publication Obermain Tagblatt](https://www.obermain.de/lokal/obermain/massenentlassungen-bei-colibrium-additive-lichtenfels;art2414,1342280) – Colibrium Additive Lichtenfels, the division of Colibrium Additive (part of General Electric) that produces LPBF hardware systems, the company generated revenues for €80.6 million in 2023, growing by an impressive 50.6% YoY rate. However, Colibrium also reported losses of €52.9 million, more than doubled from the previous year (26 million), leading to significant layoffs. The report also added that sales have been steadily increasing: in 2021, revenue was €53.6 million, and in 2022, it was €52.6 million. The €80.6 million in revenue was almost back to the pre-COVID level of 2019 when the company generated €89.7 million in sales. This situation has led the company to reportedly lay off between 40% and 48% of its roughly 400 employees. Colibirum Additive (then known as GE Additive Concept Laser) inaugurated the 40,000 sqm ultra-modern facility in Lichtenfels, Bavaria, in 2019, a part of continued investment in Lean manufacturing sites, in response to growing customer demand for its technology and the shift to additive serial production. The new GE Additive/Colibrium Additive Lichtenfels campus was built to have a total capacity of up to 700 employees. In addition to GE Additive Lichtenfels, the [company had also opened a new facility in Gothenburg, Sweden as a center of excellence for its Arcam EBM products](https://www.voxelmatters.com/arcam-ebm-lead-future-of-additive-manufacturing/). ![Colibrium Additive Lichtenfels grew by 50% in 2023 but heavy losses lead to layoffs. The company generated over €80 million in revenues but lost over €50 million, with orders decreasing in 2024](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GEADPR025d-scaled.jpg) At the time, Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Markus Söder congratulated on the inauguration. “GE Additive Concept Laser is a pioneer and world-class in 3D printing. The new campus in Lichtenfels is a technology and job motor for Industry 4.0 in Upper Franconia. Technological leadership in rural areas, large industrial investments throughout the state – that is high tech made in Bavaria.” As recently as March 2024, [GE Aerospace has continued investing in additive manufacturing in the US and Europe](https://www.voxelmatters.com/ge-aerospace-to-invest-over-700-million-to-expand-manufacturing/). However, most of these are related to the adoption of AM technology (which is GE Aerospace's business) rather than AM hardware manufacturing (Colibrium Additive's main business). The 2024 investments in Europe will go to several sites, with a significant focus on Italy, [where most of GE Aerospace’s AM production activities originated and are still conducted today](https://www.voxelmatters.com/avio-aero-beamit-group-and-ge-additive-sign-a-strategic-technology-collaboration-agreement/). A total of €44 million ($47.9 million) across multiple locations in Italy will go to new and upgraded test cells, additional tooling, new equipment and upgrades to buildings for the production of narrow and widebody commercial aircraft engines, along with military engines. Another €6.24 million ($6.8 million) is set to go to the site in Prague, Czech Republic, for new equipment and tooling, along with upgrades to the building to support the production of other efficient aircraft engines. An additional €3.39 million ($3.7 million) has been assigned to the site in Bucharest, Romania, to upgrade machines and purchase new equipment and tooling to support the production of narrowbody aircraft engines. A total of €9.46 million ($10.3 million) goes to several sites in Poland for new equipment and tooling, new test cells, and upgrades to some buildings to support the production of narrow and widebody commercial aircraft and military engines. Another £1.6 million ($2.1 million or €1.9 million) goes to Gloucester, United Kingdom, for new machines, additional tooling, and safety enhancements to the facility. The Obermain Tagblatt editorial team confronted a company spokesperson from Colibrium Additive Lichtenfels and received no denial but no answers to specific questions about the current number of employees, layoffs, or possible social compatibility criteria. "On November 6, Colibrium Additive submitted proposals for changes to GE Aerospace's European Works Council," the company spokesperson replied to the request. "Taking into account the current conditions in the additive industry, we are proposing measures to make our business more efficient best to meet the needs of our employees and customers." "We appreciate the commitment of all our employees during this time and regret having to take this measure." The company spokesman did not provide any further details. He left the question about the exact number of layoffs unanswered. However, the German Trade Union Confederation knows from employee circles that "stacks of dismissal letters were lying on the desk of a person in charge."