Blackbird Robotics and Lessmüller Lasertechnik will combine operations under a new name, iQLASE GmbH, starting in August 2026. The merger pairs Blackbird's remote laser welding (RLW), on-the-fly processing, and scanner control systems with Lessmüller's optical process sensing, OCT technology, and in-process quality assurance tools, aiming to give laser processing customers what the companies call "the highest productivity, maximum process reliability, and comprehensive data intelligence" from a single vendor.
iQLASE stays under TecInvest Holding AG, and the legacy brand names Blackbird and Lessmüller continue to be used at the product level. Dr. Rüdiger Brockmann and Richard Steinbrecht, the two companies' former sole managing directors, take over as CEO and CSO of the combined operation, each bringing more than 30 years in the laser industry. Brockmann said the two companies had already been running joint projects together for two years before formalizing the merger.
Engineers who currently manage separate suppliers for beam delivery and weld-quality inspection will care about the promised single point of contact. Steinbrecht said customers will get one technical sales team and one service department instead of two, cutting down on the coordination that comes with integrating scanner hardware and inspection sensors from different vendors.
Steinbrecht also pointed to iQLASE's expanded testing capacity: several laser laboratories equipped with a range of robots and laser sources spanning 2 kW to 12 kW core-ring. That range covers application testing and process development across automotive, electronics, and medical technology manufacturing, according to Steinbrecht.
The companies have not disclosed financial terms of the merger, headcount at the combined entity, or a timeline for consolidating their separate laboratories and facilities beyond the August start date.
