In 1995, the company began with the development of SLM technology for the production of components made of metallic materials. As early as 1997, the first patents were applied for. In 1999, the company delivered the world’s first SLM machine for metals at the research centre in Karlsruhe. In 2004, Dr. Matthias Fockele founded ReaLizer GmbH, another enterprise which focuses on the development and production of SLM machines for the manufacture of metal workpieces.