3D Printing Business: Company Founder Dr. Hans J. Langer Focuses on Larger EOS Group Strategy as EOS GmbH Welcomes New CEO

As 2017 hits its midpoint, June has been heating up — and not just in the sense that it’s finally summer. Today, another major player in the 3D printing industry has announced a changeover in executive leadership as EOS introduces Dr. Adrian Keppler as the new CEO and Speaker of Corporate Management at EOS GmbH. Company founder Dr. Hans J. Langer is moving his focus to strategically expand and develop the larger EOS Group, where he continues as CEO and Chairman.

EOS is a family-owned business, founded by Dr. Langer in 1989, a structure somewhat unique in the additive manufacturing industry as it matures. The Germany-based company has developed a reputation for strength in metal and polymer industrial 3D printing, and its executives have told us before that the company is able to maintain its vision and drive toward excellence because of its family-owned, private structure.

“I wish to thank the Langer family for entrusting me with this new position and I look forward to the task ahead,” EOS GmbH’s new CEO said. “Our goal is to continue building on our leading market position and make a key contribution towards digitalization in the context of Industry 4.0. The market for Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers a great deal of potential for the future. We will support a continually growing number of customers from a broad range of industries and fields of application in integrating industrial 3D printing in existing manufacturing environments.”

Dr. Keppler’s appointment is effective immediately as he transitions into the CEO role from his previous CMO position, which he has held since 2013; while the company seeks a replacement, Dr. Keppler will perform as both CEO and CMO. His bio on EOS’ site notes that he was appointed as CEO and Speaker of Corporate Management in May, though the announcement was not made public until today. Dr. Keppler was EOS’ Head of Global Strategy and Business Development from 2011 to 2013. Prior to his tenure with EOS, he worked at Siemens AG in “strategic and operational executive functions.”

EOS GmbH will now see operational management led by Dr. Keppler together with CTO Dr. Tobias Abeln and CFO Eric Paffrath. They will be joined by the new CMO once appointed.

For his part, Dr. Langer will now take a bigger-picture focus on the EOS Group, which comprises EOS GmbH, EOS Inc., and a range of companies around the world. The common vision shared among all EOS Group companies lies in materials and additive manufacturing solutions geared toward specific customers, applications, and sectors. Dr. Keppler will be responsible for implementing the strategies for EOS GmbH.

“I am very happy to see Dr. Keppler taking on this new challenge. Even today, we can take pride in the fact that EOS continues to perform according to plan and is growing quicker than the market as a whole. With his wealth of experience in entering new market segments, Dr. Keppler is the right person to lead EOS GmbH into a successful future and continue developing it within the EOS Group,” said Dr. Langer.

Dr. Langer’s continuing legacy in additive manufacturing shows the prowess and business savvy he has brought not only to EOS but to many companies in the industry through strategic investments. Among company investments Dr. Langer has led in 3D printing are those in 3YOURMIND, DyeMansion, Exmet, and Lithoz. He has additionally been awarded for his decades of work in the industry with some high-profile recognition, including last year’s SME Additive Manufacturing Industry Achievement Award, while EOS took home a 2015 Game Changer Award in Germany.

This is the third major CEO changeover this month, as earlier this week Autodesk announced its new CEO and ten days ago GE announced its own new chief executive officer effective August 1. Summertime is picking up where the beginning of 2017 started, with some shakeups in executive structure. Discuss in the EOS forum at 3DPB.com.