Concept Laser Inc.

With its close proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, company CEOs say Grapevine has become an ideal location for companies’ headquarters. In summer 2014 the city attracted German company Concept Laser Inc. President and CEO John Murray said the company is known as the global leader in the design and manufacturing of machines that use powder and lasers to melt metals around the world. “We looked at Austin and various locations on the East Coast and West Coast,” he said. “We wanted to be in the middle of the country so we could get to either coast. Most of our customers are on the East Coast or West Coast, and this location turned out to be great. And we can fly from Frankfurt, Germany, directly [to Grapevine] with no stops. We chose Grapevine because of the proximity to the [DFW] airport.” Murray said Frank Herzog founded Concept Laser in 2000. “Frank in the mid-90s was doing development on the technology of using lasers to melt titanium powder, aluminum powder, steels—all kinds of different materials—and make fully dense metal parts,” Murray said. “So he developed that in the ’90s and opened the company in 2000 and starting selling and installing machines after that.” The company’s machines are used to make products for a wide range of industries that include the aerospace, automotive, dental, jewelry and medical industries, among others. Murray said some of Concept Laser’s biggest clients include NASA, Apple Inc., the Navy, BMW and SpaceX. He said the clientele list is constantly expanding as the demand for a machine that can do intricate 3-D laser melting with metals grows. “Our X Line 2000R, which is our fastest machine, is sold out for the next 12 months,” he said. “So the demand for the machines has been absolutely stellar worldwide.” Murray said the machines are innovative in that they allow designers the freedom to design almost anything and allow for material variation. “It’s a complete revolution in manufacturing and how parts are made,” he said. “Designers do not have to worry about how the parts are going to be manufactured and can design complex shapes. Engineers have to think differently to really take advantage of the process.”