LAYERTEC company founder Hartmut Heyer awarded the Ernst Abbe Prize

Mellingen, November 30, 2022

On November 30, 2022, Hartmut Heyer received the “Ernst Abbe Prize for innovative entrepreneurship” for his life’s work, the development of the LAYERTEC company. The company from Mellingen, Germany, has been manufacturing high-precision optics for demanding laser applications for over 30 years for customers all over the world. See the video post here.

The Ernst Abbe Prize is awarded to entrepreneurs for special merit to Thuringia as a location for science and technology. The prize is awarded annually as part of the Thuringian Innovation Prize to entrepreneurs who advance the economy and at the same time take responsibility for their employees. LAYERTEC is proud of this award, which, as Hartmut Heyer emphasizes, “is not only dedicated to him, but to all employees”.

It all started in 1990, shortly after the German reunification. At that time, Hartmut Heyer was coating the first optics in his garage using magnetron sputtering technology, which was still new at the time. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the LAYERTEC company. Starting with optical coatings, an in-house precision optics production was set up early on, so that the entire production of the laser optics and thus full control was guaranteed. The results were so convincing right from the start that the company was able to steadily expand its customer base. LAYERTEC now employs more than 350 people and plans to further expand production. LAYERTEC is therefore well prepared for the future.