Announcing Our New CEO – Bjoern Klaas

Fractory is entering an incredibly exciting stage of growth. We’re investing further in scaling, whilst staying true to our original vision around manufacturing as a multi-stage connected ecosystem.

Enhancing what works well in the team and adding further industry and leadership capacity is something we’ve been discussing in the run-up to this new chapter. That’s why we’re pleased to announce our new CEO: Bjoern Klaas.

Bjoern—an experienced General Manager from the digital manufacturing industry—spent the last 7 years serving as Managing Director at Protolabs Europe. He brings over 25 years of knowledge and experience from the process and discrete manufacturing industry, having previously held other senior leadership positions at PolyOne, Color Matrix, Colorant Chromatics, and Clariant International.

Bjoern’s vast experience in cloud manufacturing makes him a perfect fit for Fractory, and we’re incredibly excited to welcome him to the team. His arrival coincides with our latest round of funding, well positioning Fractory as we prepare for our next stage of growth.

Bjoern Klaas, CEO, Fractory:

“Fractory offers the most advanced and intelligent approach to cloud-based metal fabrication. By automating and digitally coordinating every step of the manufacturing process—from quoting to production to delivery—we create value for both customers and manufacturing partners. Fractory’s model doesn’t only solve today’s challenges, it’ll shape the future of the manufacturing industry. I’m excited to scale it further and build on the incredible work already done by Fractory’s team.”

Martin Vares, COO, Fractory:

“This is an incredibly exciting moment, both for me personally and for Fractory as a business. As founders—me, Rein Torm, and Joosep Merelaht—have been all-in for 7 years. The fact that we managed to attract a top player in our field is a testament to what we have built. Bjoern brings in valuable expertise, fresh ideas, and also challenges us. This union of entrepreneurial spirit and incredibly fitting experience means Fractory’s DNA remains not only intact but it gets enhanced.

There’s an obvious element of bittersweetness for me personally, having guided Fractory for the past seven years. However, the overwhelming feeling is one of positivity. Bjoern and I share a vision of how a seamlessly connected manufacturing ecosystem can revolutionise the industry, so I couldn’t have asked for a better person to pass the torch to. I look forward to focusing my energy on manufacturing – the core of our business.”

Strengthening the Vision: A Connected Manufacturing Ecosystem

Our core vision around building a connected and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem remains unchanged, but is further strengthened:

• Building a connected, multi-stage manufacturing ecosystem
• Delivering a best-in-class international manufacturing service
• Enhancing a data-driven, collaborative, and sustainable business model.
• Driving both economic and ecological benefits

The next phase is about executing at scale, leveraging Fractory’s strengths in automation, digital workflows (aggregation pooling, sequencing), and supplier network optimisation.

Next Steps: Proving the Model and Unlocking Growth

To further accelerate Fractory’s growth and secure further investment, we will focus on the following key areas:

Demonstrate unit economics and prove the business model

• Utilise technology and data to optimise margins and validate the scalability of the model
• Improve process efficiency and automation to drive down cost-per-part
• Ensure transparency in value creation, making Fractory a compelling and sought-after supplier for multi-stage production chains

Increase revenue

• Strengthen partnerships to increase supply-side efficiency and capacity
• Drive commercial acceleration through targeted customer acquisition and retention
• Expand service offerings to maximise customer lifetime value

Bjoern’s arrival—and the additional funding—reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service and high-quality finished products to our customers. Whether you’re using Fractory for laser cutting, CNC machining, assemblies, or ordering full production runs utilising our extensive range of manufacturing services, our priority remains supporting your projects with precision and efficiency. As we grow, we’re dedicated to further enhancing the experience we provide, ensuring Fractory continues to be your trusted partner in manufacturing.