About Us
Founded in 1984, Heidelberg Instruments is a global leader in high-precision laser lithography, maskless aligners, and nanofabrication tools. With over 1,500 systems installed in more than 50 countries, our technology powers micro- and nanoscale surface structuring.
Our systems range from compact tabletop tools to advanced photomask production equipment and are trusted by leading universities, R&D institutes, and industrial customers worldwide. They enable innovation in fields such as micro-optics, photonics, semiconductors, quantum technologies, MEMS, microfluidics, and 2D materials.
We build long-term partnerships with our customers, offering dedicated support throughout each system’s lifetime. By continuously advancing our expertise in mechanics, optics, electronics, and software, we deliver cutting-edge solutions that go beyond the limits of conventional lithography.
Heidelberg Instruments is part of the Lab14 Group, a network of high-tech companies driving innovation in micro- and nanofabrication and surface analysis.

Certified and reliable
We have established and apply the Quality Management System ISO 9001 for development, manufacture, sales and service of laser lithography systems. The ISO-certificate is our mission and aspiration to deliver the highest quality for our customers. It is the foundation to face new challenges and to unremittingly improve our processes and company.
Top sustainable maskless lithography solutions
Semiconductor Review has named Heidelberg Instruments a “Top Sustainable Maskless Lithography Solutions” provider. This award recognizes the trust placed in us by our customers and industry peers, following an evaluation by an expert panel of executives, thought leaders, and Semiconductor Review’s editorial board. It underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the field.
Management
The members of the management board at Heidelberg Instruments have a thing or three in common: A rock-solid background in physics and applied sciences, the passion for research and development, and a strong motivation to enable our customers with the best lithography tools in the market.
Konrad Rößler
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Konrad Rößler
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Studied Physics and graduated from Heidelberg University in 1993. Joined Heidelberg Instruments in 1994, working as a R&D and systems engineer. Lived and worked in East Asia from 1997 to 2005: initially in charge of customer support for industrial users; later he established service offices for Heidelberg Instruments in Taiwan and Japan; also helped to set up offices in China and Korea before handing operations over to local management. Relocated to Germany in 2005 and to various positions in the middle technical management of Heidelberg Instruments. Became Head of Service in Japan in 2013 and focused on the development of industrial customers throughout Asia for the next four years. Returned to headquarters in 2017 as CTO. Became CEO in 2019 and is currently in charge of technology, administration, and service.
Steffen Diez
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Steffen Diez
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Studied Electrical Engineering; graduated from Karlsruhe University (Germany) in 1999. At Heidelberg Instruments, he initially focused on Laser Direct Imaging products; introduced a new modulator technology and implemented the first multi-head writing strategy. Drove business development for Direct Writing applications from 2011 to 2015; became Product Manager for the MLA (Maskless Aligner) series; created a market for MLA products and increased overall systems sales by more than 30%, before becoming Managing Director and a member of the Executive Board. Has been serving as COO since 2019, focusing on process optimization, quality management, customer satisfaction and employee initiatives, while expanding the market for Direct Lithography.
Konrad Rößler
Biography
Studied Physics and graduated from Heidelberg University in 1993. Joined Heidelberg Instruments in 1994, working as a R&D and systems engineer. Lived and worked in East Asia from 1997 to 2005: initially in charge of customer support for industrial users; later he established service offices for Heidelberg Instruments in Taiwan and Japan; also helped to set up offices in China and Korea before handing operations over to local management. Relocated to Germany in 2005 and to various positions in the middle technical management of Heidelberg Instruments. Became Head of Service in Japan in 2013 and focused on the development of industrial customers throughout Asia for the next four years. Returned to headquarters in 2017 as CTO. Became CEO in 2019 and is currently in charge of technology, administration, and service.
Steffen Diez
Biography
Studied Electrical Engineering; graduated from Karlsruhe University (Germany) in 1999. At Heidelberg Instruments, he initially focused on Laser Direct Imaging products; introduced a new modulator technology and implemented the first multi-head writing strategy. Drove business development for Direct Writing applications from 2011 to 2015; became Product Manager for the MLA (Maskless Aligner) series; created a market for MLA products and increased overall systems sales by more than 30%, before becoming Managing Director and a member of the Executive Board. Has been serving as COO since 2019, focusing on process optimization, quality management, customer satisfaction and employee initiatives, while expanding the market for Direct Lithography.
Christian Bach
Head of Service and CEO of Heidelberg Instruments USA
Christian Bach
Head of Service and CEO of Heidelberg Instruments USA
Studied Physics, graduated from Heidelberg University in 1996 and joined Heidelberg Instruments the same year. Lead the Taiwan subsidiary as CEO from 2001 to 2008; was assigned as CEO of Heidelberg Instruments USA in 2008; also took on multinational responsibilities as Head of Service in 2020. Currently, he is in charge of the US subsidiary and the global service operations in Europe, USA, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Achim Jehle
Head of Research and Development
Achim Jehle
Head of Research & Development
Studied Physics and graduated from Heidelberg University in 1994, having worked on Real Time Confocal Microscopes at Leica Lasertechnik for his thesis. Joined Heidelberg Instruments as a Project Engineer initially; soon became Product Manager for the DWL series and got engaged in major R&D projects. In 2011, he became Product Manager of the VPG series and a member of the Technical Board; has been Head of R&D since 2019, is responsible for all development departments, and in charge of coordinating R&D projects across all Heidelberg Instruments companies.
Peter Heyl
Head of Product Management
Peter Heyl
Head of Product Management
Studied physics and graduated from Heidelberg University in 1996 and started working for Heidelberg Instruments. Took over the ‘Application Department” after completing his doctorate in 2004; became a member of the Technical Board in 2012; was promoted to Head of Product Management in 2019; has been in charge of any product manager throughout the organization ever since, and is also responsible for Heidelberg Instruments DWL series.
Christian Bach
Biography
Studied Physics, graduated from Heidelberg University in 1996 and joined Heidelberg Instruments the same year. Lead the Taiwan subsidiary as CEO from 2001 to 2008; was assigned as CEO of Heidelberg Instruments USA in 2008; also took on multinational responsibilities as Head of Service in 2020. Currently, he is in charge of the US subsidiary and the global service operations in Europe, USA, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Achim Jehle
Biography
Studied Physics and graduated from Heidelberg University in 1994, having worked on Real Time Confocal Microscopes at Leica Lasertechnik for his thesis. Joined Heidelberg Instruments as a Project Engineer initially; soon became Product Manager for the DWL series and got engaged in major R&D projects. In 2011, he became Product Manager of the VPG series and a member of the Technical Board; has been Head of R&D since 2019, is responsible for all development departments, and in charge of coordinating R&D projects across all Heidelberg Instruments companies.
Peter Heyl
Biography
Studied physics and graduated from Heidelberg University in 1996 and started working for Heidelberg Instruments. Took over the ‘Application Department” after completing his doctorate in 2004; became a member of the Technical Board in 2012; was promoted to Head of Product Management in 2019; has been in charge of any product manager throughout the organization ever since, and is also responsible for Heidelberg Instruments DWL series.
Alexander Forozan
VP of Global Sales and Business Development
Alexander Forozan
VP of Global Sales and Business Development
Alexander Forozan holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering and Executive Business Management from the University of California at Berkeley. Started his career in 1996 with Intel Corporation as a process engineer; joined Heidelberg Instruments in 2001. Managed the newly established Technical Sales in the US; became Director of North and South American Sales; took over Asia Pacific sales; was put in charge of Global Sales later and has been Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development since 2019.
Benedikt Stender
Branch Manager Heidelberg Instruments Würzburg (formerly Multiphoton Optics)
Dr. Benedikt Stender
CEO of Multiphoton Optics GmbH
Benedikt Stender received a doctoral degree (Dr. rer. Nat.) in 2017 from the University of Würzburg in the field of single
photon sources and organic electronics. Joined Multiphoton Optics GmbH, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberg Instruments, in 2015 as an Application Engineer and became Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2016, became CTO and Managing Director in 2020 and has been the CEO since 2021. At Multiphoton Optics, Benedikt has the strategic and organizational lead and is responsible for the Two-Photon Polymerization (TPP) product development.
Emine Cagin
CTO of Heidelberg Instruments Nano
Dr. Benedikt Stender
CEO of Multiphoton Optics GmbH
Benedikt Stender received a doctoral degree (Dr. rer. Nat.) in 2017 from the University of Würzburg in the field of single
photon sources and organic electronics. Joined Multiphoton Optics GmbH, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberg Instruments, in 2015 as an Application Engineer and became Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2016, became CTO and Managing Director in 2020 and has been the CEO since 2021. At Multiphoton Optics, Benedikt has the strategic and organizational lead and is responsible for the Two-Photon Polymerization (TPP) product development.
Alexander Forozan
Biography
Alexander Forozan holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering and Executive Business Management from the University of California at Berkeley. Started his career in 1996 with Intel Corporation as a process engineer; joined Heidelberg Instruments in 2001. Managed the newly established Technical Sales in the US; became Director of North and South American Sales; took over Asia Pacific sales; was put in charge of Global Sales later and has been Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development since 2019.
Benedikt Stender
Biography
Benedikt Stender received a doctoral degree (Dr. rer. Nat.) in 2017 from the University of Würzburg in the field of single photon sources and organic electronics. Joined Multiphoton Optics GmbH, now the branch office Heidelberg Instruments Würzburg, in 2015 as an Application Engineer and became Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2016, became CTO and Managing Director in 2020, and CEO in 2021. In 2023, Multiphoton Optics has been converted into a branch office. As the Branch Manager for the Würzburg office, Benedikt has the strategic and organizational lead and is responsible for the Two-Photon Polymerization (TPP) product development.