Estonian Fractory has appointed Bjoern Klaas as its new Chief Executive Officer and confirmed a new funding round to support the company’s next phase of growth. Klaas brings more than two decades of experience in process and discrete manufacturing, most recently serving as Managing Director of Protolabs Europe. His focus will be on strengthening Fractory’s multi-stage cloud manufacturing platform and developing a more connected, sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. Co-founder Martin Vares, who led the company since its inception in 2017, will continue in an operational role as COO. The new capital will be used to scale Fractory’s digital workflows, improve supply chain coordination, and extend its international reach. Fractory offers engineering businesses access to metal fabrication and other manufacturing services via a cloud-based platform, operating through a network of audited suppliers across Europe.
Fractory is a cloud-based manufacturing platform that connects engineering companies with a network of audited manufacturing partners for on-demand production. Founded in 2017, the company provides access to services such as metal cutting, CNC machining, bending, finishing, and assembly through a digital interface that automates quoting and order management. Operating across sectors including energy, aerospace, and robotics, Fractory facilitates both prototyping and large-scale production, with teams based in the UK and the Nordics to support operations across Europe.
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 Klaas’s immediate focus at Fractory will be on strengthening the company’s vision of a multi-stage, connected, and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. This includes further developing an integrated digital infrastructure for manufacturing, enhancing the quality and reach of its international service offering, and refining a data-driven and collaborative business model. A key part of this strategy is to align operational growth with both economic efficiency and ecological responsibility.
“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,” says Martin Vares, COO and Co-Founder, Fractory. “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.”
The next phase for Fractory is about executing at scale—leveraging the platform’s strengths in automation, digital workflows (aggregation pooling, sequencing), and supplier network optimisation. Moving forward in a way that strengthens existing customer and supplier relationships will be an additional focus, led by ex-CEO Martin Vares as he moves into the COO role.
Bjoern Klaas, CEO, Fractory says, “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.”
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/fractory-new-ceo-raises-funding/
