Conventionally, micro-structured surfaces are generated using material removal processes, e.g. laser ablation or machining. To eliminate this process step, a research project is dealing with the generation of micro-structures using a laser cladding process. In order to achieve this, a new cladding strategy has to be developed, which allows the variable placement of micro-structures in the range of 50 µm to 120 µm. This strategy includes two main concepts. On the one hand, a scanner is used to form a quasi-line focus by oscillating the laser beam and interrupting the beam in small areas. On the other hand, different lateral powder nozzles have been developed to generate a flat powder beam with a width of 30 mm. Using an additional gas jet, small sections of the powder beam can be deflected, so that the powder particles do not enter the process zone. The main advantages other than those mentioned are surface treatment of a large area (30 mm) and generation of tribologically and mechanically optimized wear resistant layers with an integrated micro-structure in a single process step using wear resistant powder materials. Potential applications are highly stress-loaded systems e.g. cylinders of piston engines. First results of the process using the flat beam powder nozzles are presented here.