Aachen, Germany – Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) will show, at the April Hannover Fair, a flexible system concept for laser cutting, welding, structuring and inscribing processes. Because of its high flexibility with regard to component geometry this system is suitable for the production of prototypes and small production runs.

Stratford, CT – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has launched its new technology development organization – Sikorsky Innovations, whose mission is to develop and mature the technologies, products, and processes that will redefine the future of vertical flight.

Ditzingen, Germany – Over the next two years, PSA Peugeot Citroën will be equipping its production sites with additional, next-generation TruDisk disk lasers, according to an agreement announced recently with TRUMPF.

Lüneberg, Germany--Anyone specializing in the design and manufacture of flexible PCBs, flex circuits (FCPs), and polymers is now able to do it with the flexibility and precision of laser technology.

East Hartford, CT--Attendees at this yeas SALA will view the latest in advanced industrial laser equipment and industrial laser materials processing applications shown at an Open House to be held April 15th at the Laser Applications Laboratories of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT).

Alberta, Canada--GT Metal Products (www.gtmetal.com) provides custom fabrication services using two Mazak STX510 MkII 2.5kW laser cutters. The company had previously been running two CAM systems to drive the lasers, but experienced problems that made them consider alternative solutions.

Shelby Township, MI - Tony Pinho, president of Duggan Manufacturing, says, “Custom, precision metal parts manufacturers like ourselves must utilize, and be familiar with, the most advanced manufacturing technologies. For example, we recently undertook a major investment in remote fiber laser processing equipment and hired Vancho Naumovski, one of the leading experts in the application of remote fiber lasers for welding. Mr. Naumovski has spent over 20 years in laser processing, he has been a co-author on a number of patents in the laser field, and will serve as Duggan Manufacturing’s new director of laser technology. With his assistance we were able to design and build our first remote laser welding system in just six weeks.”

ORLANDO, Florida --The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is creating a buzz of excitement with its second annual Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) workshop in Houston, Texas, May 11–12, which will provide industry experts from fields such as automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, biomedical, construction, and others to discuss and tout laser additive manufacturing’s vast potential.

Dr. Ron Schaeffer, a member of the Industrial Laser Solutions International Editorial Advisory Board, shares  his recent experiences from an extended West Coast sales and marketing trip. We specifically asked him to check out the pulse of the recovery in industrial laser processing.

East Hartford, CT—Many industrial laser system companies may be unaware of the advantages offered by the U.S. government’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants. The organizers of the Symposium on Advanced Laser Applications (SALA) initiated sessions on SBIRs several years ago, and the response was such that they have continued the practice this year at the April 14–15 event.

Murrysville, PA—As finished products become smaller and lighter weight and with new component packages shrinking in size, circuit density is steadily increasing. Microvia technology helps designers fit more connections in less space.

East Hartford, CT - Concurrent Technology Corporation (CTC) has been involved in a number of laser coating removal efforts for aerospace applications. At the Symposium for Advanced Laser Applications (April 14-15, 2010) Gerard Mongelli will present an overview of some of the recent and future efforts that CTC has in this area including a review of the update to the Laser Automated De-coating System (LADS) at Ogden Air Logistic Center.

Hanover, Germany - EuroBLECH 2010, the 21st International Technology Exhibition for Sheet Metal Working, will be held October 26-30 Hanover, where it will be the focus of the global sheet metal working industry for its role as the world’s leading trade exhibition and trend barometer for this industry sector.

Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati Incorporated is turning the tables on the economic downturn and positioning itself for the recovery, much as it prompts its own customers to do. The company is investing 10 percent of 2009 sales – and another 10 percent in 2010 – to re-tool its plant and implement lean practices from top to bottom.

East Hartford, CT – The controllability factor of laser processing is a feature that attracts process developers. This is one of the reasons that laser additive manufacturing (LAM) is currently a hot topic, especially laser cladding, which is a significant subset of LAM applications.

Stuttgart, Germany – The idea for the "Solution Center - meet the experts" for LASYS 2010 was created jointly with the LASYS Advisory Board to convince trade fair visitors of the benefits of innovative laser technology and to recommend individual solutions for their specific problems.

St. Paul, MN—Quality Tool Inc., a metal-fabrication contract manufacturer, has added a turret punch/laser system, the Amada EMLK3610NT, with an energy-efficient servo-electric drive system. This equipment delivers high-speed, tight-tolerance punching and laser cutting in combination with forming capability and automated load/unload material handling systems.

East Hartford, CT - It’s one of those interesting industrial laser applications that, for one reason or other, never seem to make the market impact that it should. I’m talking about the use of high-energy lasers to remove paint from structural materials, such as aircraft fuselages.

Duisburg, Germany - ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH has developed a new production process that makes parts by joining together different materials with different thicknesses or coatings by laser welding.

Richmond, Calif. - Heliodyne Corporation has entered into an agreement whereby Alanod-Solar Inc. (Ennepetal, Germany) will become the sublicensee of Heliodyne’s rights to use a patent owned by Sandia Corporation for the laser welding of metal fins to metal tubes.