International Laser Technology Congress Networking 4.0: AKL 16 Shows New Ways of Cooperation

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1 Reviews International Laser Technology Congress Networking 4.0: AKL 16 Shows New Ways of Cooperation Aachen, Germany April 2016 Every two years, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT holds the International Laser Technology Congress AKL in Aachen. Europe s biggest industry conference for applied laser technology in production drew more than 690 participants this year an increase of 10 % on The conference has also become more international, this year attracting 196 visitors from abroad, from a total of 27 different countries. The sponsors display also filled up very early on, with 52 companies represented. The core of the AKL program was the specialist conference with three separate sessions, but on top of that there were also a variety of additional events, including an introductory seminar on laser technology, specialist forums on process monitoring and additive manufacturing, and a number of evening events. Lasertechnik Live, a guide to the laser application center of the institute, proved extremely popular this year, with 91 live presentations of current projects underway at Fraunhofer ILT. A definite conference highlight was the presentation of the 2016 Laser Technology Innovation Award in the coronation hall of the Aachen town hall. The prize is awarded by Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.v. and the European Laser Institute ELI in recognition of an outstanding contribution in the field of industrial laser technology. This year, first place went to Dr. Armand Pruijmboom and his team at Philips Photonics GmbH Aachen for their development of VCSEL arrays as a new high-performance laser technology for the digital heat treatment of workpieces (cf. p. 16). The sponsors exhibition was fully booked, again offering visitors ample opportunity for discussion. (Source: Fh.-ILT) Improving efficiency and the commoditization of laser sources AKL s specialist technology conference examines every step of beam source development, right up to the most diverse applications. This year revealed multiple trends. First of all, it seems that beam source development is focusing less on disruptive technologies and more on improving the efficiency and performance of existing ones. Fiber lasers are now available at powers of up to 100 kw, while direct diode systems are reaching the 50 kw mark. Initial investigations at Fraunhofer ILT also confirm that diode lasers are now suitable for laser cutting. At the same time, we are seeing that systems are becoming more and more comparable, with commoditization leading to a price war and further consolidation within the sector. Ultrafast lasers are still relatively new to system providers portfolios. The market for systems up to around 150 W is growing disproportionately quickly, and applications in the electronics, semiconductor and consumer goods industries were presented at the AKL. The missing ingredient is productivity. One solution is the multi-beam system offered by Aachen start-up Pulsar Photonics, while the availability of suitable laser cables (PT Photonic Tools) should also help. Various groups are also working on developing ultrafast lasers with kw power. It seems only a matter of time before these will be available to industry. Special forums on process monitoring and additive manufacturing Participants in the full-day forum on laser additive manufacturing were also agreed that productivity is the key to the wider spread of additive manufacturing techniques. Components made using additive manufacturing techniques have already proved to be game changers in turbine construction, and we are seeing constant stream of new applications in aircraft design and the automotive sector. Multi-beam approaches could be a way to ensure even more widespread use, a corresponding project at Fraunhofer ILT is aiming to increase productivity thirtyfold. The new forum on process monitoring attracted a good crowd, with the number of attendees far surpassing organizers original expectations. Presentations looked at various sensor systems and experiences in implementing process monitoring systems in an industrial context. Here, inline measurements are becoming more and more widespread. Great progress has been made on the various sensors; the problem now has to do with evaluating individual images, as the rate of pseudo errors is often still too high. Understanding of many processes also remains limited, which restricts the chances of an effective simulation. In order for users to share their experiences regarding the increasingly varied and complex processes more efficiently, the Industry working group for process Laser Technik Journal 4/

2 control in laser material processing has now been set up in Aachen. Growing complexity and dynamic market movement In the Gerd Herziger session, representatives from Trumpf, Rofin-Sinar, Coherent and Jenoptik discussed the outlook and challenges for various markets. Peter Leibinger (Trumpf) took a look at the lightweight engineering market and observed that though this is a big market for laser technology, it consists of many niches experiencing moderate growth. However, he assessed the requirements in these niches as complex, leading to high development costs. In his opinion, the only chance for growth in this market is to open up new niches or drive out other providers from the marketplace. Mark Sobey (Coherent) gave a talk on the semiconductors and electronics market. He expects to see more use of fast and ultrafast lasers at reduced cost per watt. In his estimation, no one platform would be likely to emerge victorious; the crucial factor will be adapting processes to the applications. With a view to the increasing labor costs in China, Sobey expects to see a surge in automation technology. He believes the greatest challenge lies in offering fast global service for the various applications in question. In the subsequent discussion, all participants agreed on the need for more efficient development processes. However, opinion differed as to the merit of expanding cross-sector partnerships, Leibinger seeing it as an effective way forwards and Sobey rejecting the approach, pointing to bad experiences in the telecoms sector. Photonics Cluster: Networking 4.0 Fraunhofer ILT can look back on a long history of success when it comes to the partnership between industry and research. This year a new chapter began on April 28, 2016 with the ceremonial opening of the first building of the Photonics Cluster on RWTH Aachen s new campus. Here, companies from industry will work with experts from RWTH Aachen University and several of the Fraunhofer Institutes on new projects focusing on the use of light as a tool in industrial production. Lasys Consolidates Its Position Stuttgart, Germany 31 May 1 June 2016 Lasys occupied Hall 4 at Stuttgart Trade Fair Center (Source: Messe Stuttgart) Lasys has become firmly established as an indispensable industry meeting point for manufacturers, users and decision-makers in industrial production. This was confirmed during the fifth edition of the International Trade Fair for Laser Material Processing which finished 1 June in Stuttgart. The positive dynamic market situation was reflected on all three days of the trade fair: among the more than 6,000 visitors (+10 percent) and the 181 exhibitors from 15 countries who presented lasers as a versatile tool for every production process. Lasys has once again proved to be a trade fair which attracts visitors with indepth expertise and was better this year than the previous event. The directly application-oriented talks and the practical application approach in the accompanying programme proved to be much more popular than at the last event. Overall, the effective result corresponds to participation in a much larger trade fair, said Gerhard Hein, Managing Director for Lasers and Laser Systems for Material Processing and of the Photonics Forum in the German Engineering Federation, summing up Lasys 2016 from the perspective of the promotional supporter. Three quarters of visitors came from industry. The following industries were strongly represented: mechanical engineering, motor vehicle construction and optics, followed by plant and apparatus construction, and metal working and processing. The proportion of visitors from abroad also rose from 22 to 27 percent compared with the previous event. Visitors from a total of 39 countries were represented. With decision-makers accounting for 78 percent of visitors, Lasys has been at a constantly high level for years. One in four of these visitors said they were intending to invest more than 200,000. The visitors were primarily interested in laser production systems for marking and labelling technology, for bonding technology and for surface technology. Since 97 percent of our visitors said they would recommend Lasys to other people, this is a clear indication that our concept of live demonstrations of lasers is very popular, said Gunnar Mey, Department Director Industry at Messe Stuttgart, and added: Our exhibitors presented a total of 92 machines and systems at Lasys including some premières. Trumpf, for example, specifically exhibited its new TruMicro 2000 picosecond laser at Lasys. We present world premières wherever we are as close as possible to our target group, said Klaus Löffler, Director Sales & Services at Trumpf Lasertechnik. The huge reponse showed that this was the right decision. The visitors were not only very interested in the TruMicro 2000, but also in the new Industry 4.0 solutions from 50 Laser Technik Journal 4/2016

3 Trumpf, the so-called condition-based services. They can be used to carry out state and trend analyses for lasers in networked production. Löffler concluded: For our company, Lasys is one of the world s three leading trade fairs for laser technology. Fanuc took part in Lasys for the first time, and drew some positive conclusions: The visitors were very interested in our technology, especially our new fibre lasers in the FF Series and their connection to Fanuc robot systems. Lasys therefore helped us to provide more information about our extended product portfolio to integrators, for example, who are one of our target groups along with laser machine manufacturers, said Michael Kuhn, European Manager Lasers, Technical Sales Support at Fanuc Europe. Dr. Klaus Krastel, Director Automotive at IPG Laser, praised the high level of user orientation at Lasys: Customers came to our stand with different tasks from coating through to welding of special parts because they were looking for solutions here. A large number of visitors brought their components or technical drawings with them. Some visitors actually travelled from Turkey after their attention was drawn to the trade fair during the Automotive Theme Day as part of the Lasys meets Turkey Initiative. Gravotech, which also attended Lasys for the first time with a large stand, looked back on the successful trade fair: We are very satisfied. We intensified our relationships with regular customers and also established many new contacts with interested experts and decision-makers, said Eric Pfrimmer, Business Manager Germany at Gravotech. Lasys is all about specific applications. Visitors find everything that can be realised using lasers, summarised Marcus Seineke, Business Development Manager at Sisma Lasersysteme. It is clear to him: Lasys is an interesting industry meeting point and one of the most important trade fairs for our company. We will therefore come back again in The next Lasys will be held from 5 to 7 June 2018 again in combination with the Stuttgart Laser Technology Forum, SLT. However, Lasys meets France will take place beforehand in September 2017: We are looking forward to welcoming Lasys next year with a joint stand at Espace Laser in Strasbourg, said Monique Caboche, organizer of Espace Laser, who was present at Lasys in Stuttgart with a partner stand containing eight exhibitors. Stuttgart Laser Technology Forum 2016 Stuttgart, Germany 31 May 1 June 2016 With the 9th Stuttgart Laser Technology Forum SLT, the Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge IFSW of the University of Stuttgart and the Trade Fair Center Stuttgart have once more created a great platform for effective knowledge transfer. The SLT took place at the International Congress Center Stuttgart, ICS, from 31 May until 1 June 2016 in conjunction with the International trade fair for laser material processing, Lasys two-day and 47 one-day visitors came to the SLT This is an increase in comparison to % of the respondents said, that the conference met their expectations. Main reasons for participation were the lecture topics and the acquisition of information. As part of an evening event at the IFSW premises, the institute also celebrated its 30th anniversary. Thomas Graf (Director, IFSW), Prof. Dr. Wolfram Ressel (Rector, U. Stuttgart), Prof. Dr. Helmut Hügel (IFSW Founding Director). The Stuttgart Laser Technology Forum takes place on a biannual cycle. Since 1999 it has established itself as a recognized and central panel for laser technology which aims at an international audience. Main focal points of the conference were highlights and innovations in the field of industrial laser-based manufacturing. As in the past the SLT 2016 covered topics from micro- to macro-processing together with the required laser sources and beam delivery systems. In addition to the latest developments on the common processes (cutting, welding, drilling, structuring etc.) the conference particularly highlighted current trends such as additive manufacturing or the system technology required to scale the productivity in micro materials processing. Correspondingly, the latest results in the fields of ultrafast lasers, beam delivery, ultrafast scanners, and beam shaping were also presented. An excursus concerning basics of laser materials processing with respect to future applications was also part of the agenda. Many representatives of research, development and industry took part in the conference. The presentations were held in English and German, with simultaneous translation. On 31 May, Dr. Godehard Schmitz of Robert Bosch talked about The Future of Industrial Laser Applications. Prof. Thomas Dekorsy of the University of Konstanz, who recently took Networking during the coffee breaks of the SLT (Source: U. Stuttgart) over the leading position at the Institut für Technische Physik des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt in Stuttgart, did a presentation on Metrology Using Laser Induced Ultrasonic Waves. Highlights of the event on 1 June were a talk by Prof. Thomas Graf, Director of the IFSW, about Thin-Disk or Fiber Laser? It is a Matter of Geometry as well as The Potential of High Average Power Lasers in Nuclear Decommissioning by Dr. Paul Hilton from The Welding Institute TWI in Cambridge. SLT 2018 will take place on the 5th and 6th of June in Laser Technik Journal 4/

4 Previews Lane 9 th International Conference on Photonic Technologies Fürth, Germany September 2016 Modern research has to act on social, economical and environmental developments to provide solutions for the existing and upcoming global challenges. To meet this challenge, Lane 2016 offers a platform for an international exchange of ideas, opinions, perspectives, results and solutions concerning photonic technologies. To meet upcoming global challenges, modern research has to act in a tight cooperation between different disciplines. Therefore, Lane 2016 offers a platform for international exchange of ideas, opinions, perspectives, results and solutions concerning photonic technologies. Especially recent developments in the field of laser material processing: beam sources & components, laser welding, brazing & soldering, laser beam cutting & drilling, surface treatment & forming, laser assisted processes, including experimental results, simulation & modeling as well as sensing & control. In order to open up the capability of light, it is essential to look ahead. Against this background Lane 2016 wants to enhance the emerging technologies additive manufacturing, precision processing with ultra short laser pulses and fast laser beam manipulation. This year, the Lane Best Presentation Award replaces the Erlangen Innovation Award Optical Technologies which was awarded during Lane conferences until The Lane Best Presentation Award honors the most inspiring submission presented by the most professional speaker of the conference. The price consists of a presentation during the plenary session at Lane 2018 and price money of 1000 Euro. Lane is held every two years and is organized by the Bayerisches Laserzentrum (blz) in cooperation with the Institute of Photonic Technologies (LPT), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Micro Photonics International Congress Expo Berlin, Germany October 2016 The focus of the three-day trade fair and congress will be on integrated optical systems for a wide range of applications. Topics will include manufacturing using micro-lithography, processing, as well as applications for measurement systems, IT and health technology. Kerstin Kube-Erkens, project manager of Micro Photonics at Messe Berlin, said: We are particularly pleased with the high level of international attendance. Thus, in addition to displays from Europe, Germany and local regions a Japanese hi-tech company from Hamamatsu will also be represented. micro photonics 2015: Networking at the market place (Source: V. Otto) Taking place parallel with the fair will be a congress featuring two tracks with high-profile speakers. As chair of the biophotonics track, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Popp of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology IPHT in Jena is organizing lectures on new applications in health technology. The session on Unmet medical needs, at which medical professionals will discuss unresolved issues regarding clinical diagnostics and treatment, promises to attract keen interest. Dr. Henning Schröder of the Berlin Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM is organizing the microphotonics and nanophotonics track, which will focus on micro-optical components such as fiber optics and wave guides, as well as on production methods and measuring techniques. Parallel with the science congress the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) is organizing a program of lectures and workshops at the exhibition. Under the heading of Tech watch topics will include defense, the environment, life sciences and transport. On 12 October at 7.45 a.m. there will also be an executive breakfast, at which CTOs and CEOs will be able to meet. Stephen G. Anderson, industry and market strategist of the US industry organization SPIE, will hold the keynote speech. The supporting program will also place an emphasis on attracting young professionals. National and regional employers will be represented in a specially organized Career Lounge. The HR Speed Dating event organized by Spectaris is for people keen on making quick decisions. This is where talented sales engineers and optical industry companies can meet and make the most of five-minute time slots. The Enterprise Europe Network Berlin-Brandenburg will be organizing the international B2B Photonics Joint Venture Exchange in Europe. Visitors who register for the joint venture exchange will have an opportunity to present ideas, discuss projects and drive forward cross-border ventures. In parallel, the Berlin Photonics Network OpTecBB is organizing two conferences: MOEMS system integration on 11 October and Innovative fiber optics on 12 October. The topics will include everything from the latest developments to applications for Industry 4.0, driverless cars and smart cities Laser Technik Journal 4/2016

5 Previews ECOC Exhibition Larges Optical Communications Event in Europe Duesseldorf, Germany September 2016 The ECOC Exhibition is Europe s largest exhibition in the fibre optic communication technology industry and this year, will once again showcase the latest products and services as well as providing an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with key suppliers and industry leaders. The exhibition is set to be bigger than ever before and visitors can expect over 300 companies available presenting new products and services. With over 5,500 visitors attending in 2015, you can meet, network and gain knowledge with colleagues and peers from across the fiber optic community. In over 25 Market Focus presentations the leading names across the industry will share their knowledge, experience and insights into the future for optical communications. Visitors can benefit from a series of short course training sessions designed to help to tackle key techniques including modern fusion splicing and passive optical network testing using bidirectional smart testers an PON optimized OTDRs. Led by CTTS, the first choice training provider for many system operators throughout Europe, these hands on, practical sessions will take place in the CTTS Training Zone located on the exhibition floor. One of the most popular feature areas of the exhibition, the FTTx Centre, provides a unique opportunity to meet specialist suppliers, watch live and interactive demonstrations of the latest FTTx technologies, like air blown fiber technology, fiber splicing and activation, microduct calibration and testing as well as key ISP and OPS equipment deployed in the modern FTTH networks. EuroBlech 2016 Intelligent Sheet Metal Processing Hanover, Germany October 2016 The world s leading exhibition for the sheet metal working industry, Euro- Blech will offer a global platform for the presentation of the latest technology to a specialized audience of the industry s key purchasers and decision makers. With integrated production as the prevailing industry trend, intelligent sheet metal processing is a key focus for the sheet metal working industry in order to achieve efficiency and optimized output. The increased use of automation and software requires fine-tuned adjustment along the entire sheet metal working chain including upstream and downstream processes. Thus, there is high demand for customized machine elements and systems that fit precisely into the networked fabrication plant and guarantee highly flexible production. At EuroBlech 2014, the 23rd International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition, a record number of 1,573 exhibitors from 38 countries put an enormous amount of live machine demonstration on display, on a net floor space of 86,500 square meters. A total of 59,600 trade visitors came to visit the world s biggest sheet metal working show to find out about the latest technology trends for sheet metal processing. The exhibition was more international than the previous show. 52 % of the exhibitors came from outside Germany compared to 48 % at the previous event; and the percentage of international visitors increased to 38 % compared to 34 %. The exhibition will, once again, be the meeting place for sheet metal working professionals from all over the world looking to find enhanced machinery and innovative production solutions. Visitors will be able to discover an extensive variety of products, from conventional systems to high-tech solutions, and gain an insight into the latest technological advancements in sheet metal working. With this year s theme The New Generation of Sheet Metal Working, EuroBlech 2016 reflects the trend towards digitalization and smart manufacturing in modern sheet metal processing. EuroBlech presents the entire sheet metal working technology chain with a particular emphasis on future production processes: sheet metal, semi-finished and finished products, handling, separation, forming, flexible sheet metal working, joining, 23. EuroBlech 2014 (Source: EuroBlech) welding and surface treatment, processing of hybrid structures, tools, quality control, CAD/CAM systems and R&D. Industry experts from all over the world trust in the world s leading exhibition for sheet metal working technology when it comes to investing in the enhancement of their production plants. EuroBlech 2016 is, therefore, a unique opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers of materials, machines, systems and tools to be involved in designing the future of sheet metal working. At EuroBlech 2016 decision-makers and production specialists will actively looking for innovative products and expert solutions. (cb) Laser Technik Journal 4/