News from LIA
ICALEO 2009 –
Accepting the Challenge
Held in the Hilton located in the Walt Disney
World Resort, the 28th International Congress on
Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics
(ICALEO) once again brought together many of
the best and brightest of laser and optics
professionals and scientists to network and review
the state-of-the-art in laser materials processing
and predict where the future will lead. For four
full days, plus the pre-conference Welcome
Celebration held poolside at the Hilton Hotel,
ICALEO 2009 provided a platform for the current
issues on the forefront of laser materials
processing.
Attendance
ICALEO 2009 brought 483 participants
representing more than 25 countries who fi lled
the rooms for 233 presentations, including conversion systems such as fuel cells, electrolysis and electroplating to improve effi ciency by two
scientific papers, short courses and panel and biomass may open new avenues of opportunity per cent as well as speed-reliability improvements
discussions. Of course, none of this would have as we follow the path forward. to make these approaches commercially viable.
taken place without our 68 vendors and sponsors David Clark of Newport Corporation delivered Dr Magdi Azer, currently the lab manager for
lending their patronage and support. the second presentation, ‘Lasers – An Enabling the Laser and Metrology Systems Lab at GE Global
Technology in the Photovoltaics Revolution’. This Research, delivered a presentation about meeting
Plenary Session discussion covered an overview of the current the growth of global energy demand. He began by
The ICALEO 2009 Plenary Session, ‘Frontiers and turbulence facing the industrial laser industry and describing some of the factors and policy drivers
Challenges for the Green Economy’, was presented specifi cally the shake-up and consolidation in the infl uencing the current energy landscape. It is a
to a full complement of attendees, many of which photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and line long list that includes among other items: nuclear
were attending ICALEO for the fi rst time. The equipment makers. However, market disruption power generation, population, consumption,
plenary session began with a keynote presentation creates opportunities for innovation. Addressing security, environment and water regulation. Next,
by Dr John Turner from the US Department of the theme of the Plenary Session, Clark discussed he covered the role wind energy plays in the
Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. his perspective of how solid-state lasers can current and future global power generation
Although Dr Turner covered the current energy improve PV production costs and the associated landscape providing current fi gures on energy
carriers in use, photovoltaic and wind, his primary environmental impact by reducing the number of production and investment. Dr Azer concluded
focus was on the potential of converting to a steps while additionally reducing water and with possible solutions to some of the challenges
‘Hydrogen Economy’. The implications for the chemical use. He also described exciting new laser facing wind energy, including the removal of trade
laser industry are similar to the successes found processes that may revolutionise PV manufacturing barriers that preclude global co-ops, innovation
in photovoltaic (solar-cell) production. Developing to enable higher effi ciencies, such as a process that and fi nance.
production techniques for hydrogen delivery and uses continuous wave green lasers for laser doping Dr Yongfeng Lu, of the University of Nebraska- ➤
www.lasersystemseurope.com ISSUE 5 • LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE 27
LSEwin09 pp27-32 LIA pages.indd 27 2/12/09 16:03:45
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