imaging and machine vision europe february/march 2011
www.imveurope.com
8
profile
A measure of success
Z-Laser has been solving guidance and positioning problems for 25 years, as Warren Clark discovers
In an industry that was hard hit during the most recent economic crisis, it is heartening to see so many companies emerge from it stronger than ever before. In its 25-year history, Z-Laser has weathered many economic downturns, yet its reliable and high-quality products have seen it through time and time again. The Z-Laser story begins in 1985, when industrial engineer Kurt-Michael Zimmermann started the company in Freiburg, Germany, having spent many years working in the field of photonics. The initial products were HeNe lasers for use in sawmills as guidance aids (Freiburg is located in the Black Forest area, where the timber industry is prevalent). In this
application, the laser projects a straight line that is used as a guide by the saws when cutting timber. This helped the sawmills optimise the use of timber, and also acted as a safety measure. The product was an instant success, leading to the development of a worldwide distribution network. This is still one of the major business areas for Z-Laser even now, with its products in place throughout the global timber industry. Inevitably, Z-Laser made a strategic decision
to explore allied industries with its technology, the first of which was stone processing, where the lasers were used for very similar tasks. Over the years, these applications in the sawing/ cutting field have expanded to include metal,
paper, food, glass and synthetic material. In terms of positioning, the laser modules are used in textiles, the automotive industry, metal and in presentations. More recently, a growing application has been the medical sector, where laser modules are used for patient alignment in x-rays. There are applications in drilling too, where the lasers are used for spot positioning in wood, stone, mining and metal. In 1991, Zimmermann expanded the
product range by shifting production to diode lasers, which have been the company’s main focus since the early 90s. At this time, the company also launched the Vision 2000, a 3D measuring system. A few years later, Z-Laser was a pioneer
in the field of thermoelectrically-cooled industrial line lasers, with the introduction of the ZP, nicknamed The Champion. ‘This had a dramatic effect on extending the lifetime of the diode laser,’ says Thomas Lang, sales and marketing director at Z-Laser. ‘Cooling helps keep the laser within acceptable limits, and therefore improves the reliability.’ Further to the acquisition of Lasertechnik Deutschland in 2001, Z-Laser expanded its product range with the introduction of laser projectors. These use a single source, which is then deflected by two rotating mirrors, to create patterns reflected on either 2D or 3D
‘Z-Laser was a pioneer... of thermoelectrically-cooled industrial line lasers with the introduction of the ZP’
surfaces. Here, the laser is used as a guiding tool, helping with positioning of materials and so on. The growth of the company led to a move
into its current premises in Freiburg on 2005, which now houses more than 70 people. In 2007, the company set up Z-Laser UK, followed a year later by Z-Laser Italy, each operating as sales agents in their respective territories. The global presence is now complemented by Z-Laser America, set up in 2010 and run by Lang alongside more than 40 worldwide distributors. The original founder, Zimmermann, is still involved in the business as CEO. The company’s involvement in machine
Staff at Z-Laser celebrate their quarter-centrury in business
vision dates back to the introduction of the Vision 2000 in 1995, but it was only five years ago that Z-Laser made a strategic push into this market.
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