This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
NEWS SCIENCE AWARDS TO HONOUR PHOTONIC COMPANIES


Five companies have been presented with innovation awards by the UK Institute of Physics (IOP), three of which are imaging and photonics companies. The awards, presented by the UK government’s Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, were for firms developing innovative physics-based technology. The winners were: Simpleware of Exeter for its


software that converts 3D images into computer models; lidar system manufacturer Zephir, based in Ledbury; and the Glasgow branch of Coherent for its ultrafast laser technology. The other winners were Elektra, which produces a beam shaping device employed in radiotherapy, and Tracerco, which develops a gamma- radiation tool for measuring pipe work in the oil and gas industry. The winners reflect the breadth, importance and level


of sophistication that constitute the UK’s physics-based businesses. Dr Frances Saunders, president of the IOP, said in a statement at the awards ceremony: ‘Nearly 10 per cent of the UK’s economic output is due to physics-based businesses like those being celebrated here tonight. These companies show how the innovative application of physics research can create both world-changing technologies and successful businesses.’ Coherent Scotland was awarded the


prize for its Chameleon laser system. An ultrafast Ti:Sapphire laser, Chameleon is used for multi-photon microscopy, which has helped in research into degenerative diseases and other areas of medicine.


Laser companies post growth for 2013


Both Rofin-Sinar and the Jenoptik Group posted growth in sales for 2013. Rofin-Sinar Technologies recorded net sales of $560.1 million for its fiscal year ended 30 September 2013, a four per cent increase on 2012. However, the company’s Q4 results showed no growth, totalling $147.6 million. The Jenoptik Group generated


Chris Dorman (left), general manager of Coherent Scotland receiving an Institute of Physics award from Vince Cable


scientists have also been nominated for the Deutscher Zukunftspreis


Coherent


Researchers no longer need to have expertise in operating a laser. Older technology required a physicist to be present in order to operate and maintain the laser. Chameleon, in contrast is an automated, ‘hands-off’ system so biologists can concentrate on their research without having to worry about operating the laser. Coherent scientists in Germany have


also been nominated as one of three teams for the Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2013 – the Federal German President’s award for innovation in science and technology. Rainer Paetzel, Ralph Delmdahl and


Kai Schmidt were honoured for developing a novel laser system for production of the latest display technology. The kilowatt-class excimer laser is capable of producing polycrystalline layers of silicon at large scale.


AILU group formed to address unsafe tabletop laser machines


A laser safety Special Interest Group (SIG) has been established by the Association of Laser Users (AILU) in the UK that aims to increase awareness about the sale of unsafe desktop laser machines. The SIG was formed on 6 November. It will initially produce a set of key questions that potential purchasers of laser machines should ask equipment suppliers to determine whether the system complies with safety regulations. The group is trying to increase


awareness of laser safety by asking those purchasing laser machines to question what they are buying. The group is targeting non-CE compliant laser machines, which tend to be, although are not always, low-cost tabletop systems imported without valid certification. According to Andy Toms, director of


TLM Laser and chair of the group, large manufacturing companies are less susceptible to purchasing unsafe equipment; it is schools and colleges, and small-to-medium sized businesses with a limited budget that are more prone to buying unsafe laser machines. And, in Toms’ opinion, the problem of


unsafe machines is fairly widespread: ‘It’s reasonable to say that I’ve come across systems even in schools that don’t comply [to CE regulations].’ ‘There’s a lot of stuff [laser machines]


that comes [into the UK] that doesn’t comply with any legislation whatsoever, even though it proclaims to,’ he added. ‘It’s not tested, it’s not CE-compliant, and it’s evident from the set-up.’ TLM Laser, based in Bromsgrove, UK, provides laser machines and systems. The types of questions the AILU group will advise laser users to ask


suppliers include: is the system interlocked, does it have an emergency- stop facility, and is the technical construction file available to view? If the system doesn’t meet the criteria it probably doesn’t comply with the legislation. ‘We’re basically trying to get people to question what they’re buying before they commit to it,’ said Toms. ‘Just having a CE label on it, doesn’t


necessarily mean it is compliant,’ he added. ‘Anybody could put a CE label on something; it doesn’t mean they’ve done the testing. ‘The problem is that the people who


are being attracted to [low-cost, unsafe laser machines] are at the low end of the market, where they’ve got limited budgets and ultimately somebody’s going to get injured, killed or maimed, eventually, because some of the stuff is downright dangerous,’ Toms stated.


sales of €432.5 million in the first nine months of 2013, beating €423.1 million for the previous year. Jenoptik‘s Metrology segment showed particularly strong growth with a year-on-year rise in sales of 12.6 per cent. However, sales in the Lasers and Optical Systems segment remained at a similar level to the same period of the previous year, at €160.4 million. Jenoptik is predicting slight growth in sales of up to five per cent for the entire 2013 fiscal year compared with 2012. The majority of the growth for


Rofin’s year-end result was from sales of lasers for macro applications, which increased by $9.2 million (four per cent) to $214.6 million, while net sales of lasers for marking and micro applications increased by only $0.5 million to $272.7 million. Sales of components increased $10.3 million (16 per cent) to $72.8 million compared to the 2012 fiscal year. Net sales in North America


decreased by three per cent, totalling $114.9 million for the financial year. In Europe, sales increased by four per cent to $250.3 million, while in Asia sales rose seven per cent to $194.9 million. Günther Braun, CEO and


president of Rofin-Sinar, commented: ‘We experienced the strongest quarter for sales in fiscal year 2013 in the medical device industry and a solid quarter in sales for the machine tool, consumer electronics and semiconductor industries. Sales to all countries within Europe were strong, North American business was stable, and Asian sales were weaker – mainly due to softer sales in China.’ Rofin-Sinar expects revenues to


be in the range of $122 million to $127 million for the first quarter ending 31 December 2013.


www.lasersystemseurope.com | @lasersystemsmag


ISSUE 21 • WINTER 2013 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE


5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36