The industry’s most innovative people 2024 Magnus Rådmark


Organisation: Cobolt AB, a part of HÜBNER Photonics


Role: Principal R&D Engineer


Magnus Rådmark is developing new compact laser modules and systems, primarily for life science applications. “Our ambition is to develop new laser illumination tools for a broad range of microscopy systems that are easier to implement and to use, and that also result in higher quality fluorescence imaging at high speeds and resolutions.” Rådmark believes this will facilitate bio-medical research and new and more efficient diagnostics procedures and pharmaceuticals. He is also working on expanding the functionality of Cobolt’s multi-line laser


Maik Frede


Organisation: NeoLASE Role: CEO


“For me it’s astonishing to see the wide field of application that lasers and photonics can support. From fundamental physics to material applications or metal sorting, the possible applications are enormous,” says Maik Frede, CEO and founder of neoLASE. He is currently working on tailored laser solutions and therefore a more effective and sustainable way to enable laser technology in various applications. Citing his involvement in the detection of the first gravitational wave as one of his proudest moments (“a very good feeling”), neoLASE’s technology is also used in industrial fields,


Based in: Hannover, Germany Education: PhD, Leibniz Universität Hannover


for example: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and aluminium recycling applications. Frede says his research priority for the coming year is to build up a database of MOPA system combinations “from nanosecond to short pulse pico- or femtosecond lasers, high average power or high energy systems”. He believes that lasers and photonics need


to attract more people: “Compared with other industries, photonics is still small. Facing the problem of human resources in the field might be most challenging in the future.”


Marc Hummel


Organisation: Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT)


Role: Scientific Employee


Marc Hummel from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology is developing novel diagnostic methods with synchrotron radiation to investigate the internal phenomena of laser manufacturing processes. He says his work will enable


higher-quality and more efficient laser manufacturing processes such as laser drilling, cutting, and welding for e-mobility components including battery systems, fuel cells, and power electronics. It has already exposed “dynamics inside the material during the laser manufacturing


processes that weren't expected yet by any kind of models or explanations, says Hummel. He believes the photonics industry is in need of an “immense amount of research”. “Development must be able to keep up with the demands from the industry and the manufacturing costs for photonic components must be reduced by several orders of magnitude. The global output of manufactured components must also be increased by several orders of magnitude. Only this way can the high demand for photonic components be met in the future.”


Based in: Aachen, Germany Education: MSc, RWTH Aachen University


Based in: Stockholm, Sweden


Education: PhD in Physics, Stockholm University


platform, “with up to four laser lines permanently assembled and beam combined in a very small and sealed package”. This is done in close collaboration with OEM integrators, says Rådmark, to come up with an illumination system that is optimally easy for them to integrate.


He emphasises simplicity and early planning as crucial elements in the commercialisation of a technology: “In order to achieve successful commercialisation, it is often advantageous to have a design that is as simple as possible and not complicate the design for features that the end user will not notice. Less is more, etc."


36 Photonics100 2024


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