DILAS targets industrial laser sector

08 Oct 2008

A new business unit will develop turnkey diode laser systems for applications in manufacturing.

DILAS Industrial Laser Systems, a new business unit within DILAS Diodenlaser, has been created to develop diode lasers for industrial customers and to strengthen the company's overall diode laser portfolio.

"High power diode technology is now mature, the processes in which they are beneficial are much better defined, and acceptance of laser processing is growing," Jörg Neukum of DILAS told optics.org. "DILAS Industrial Laser Systems was formed to express our commitment to the industrial community and to the implementation of laser processes into industrial environments."

At present the new unit is focusing on laser processes for particular market sectors, building on the company's existing COMPACT series of fibre-coupled diode laser systems with output powers up to 500 W. Applications under development include welding in automotive and medical device manufacturing, soldering in electronics and the automotive industry, soldering in photovoltaic applications and micro-hardening of metals.

In addition, cooperation with particular companies who are market leaders in their own sectors is underway, to expand the application base, increase optical output powers and add more features to the product range.

"We are the only company offering closed-loop galvo-scanning processes combined with reliable diode laser technology," noted Neukum. "Our diode laser systems have been developed to address the versatility, longevity, cost and process controls needed in industrial applications."

At present DILAS Industrial Laser Systems has a core team responsible for sales and service, production and development of the laser systems. It is headquartered in Mainz, Germany, alongside DILAS Diodenlaser, and includes employees from Diodenlaser for administrative support and manufacture of the diode laser modules. Approximately 10% of DILAS Diodenlaser will be involved in the new business unit, according to Neukum.