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17 Jun 2002
A state-of-the-art center to provide new impetus behind the take up of laser technology in industry has been officially opened in Birkenhead, in the UK.
The Lairdside Laser Engineering Center (LLEC) was established jointly by the Laser Engineering Group at the University of Liverpool and Wirral Borough Council, as part of a larger Maritime Technology Park development.
The center houses industrial carbon dioxide lasers that have powers of up to 3.5 kW and 6-axis manipulation, and Nd:YAG systems that emit up to 4 kW of power with 7-axis robotic manipulation. Optical-fiber delivery and integrated CAD/CAM suites for the off-line design of laser-processing procedures also feature.
Other systems for cleaning, cladding and marking applications are available for use by single- or multiple-client projects.
LLEC's development has been spearheaded by its director Ken Watkins and general manager Geoff Dearden. "The center provides a unique opportunity for local and national industry to access a key resource for research, high-level training and demonstration of high-power-laser applications in manufacturing processes," said Watkins.
Dearden added: "We hope to provide a bridge between university activity in laser engineering and industry, by having the laser equipment and resources in the center to turn potential ideas and processes into robust industrial applications."
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