Prima Power was an exhibitor at Laser Institute of America’s LME 2018, held March 28-29 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL. After show hours on March 28, Prima Power hosted an Open House at its showroom in nearby Arlington Heights, IL. A large group of visitors, composed of laser industry experts, suppliers, and prospective customers were able to get a close-up view of the Prima Power Laser Next 3D Laser.
Thanks to a deep and unique experience of over 35 years in this field and to a continuous dialogue with customers and partners operating in the car industry, Prima Power has designed the new 3D laser machine for automotive production: Laser Next. In developing Laser Next, Prima Power has focused on the achievement of the following main benefits for the user:
Maximizing throughput with a dramatic reduction of cycle times. During the last 10 years, the performance of Prima Power 3D laser machines for automotive applications has been growing steadily. With Laser Next, a fundamental step forward was made: productivity on a typical benchmark component (B-pillar) was raised by 25%. In other words, four Laser Next systems produce as much as five machines of the previous model.
Space-efficient layout both for stand-alone and multi-machine configuration. Space is money, and a well-conceived layout helps save square meters and optimizes plant logistics. The compactness of the installation further improves installing more machines, since you can have up to three units one next to the other connected to the same magnetic scrap conveyor, with no need of excavation works. Given the same area, in fact, it is possible to install more machines (e.g. four Laser Next instead of three units of the previous model). Considering the performance of Laser Next, the productivity per square meter ratio is simply astonishing.
Improved Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE). For Laser Next, Prima Power capitalized on its experience of hundreds of installations for the 24/7 manufacturing of high-strength steel components, widely used in car production.
Every detail was studied and developed to maximize machine uptime. Maintenance was also lowered and simplified to reduce non-productive times and the need of specialized resources dedicated to these activities.
Laser Next has a working range of 3,050 x 1,530 x 612 mm and is equipped with 3 kW or 4 kW high brilliance fiber laser. Its compact focusing head, fully sealed for best protection, features direct drive motors, double protection SIPS, fully-metallic sensor, and Focal Position Control.
ORLANDO, FL (March 19, 2018) – The Laser Institute of America is excited to announce that the 2018 Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®) will be held at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois March 28-29. This year will be the first time the event will be co-located with the Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM®) Conference, which takes place March 27-28.
LME offers an opportunity for anyone interested in using lasers in manufacturing to learn more about commercial applications and interact with companies that offer laser manufacturing solutions.
The event will feature about 60 exhibitors, including Amplitude, Ekspla, Light Conversion, Lumentum, SPI, Alabama Lasers, GF Machining Solutions, Hass Laser technologies, Lasea, Kentek, LPW Technology, and Powder Alloy Corporation.
LME is made possible by generous sponsors Han’s Laser, IPG Photonics, Laser Mechanisms and Trumpf. All four companies will have exhibit booths attendees can visit to learn more about the laser manufacturing solutions they provide.
On day one, keynote speaker Ron D. Schaeffer, a technical consultant for PhotoMachining, will give an overview on the industrial laser market, and host a tutorial on current trends in laser micromachining.
On the second day, Dr. Geoff Shannon from Amada Miyachi America will give his keynote address on lasers used for medical device manufacturing, and David Havrilla of Trumpf will present a tutorial on Laser Welding Techniques and Applications.
Throughout both days of the event, industry experts will host an ongoing series of laser introductory courses on the exhibit floor that will cover topics such as laser sources, beam delivery systems, laser safety, laser marking, laser cleaning, laser cutting, laser welding, laser cladding and optics.
An “Ask the Experts” booth will also be open both days on the exhibit floor. Organized by Directed Light Inc. President Neil Ball, this booth will have laser industry experts ready to help supply attendees with all the information they need to increase profits and efficiency and expand their businesses.
After gaining a world-class laser education from the exhibitors and experts, attendees can enjoy live laser demonstrations, tour the TRUMPF smart factory, and relax and mingle during the complimentary ice cream social and drink reception. All LME attendees will also be entered in a giveaway.
For more information, and to register for the event, visit www.laserevent.org.
About LIA
The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional society for laser applications and safety serving the industrial, educational, medical, research and government communities throughout the world since 1968. www.lia.org, 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Suite 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1.407.380.1553.
The laser market is booming! While the U.S. economy in general is on a tear with the stock markets at record highs, the laser industry in particular is showing better financial numbers than the overall economy. The total laser market was up approximately 20% in 2017 relative to 2016, making it one of the best years in the history of the laser industry, and it appears that 2018 could show just as much growth.
The laser market is growing due to manufacturers discovering the use of lasers to improve their processes. Don’t be left behind by your competitors. Attend the Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®) to learn more about laser applications for manufacturing.
LME was conceived seven years ago as a venue to introduce commercial laser applications to a wider audience. LME 2018 will take place on March 28–29 at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Two other two-day conferences, Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM®) 2018 and DigiFab Con 2018, will be co-located with LME. Registration to either conference will include admittance to LME.
LME is small enough that attendees can have personal contact with laser industry decision makers, yet big enough to attract a number of reputable exhibitors and industry icons. In addition to the exhibitor booths on the show floor, there will be technical talks and classes intended to promote the laser industry and to educate.
Why attend LME?
Interact with laser industry experts.
Find out if lasers can help with your manufacturing problems.
Network not only with the exhibitors but other attendees as well.
Sign up for the local field trip to Trumpf’s new Smart Manufacturing Facility. Opened in 2017, the facility features digitally connected production solutions for the sheet metal process chain.
Find a job in the photonics industry – even though this is a manufacturing event, it serves as a good venue for recent graduates because it is inexpensive and gives a lot of bang for the buck.
Increase the bottom line by increasing profits!
Program/Agenda
Keynote Speakers
One of the keynote addresses will be made by Dr. Geoff Shannon from Amada Miyachi discussing lasers for medical device manufacturing (Day Two from 2:15–2:45pm). Henrikki Pantsar from Trumpf Inc. will speak about lasers in heavy manufacturing (Day One at 2:00–2:30pm).
Tutorials
On Day One, I will be giving a tutorial on Current Trends in Laser Micromachining from 8:30 -10:00am. This course will present information on precision laser subtractive manufacturing using mostly UV and USP (Ultra Short Pulse) lasers. On Day Two, a tutorial will be given by David Havrilla from Trumpf on Laser Welding Techniques and Applications. Trumpf is an industry leader in the field of not only laser welding and material removal, but they also have a very large non-laser presence in the manufacturing industry. This course dovetails perfectly with the proposed visit to the local Trumpf facility. These tutorials are free to attendees.
Lasers 101 and 102
These talks provide basic information on many aspects of laser technology. They start at about 10:15am each day and go until the end of the day. The topics will cover laser sources, beam delivery systems, laser safety, laser marking, laser cleaning, laser cutting, laser welding, laser cladding and optics. These short presentations are given by many industry icons, and these presenters are generally available to not only answer questions but to meet informally afterward.
The best part about the 101/102 talks is that they are given on the floor of the exhibition, so there is no need to leave the exhibit floor to attend these talks. In the past, most of these presentations have drawn a standing-room-only crowd.
Ask the Experts
Another extremely useful tool is the “Ask the Experts” booth, also located on the show floor. Spearheaded by industry veteran Neil Ball, this booth will be staffed by various laser experts and will be open for business throughout both days. The format is quite informal, and if the experts cannot answer your questions, they can usually direct you to someone in the hall who can.
Sponsors
It would be impossible to hold these conferences without the sponsorship of our corporate members. The generous sponsors of LME are IPG Photonics, Laser Mechanisms and Trumpf, all recognizable names in the laser industry.
IPG manufactures laser sources and a standard array of laser machining systems and has held to the proposition of driving laser costs continually lower by revenue growth, volume growth and vertical integration.
Laser Mechanisms provides beam delivery components to customers all over the world and is recognized as an innovator in the field of beam delivery.
Trumpf manufactures laser sources, as well as components and industrial machining systems, and has been active in the industry for many years promoting the cutting edge applications.
Exhibitors
At the time of this writing, there are almost 50 exhibitors registered. These exhibitors range from companies providing laser sources (Amplitude, Ekspla, Light Conversion, Lumentum and SPI, for example) to companies that provide a complete industrial laser system (Alabama Lasers, GF Machining Solutions, Haas Laser Technologies and Lasea). In addition, there are a number of optics and components companies to round out everything in between the laser source and the work piece. A number of companies involved in laser safety will be exhibiting, such as longtime LIA supporter Kentek. There will also be some exhibitors in the field of Laser Additive Manufacturing at LME, including companies like Trumpf, Alabama Laser, LPW Technology and Powder Alloy Corporation.
As with the sponsors, without the participation of these exhibitors, this exhibit would not be possible. There is not enough space to recognize each of these exhibitors in this article, but each and every one is a valuable contributor to the overall success of the event.
What’s New in 2018?
Perhaps the most exciting new opportunity is the interaction of LAM and LME, which previously were completely separate conferences.
Digifab Con has also never before been held in conjunction with LME. Produced by Fab Lab Hub, this program will explore how digital fabrication – like 3D printing, laser cutting and CAD – is changing the world. Attendees will see exciting technologies like 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics and artificial intelligence and will have the opportunity to meet with visionaries, educators and innovators. Learn how anyone can use digital fabrication to bring new ideas to life and change the world!
Registration is now open! For more information and to register, visit www.laserevent.org.
Ron D. Schaeffer is a technical consultant to PhotoMachining.
INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF SUCCESS AT LAM AND LME 2018
Here are a few tips that may help make your visit a success.
If possible, come with specific questions prepared in advance. If the project is still new, that is fine too, as general knowledge is still very useful especially in the first stage of many planned projects.
Take advantage of the Keynotes, courses, classes, talks, etc.
Take time to talk to ALL of the interesting vendors, even if you have come to the conference for a specific visit or meeting. There is a lot of information available – be a sponge!
Stay at the event hotel if possible as most of the laser vendors and sponsors will be staying there, and this is a perfect venue for less formal interactions – in other words you can grab someone in the hallways, restaurants or bar and get to know them. People do business with people!
Meet the LIA staff and LIA’s new Executive Director Nat Quick. These people are very smart and experienced and know a LOT of people, so they can connect you to the contacts you need. Plus, they are a bunch of good folks who you want to get to know regardless.
Join the Laser Institute of America as a member and receive all of the member benefits. Also, if you really want to get into the technical detail, consider attending our flagship conference, ICALEO, in the Fall.
Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME®) & Laser Additive Manufacturing Conference (LAM®) to Take Place in Schaumburg, IL for 2018
ORLANDO, FL – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Laser Institute of America (LIA), the professional society for lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide, is thrilled to announce the dates and location for the 2018 Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME®) & Laser Additive Manufacturing Conference (LAM®). LAM® will take place March 27–28, 2018. LME® will commence March 28–29, 2018. Both will be held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL, USA.
Celebrating its tenth consecutive year, the Laser Additive Manufacturing Conference (LAM®) features presentations discussing where and how to apply additive manufacturing concepts, with a distinct focus on laser technology. Topics to be covered at this year’s event include Additive Manufacturing Applications, Selective Laser Melting, Laser Metal Deposition, Design for Additive Manufacturing, Process Monitoring, Metal Feedstock, and 3D Software Tools.
Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME®) is an interactive exhibit, created with the intent of increasing the awareness and application of lasers in manufacturing. At LME®, laser specific solution providers are available to answer questions and provide demonstrations to those who may be new to laser technology or are looking to source new equipment for their manufacturing needs. Attendees will also have the option to attend a complimentary education track, as part of the exhibit. Topics of interest at this year’s LME® include 3D printing, Additive Manufacturing, Cutting, Drilling, Marking, and Welding.
Details regarding registration, guest speakers, special topics, lodging, and more are forthcoming. For up-to-date information regarding the 2018 Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME®), please visit www.laserevent.org. Updates for Laser Additive Manufacturing Conference (LAM®) will be posted to www.lia.org/lam.
About Laser Institute of America
Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional society for laser applications and safety serving the industrial, educational, medical, research and government communities throughout the world since 1968. http://www.lia.org, 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Ste 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1.407.380.1553.
Advanced laser applications in automotive manufacturing, critical updates in additive manufacturing, 3D printing, prototyping and the foremost economic and safety concerns for today’s laser professionals were just some of the topics center stage at LIA’s fifth Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®) and Summit, held from April 25-27, 2016 at the Renaissance® Atlanta Waverly Hotel and the adjacent Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA.
This year’s LME attendees were provided with more free educational opportunities than ever before, including key insight to benefit laser professionals of all skill levels and varied specializations. Continuing the annual tradition of equipping event attendees with the most essential “101” courses on every topic from laser manufacturing properties and applications to laser safety, LME also granted visitors the opportunity to sit in on their choice of intermediate, “102” courses, which discussed important and emerging topics such as laser welding, micro-machining, beam delivery and state-of-the-art laser marking. LIA also provided exclusive tutorials, including Process Monitoring: Seeing the Unseeable by Paul Webster of Laser Depth Dynamics, and an informative class on Laser Additive Manufacturing by Alabama Laser’s Wayne Penn.
Once again, the Laser Technology Showcase proved to be the main highlight for 2016 LME attendees. Side by side with the educational courses at the event were four keynote presentations, including the kickoff Industrial Laser Market Overview, by Editor-in-Chief of Industrial Laser Solutions and LIA Past President David Belforte, and three additional speeches, Laser Applications in Automotive Manufacturing by Ralf Kimmel of TRUMPF Laser-und Systemtechnik GmbH, and Laser Technology, Metal Additive Manufacturing by EWI’s Shawn Kelly and Industrial Applications of Laser Materials Processing in GE by Marshall Jones of GE Global Research.
The engaging set of 30-minute keynote addresses shared the advantages of utilizing laser technology with attendees.
“It was a great show to get a snapshot of the current laser technology market all in one place,” said Charles Studiner, Process Development Engineer at 3M.
Participants who needed a quick answer about what types of lasers would be the best fit for a particular application, or what components were needed to build the most efficient production system, received answers at the perennial favorite “Ask the Experts” booth. Chaired by Neil Ball of Directed Light Inc., and joined by a rotating cast of industry experts, the booth included insight from the top laser markers and system integrators in the business.
Attendees were also able to find solutions to their current manufacturing needs in a wealth of industries, such as Optics, Automotive, Medical, Electronics and Energy – and chat with everyone from company owners to product managers to manufacturing engineers. This continued LIA’s five-year tradition of spotlighting the latest developments in laser technology and providing the best place to work with the industry’s elite.
As second time attendee Jefferson Odhner of Odhner Holographics said, “I’m here to explore how lasers are used in metal processing, and I am amazed of how much it has evolved. I have to keep abreast to what this industry is doing. This is the place.”
The 2016 Lasers for Manufacturing Summit – Back & Better than Ever The event as a whole began on April 25 at the Lasers for Manufacturing Summit, back for its second year – by popular demand – to provide laser executives and the C-suite with a chance to touch on global opportunities for laser processes, provide vital statistics on both established and emerging markets, and to engage a spirited panel discussion and question and answer period to provide the kind of insider perspective attendees can’t find anywhere else.
Top executives heard first-hand, expert intelligence on how to use these powerful tools most profitably in a variety of high-value manufacturing applications.
The Summit is particularly popular for executives, because it is the only event that focuses on the entire lasers in manufacturing marketplace in one afternoon. This year, it provided a comprehensive market perspective unobtainable elsewhere, with data segmented by applications and laser technology from the laser industry’s leading resources. In addition, industry experts presented their views and analysis of laser-market trends, applications development and a business outlook.
David Belforte began the Summit program with a keynote presentation that offered important insights into the global laser and laser additive manufacturing market, as well as a look into the state of the additive manufacturing industry as a whole. Five additional presentations covered pivotal applications used in the industry, including evolutions and applications of engineered welded blanks, laser materials processing, and its new tools, laser welding, laser cleaning, laser removal and the Laser Seam Stepper, a new fiber laser welding tool.
Toward the Summit’s conclusion, panelists engaged in a Laser Manufacturing Forum, also moderated by Mr. Belforte. The participants included Jim Evangelista from Shiloh Industries, Tim Morris of Blackbird Robotics, Inc., Dennis Nadeau of Wayne Trail, and Gene White of Laser Flex. To conclude the packed event, a VIP Reception was held from 5-6:30 PM to allow attendees to meet with high-level executives, speakers and LIA board members in an intimate setting.
Following the Summit from April 26-27, the two-day Lasers for Manufacturing Event at the Cobb Galleria Centre housed dozens of exhibitors, like American Photonics, HAAS Laser Technologies Inc., Pantron Automation Inc., Lumentum and Prima Power. Manufacturing professionals also benefited from the presence and guidance of media, cooperating societies and industry partners like Georgia Manufacturing Alliance, Industrial Laser Solutions and Prototype Today.
The guidance offered at the Summit, in the LME technology showcase, during the educational sessions, and on the exhibit floor allowed attendees to not only obtain crucial information on incorporating lasers into their production, but critical assistance in getting started with instant access to top suppliers.
“This year’s event was an excellent summary of laser machining companies and technology,” said Jefferson Odhner, President of Odhner Holographics.
New in 2016 – The Laser Technology Tour One of LME’s newest 2016 offerings was the Laser Technology Tour – an intelligible way for first-year attendees to explore the massive event. Tour attendees were able to take advantage of the personal guidance of seasoned event experts, who walked them through the exhibit floor and introduced them to different companies, all while discussing the latest technology and products showcased.
LME’s 2016 installation was exciting, inspiring and informative – and the next LME and Lasers for Manufacturing Summit will continue to be the foremost gathering place for the latest developments and insights for lasers in the manufacturing industry.
To sum up how 2016 attendees felt about this year’s conference in Atlanta, first time attendee Ramiro Mendoza from Brake Parts Inc. LLC said this, “I came to see the latest technology to help my manufacturing production. I saw everything I needed to know!”
Follow updates for the upcoming LME and Lasers for Manufacturing Summit at www.laserevent.org.
