ICALEO 2018 – Geoff Shannon, Coherent Inc.
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LIA Presents Professor Reinhart Poprawe with Peter M. Baker Leadership Award
Laser Institute of America presented Professor Reinhart Poprawe, managing director of Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), the Peter M. Baker Leadership Award during this year’s International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) in Atlanta, Georgia, Oct. 22-26.
Lin Li (right), former LIA president, presented LIA’s Peter M. Baker Leadership Award to Professor Reinhart Poprawe(left), at ICALEO, Oct. 25 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The award acknowledges individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in an organization while significantly benefiting the laser community. It is named after former LIA executive director, Peter M. Baker, who led LIA for almost three decades.
“There is no question that Professor Poprawe richly deserves this award. In our world of lasers, he is a leader on the grand scale, technical, organizational, political and social,” Baker said. “He is a fine gentleman, courteous, thoughtful, generous and funny. I consider it an honor to be his friend.”
Poprawe’s professional expertise includes laser applications, laser additive manufacturing, and photonics in life science. Additionally, he has a great deal of experience in laser development and plasma technology in the realms of process analysis, sensors for laser processes, laser induced plasmas and more.
“The award is from one of the most important laser communities in the world,” Poprawe said. “It is a great honor to receive this award as the first recipient after the original, Mr. Peter Baker himself.”
According to several of his peers, Poprawe has been an important figure within the industry for decades.
Professor Reinhart Poprawe addresses a crowd at ICALEO, Oct. 25 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Professor Poprawe has been an important figure here at LIA for years,” said Nat Quick, LIA’s executive director. “He has been an LIA board member since 2001 and he always steps up when it counts most. He served as an LIA president in 2012 and has functioned as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Laser Applications® (JLA) since 2010. He is incredibly generous and exemplifies what it means to be a leader.”
After earning his Physics Ph.D. in Germany, Poprawe worked as the laser-oriented process development department head for Fraunhofer ILT before becoming their managing director. Additionally, he holds the university chair for Laser Technology at the RWTH Aachen University.
“There are so many ingredients for a successful organization,” Poprawe said. “Vision; mission; research and product portfolios; roadmaps; SWOT-analysis; and education of the employees. Industry or even better societal use and implementation of our research results is what we do everything for, especially the development of the demanding competencies in the very fundamentals of Laser Technology and application Physics.”
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.
LIA Names Laser Era Revolutionary Paul Seiler Recipient of 2017 Schawlow Award
For Immediate Release:
ORLANDO, FL – September 20, 2017 – The Laser Institute of America (LIA) proudly announces Dr. Paul Seiler winner of the 2017 Arthur L. Schawlow Award. The LIA selected Seiler for pioneering laser use, expanding the field of industrial laser use, and creating innovative tools. He has shown a fundamental understanding of laser materials interactions and how laser capabilities can be applied to daily life.
Seiler will address the laser community during the LIA Awards Luncheon, which is part of the 2017 International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®). ICALEO conference attendees are invited to attend this momentous awards ceremony, a long-standing LIA tradition, in an awards luncheon sponsored by EdgeWave GmbH Innovative Laser Solutions. The ceremony takes place at 12:30 p.m. on October 25th, 2017, in Atlanta, GA.
The LIA created the Schawlow Award, given annually, for those who distinguish themselves through excellence in work related to basic and applied laser research. It is named after its initial recipient and 1981 Physics Nobel Prize Winner, Arthur L. Schawlow, whose work was instrumental to the invention of the laser. He was renowned for leveraging optical properties and co-obtaining the maser patent with Charles Townes.
Seiler will be recognized for his lifelong achievements in laser science and engineering. This year’s award recipient was a revolutionary – unhindered by the disbelief he encountered, and a dreamer from the beginning of his career.
“I started in 1963 inside a larger company and they lost the belief in lasers, that turned out to be a big misjudgment,” Seiler told LIA in a recent interview. “I wanted to follow my dream and was able to convince an owner of a small company that manufactured springs for watches, that he needs a laser.”
By sharing his knowledge about the uses and applications of lasers for manufacturing, Seiler gave the manufacturer an invaluable tool, which helped the company become Haas Laser, and eventually TRUMPF Laser, a world leader of solid state laser companies.
Seiler stands as a visionary and an influencer.
“In 1963 I encountered the laser for the first time,” he said. “At this time only a few people in the world had the vision that the laser would become such an important tool in the future.”
He went on to study precision mechanics at the University of Applied Sciences in Karlsruhe, Germany. The University of Stuttgart presented Seiler with an honorary doctorate in 2008, and he worked for 11 years as the managing director of TRUMPF Laser GmbH & Co. KG in Schramberg.
Seiler applied a fiber optic cable, known as the Laser Light Cable, to the laser. This innovation proved his continuous drive towards a robust laser. According to Seiler, the development was crucial for the success of solid-state lasers and, today, remains one of the keys for “easy to use” lasers. He believes the availability of the Laser Light Cable will increase the use of Ultra-Short-Pulse-Lasers in the next few years.
Seiler’s achievements include:
- Only 11 years after the laser was invented, his first laser was applied in the 24/7 industrial application of lasers, paving the way for further innovation in 1971.
- He engineered systems of lasers and components, setting a precedent for using lasers in conjunction with machines.
- He developed high-power CW Lasers and was responsible for the “Mega-Installation” of more than 400 lasers for Volkswagen, fueling the widespread use of lasers in the automotive industry.
- The TRUMPF laser group grew to be one of the largest solid-state laser companies in the world with production sides in the United States, Japan and Europe.
“Today I’m happy to share my fascination with all of the LIA laser-fascinated people,” Seiler told the LIA. “When I see how far the laser has come, I’m proud that I always believed in its success. I would like to be an example for the younger generation, motivating them to follow their passion. I thank LIA for supporting the laser society.”
Driven by limitless curiosity, Seiler’s inquisitive mind continues to thrive on the study and application of lasers.
“Even 14 years after retirement, I’m still just as fascinated by lasers as in 1963.” Seiler said.
To listen to honored speaker Dr. Seiler join us at ICALEO! For more information, visit www.icaleo.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, Ste 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1.407.380.1553.
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Registration Now Open for Laser Institute of America’s 2017 ICALEO® Conference
Held from October 22-26 in Atlanta, ICALEO® 2017 attendees will review state-of-the art updates in laser materials processing and predict where the future will lead
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
ORLANDO, FL — Laser Institute of America (LIA), the professional society for lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide, announces that registration is now open for the 2017 International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) Conference.
Held this year from October 22-26 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, the 36th edition of the conference continues its legacy as the leading source of technical information in the laser industry, dedicated to the field of laser materials processing. The conference allows researchers and end-users to meet and review the best in the business, while presenters at the conference will be given the opportunity to have their technical papers peer-reviewed.
The blind peer-review panel will focus on the quality, relevance, and significance of the research and findings. Selected papers will be recognized in the ICALEO 2017 Congress Proceedings and subsequently published in the Journal of Laser Applications (JLA).
Each year, ICALEO attracts more than 200 companies and organizations from more than 30 countries. With more than 20 vendors currently scheduled for this year’s conference, LIA’s unique Laser Industry Vendor Program allows vendors and attendees the opportunity to discuss the latest equipment and applications in a low-key setting after the technical sessions. With no conflicting session scheduled during this time slot, participants can commit their full attention to vendors.
ICALEO also offers sponsorship opportunities, acknowledging sponsors through onsite signage, visibility on the website, and inclusion in the distributed program. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the most-current products and services from the leading industry exhibitors and sponsors, including those listed below:
- Platinum sponsor: IPG Photonics Corporation
- Gold sponsors: EdgeWave GmbH Innovative Laser Solutions, SPI Lasers, TRUMPF Inc.
- Silver sponsors: Laserline Inc., Light Conversion Ltd., Lumentum, Spectra-Physics, A Newport Company
This year’s conference chair members include:
- Congress General Chair: Christoph Leyens, Fraunhofer IWS
- Laser Materials Processing Co-Chair: Klaus Kleine, Coherent Inc.
- Laser Materials Processing Co-Chair: Friedhelm Dorsch, TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH
- Laser Microprocessing Co-Chair: Michelle Stock, mlstock consulting
- Laser Microprocessing Co-Chair: Cather Simpson, University of Auckland
- Nanomanufacturing Conference Chair: Yongfeng Lu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
In keeping with tradition, the 2017 edition of ICALEO brings together academics and laser industry professionals and allows them a space to discuss the advancement of laser technology and encourage its successful reach into the future.
To register for ICALEO 2017, visit www.icaleo.org.
Meet Precision Laser Scanning, LLC – July’s Featured Corporate Member
By Lindsay Weaver
A company known for its high-speed polygon scanners and expertise, Precision Laser Scanning, LLC was founded by George Helser in 2015. Helser has more than 25 years of experience in optics, including one patent, and 11 years of experience with high-speed polygon scanners.
Meet Precision Laser Scanning – LIA’s Featured Corporate Member for July 2017
Precision Laser Scanning is focused on high-speed laser scanning up to hundreds of meters per second. The company most notably provides polygon scanners and related optics. With today’s fastest Ultrafast / Ultra-Short-Pulse lasers, polygon scanners are the solution for reaching the full potential of the lasers. The company also manufactures advanced controllers and SOS detection systems. They import the highest-quality beam shapers, compact beam expanders, and F-Theta lenses from Germany and Japan to supply along with their polygon scanners.
Recently, the company introduced a unique IR detection glass (HI POWER – IR VIEWER), which is a virtual visualization tool useful to anyone who works with high-power 1064 nm beams. With a damage threshold of 100 W/mm2, it converts 900-1070 nm to green visible light. Since the glass contains imbedded nanocrystals, it is very durable and passes 80 percent of the beam. It can therefore be permanently installed in an operating system to verify operation, and it is superior to opaque laser-detection cards.
Recently, the company introduced a unique IR detection glass (HI POWER – IR VIEWER), which is a virtual visualization tool useful to anyone who works with high-power 1064 nm beams.
Located in Scottsdale, AZ, Precision Laser Scanning is comprised of five employees with more than 40 years of combined experience in laser scanning. Helser compares their business model to that of Apple in that they invent new technology, design products, and market them.
The most valuable service the company offers is the ability to educate customers on the implementation of high-speed polygon scanner technology to achieve up to hundreds of meters per second. Since polygon scanning operates much differently than traditional galvanometer scanning, customers benefit from the experience offered by the company and are therefore able to bring high-speed Polygon Scan Heads to market quickly.
Helser says the company as a whole is most proud of its worldwide reputation in the industry. As subject-matter experts in polygon scanner design and implementation, he truly believes their customers receive the most competent advice during the design, implementation, and production of their Polygon Scan Heads. Polygon scanners were originally developed for laser printers and copiers 40 years ago, but Precision Laser Scanning is re-inventing them for material processing and equipping customers with the knowledge to implement the improved technology.
Eagle Eye Polygon Scanner
Because of the company’s focus on high-speed laser scanning for material processing, Helser appreciates the focus that the Laser Institute of America (LIA) places on material processing as well. He notes that LIA excels at laser safety training and regularly brings together like-minded individuals at the conferences. As a member of LIA since 2012, Precision Laser Scanning has participated in every ICALEO conference held since joining. ICALEO is the leading international event to attend for learning about the latest research in the field and networking with experts from all over the world.
“Anyone interested in the latest advances in material processing will find it very worthwhile to attend the annual ICALEO conference,” Helser said. “As President of Precision Laser Scanning, ICALEO helps me to guide our customers doing material science and to position our company to provide solutions for the latest applications.”
For more information about Precision Laser Scanning, visit www.precisionlaserscanning.com.
This Corporate Member Profile was written by LIA Writer Lindsay Weaver in cooperation with Precision Laser Scanning.