Are you ready for the latest news, updates, and points of interest regarding lasers, laser safety, and laser applications?
Aggregating content from Lasers Today, LIA Blog, and our social media channels, here’s what you may have missed this week:
Laser Industry News: Is Low-Cost, Robotic AM possible for large-scale?
Is low-cost, robotic additive manufacturing possible for large-scale parts? Learn about the successes Keystone Synergistic Enterprises has had in expanding directed-energy additive manufacturing into large parts, on a low cost platform. The piece also discussed some of the early roadblocks experienced when exploring additive manufacturing for airframe and engine applications, in the late 90s and early 2000’s. Read more about Keystone’s strategy to expand upon additive manufacturing applications for sustainable business here.
A newly proposed method could greatly reduce the manufacturing times of 3D printed parts. In the post 3D Printing of Net Shape Geometries by Laser Metal Deposition, learn how this proposed process differs from traditional laser metal deposition, and the results that it produced here.
Conference Updates: Prepping for the Industrial Laser Conference at IMTS 2016 in Chicago!
On the fence about attending the inaugural Industrial Laser Conference? Be sure to check out our post highlighting the four industrial manufacturing professions that may benefit the most from attending. The Industrial Laser Conference was designed to introduce ways to incorporate lasers into existing processes. Learn how to stay ahead in a competitive, high-tech market here.
Ready to register for Industrial Laser Conference? Find everything you need to know before attending here.
LIA News & Updates: Recapping LME & Summit via LIA Today
LME (Lasers for Manufacturing Event) & Summit took place April 25-27 in Atlanta, Georgia. This week, we recapped the event. LME & Summit offered educational workshops for both introductory and experienced attendees as well as the latest addition, the Laser Technology Tour, proved to be a hit with attendees. Check out what you may have missed here.
A greater number of industries than ever before are adopting additive manufacturing technology to their processes, often saving money on production costs! Learn how laser additive manufacturing may give your company the advantage in our slideshare The Cost of Manufacturing With Lasers vs Without Them. The slideshare covers the advantages of additive manufacturing, types of 3D printing and more! Download it here.
Interested in learning more about laser additive manufacturing? Register for one of our manufacturing-centric conferences, held throughout the year. The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide.
Find us at www.lia.org — and follow us on Twitter for live, up-to-date conference information.
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.
ORLANDO, FL, MAY 18, 2016 — From business owners to industry leaders and laser experts, the best and brightest in manufacturing gathered from April 25-27, 2016 in Atlanta, GA, for LIA’s most cutting-edge Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®) and Summit yet.
Beginning on April 25 with the Summit at the Renaissance® Atlanta Waverly Hotel, and continuing with the two-day LME on April 26-27 at the adjacent Cobb Galleria Centre, the fifth installment of LIA’s comprehensive, three-day manufacturing event once again served as the premier hub for both companies interested in exploring the integration of laser technology into their production, and attendees seeking the latest insights from the leading authorities in laser technology.
“Every day we are discovering innovative ways to use this technology. Lasers are improving manufacturing
processes in many industries causing engineers to rethink design,” says LIA’s Marketing Director, Jim Naugle. “This event is the one stop laser shop that covers everything you need to know about the fast developments of this industry – if you’re not here, you’re falling behind!”
The LME Summit — Where Executives and the C-Suite Meet
The Lasers for Manufacturing Summit, which first debuted in 2014, serves as the foremost afternoon and evening for executives and the C-Suite. During the event, Summit presenters covered the economic outlook of the laser industry, the evolution and applications of laser welding, and shared their stories of success.
Editor-in-Chief of Industrial Laser Solutions and LIA Past President, David Belforte, moderated the Summit’s signature Laser Manufacturing Forum, featuring panelists from several high-profile companies that manufacture with lasers. The event concluded with an evening VIP reception, where attendees networked with high-level executives and Summit speakers. Follow the latest Lasers for Manufacturing Summit updates at www.lia.org/lasersummit.
Highlights from the Laser Technology Showcase and Informational Educational Sessions
Once again, the Laser Technology Showcase proved to be a main highlight for LME attendees. Featuring an engaging set of 30-minute keynote addresses, speakers shared the advantages of utilizing laser technology, including Summit forum leader David Belforte, who returned to present the first keynote speech with his Industrial Laser Market Overview. Following were presentations such as Shawn Kelly of EWI’s Laser Technology and Metal Additive Manufacturing, Ralf Kimmel of TRUMPF Laser and Systems GmbH’s Laser Applications in Automotive Manufacturing, and GE Global Research’s Marshall Jones’s Industrial Applications of Laser Material Processing in GE.
For additional questions and insights, attendees stopped by the ‘Ask the Expert’ booth, headed by Neil Ball of Directed Light Inc. and 20 other industry leaders.
LME provided second time attendee Jefferson Odhner of Odhner Holographics with the manufacturing opportunities he was looking for. Odhner stated “I’m here to explore how lasers are used in metal processing; 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 New 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 event. By simply registering for LME and signing up, 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.
An Array of Opportunities at LME 2016
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. In all, the 2016 LME was exciting, inspiring and informative – and just like this year’s event, 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.
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!”
Could lasers be used to help treat Parkinson’s disease? According to researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan and University of Otago, New Zealand, the disease may be able to be treated by “encapsulating dopamine within liposomes that can be released using a femtosecond (FS) laser.” The researchers believe that the findings may lead to implants that release encapsulated dopamine, to patients suffering from the disease. Check it out here: Click Here.
Most of us are familiar with Albert Einstein’s contributions to the study of physics. As arguably the most recognizable scientist in the world, most know Einstein for the Theory of Relativity or just his wild hair. Speculating on the “stimulated…emission of light” as early as 1910, Einstein’s connection to the inevitable development of the laser may surprise you. Read more here: Click Here
When looking toward future technology, it is equally important to reflect on how far we have come. The integration of lasers in computing systems started as early as the 1970s and only continues to expand. Learn more about the future of lasers and communications here: Click Here.
Even if you rely mostly on streaming and digital downloads for your music listening needs, chances are you still have a CD player in your home or vehicle. From the early concepts of using lasers to read stored data, to the launch of the Blu Ray disk, find out how integral to home entertainment the laser is, in this week’s Throwback Thursday post found here: Click Here.
Be sure to check out our LME® 2016 #laserevent posts on Facebook and Twitter. The Lasers for Manufacturing Event took place April 26-27 in Atlanta, Georgia, bringing together key players in laser manufacturing and beyond.
Interested in obtaining additional laser safety training, but don’t know where to start? Be sure to check out our blog post on Choosing the Laser Safety Training That’s Right For You. Here you will find a number of ways to advance your laser safety knowledge, as well as what type of training is available to you. For more information, check out the post here: Click Here.
In the event that you have completed your required laser safety training, there is a chance you still may not be in full compliance. A handful of states across the country have unique standards that you may not already be aware of! Take a look at our Guide To State Mandated Laser-Safety Applications. In the post is a chart of state-specific safety mandates, as well as notes on efforts to create a national standard for laser safety. Make sure you are in compliance by looking over the guide found here: Click Here.
Laser Institute of America will hold its Lasers for Manufacturing Summit on April 25, beginning at 1 PM at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, GA. Held in conjunction with LIA’s fifth Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®), the summit will focus exclusively on C-suite, top executives and critical stakeholders such as suppliers, technology analysts and investors.
This one-of-a-kind event for business leaders will provide an extensive market perspective unobtainable anywhere else, complete with market data segmented by applications, and critical business overviews of available laser technology. Leading industry experts will present their views and analysis of topics such as the laser market business outlook, industry trends and leading-edge applications development.
“The Lasers for Manufacturing Summit is tailor-made for executives, designed to provide an opportunity to network with fellow executives, obtain advice from the best in the business, discuss problems at the top, and develop valuable content, all in one afternoon,” said LIA’s Executive Director, Peter Baker. “By attending the Summit, executives can access the players, the technology and the opportunity that resides in the industry.”
Summit participants will also attend several expert presentations, complete with first-hand intelligence on how to seize the innovation that these powerful tools provide. The keynote presentation, delivered by LIA Past President and industrial laser applications pioneer David Belforte, will discuss the Global Market for Industrial Lasers, drawing on his extensive experience in the cutting edge research, development and industrial implementation of high technology materials processing.
Five additional presentations will cover pivotal industry applications. These are, Engineered Welded Blanks – Evolution & Applications by Jim Evangelista, Director of Research and Development at Shiloh Industries, Inc., Laser Material Processing – New Tools Yield Success by Mark Barry of Prima Power Laserdyne, Laser Welding – A Paradigm Shift for Product Design & Economics of Scale by David Havrilla of TRUMPF Inc., a presentation on Laser Cleaning Laser Removal by Susan Sprentall of SurClean, and an exhibition on The Laser Seam Stepper: New Fiber Laser Welding Tool by Michael Wiener of IPG Photonics Corporation.
To round out the educational event, Industrial Laser Solutions’ Editor-in-Chief, David Belforte, will moderate a Laser Manufacturing Forum with panelists of varying industry specialties. A VIP Reception will begin immediately afterward at 5 PM. Attend the VIP Reception to meet high-level executives, speakers and LIA board members for an exclusive network gathering.
Registration is still open for this one-of-a-kind C-suite and executive event. To register for the Lasers Manufacturing Summit, and for more information, please contact the Conference Department at lme@lia.org or call 1.800.34.LASER.
