The total value of German laser and optical component industry sales is expected to rise to approximately €9.7 billion in 2008, up from €9 billion in 2007, a figure that represents an overall increase of 9 per cent. The forecast was announced by the association of the German optical, medical and mechatronic industries, Deutscher Industrieverband für optische, medizinische, und mechatronische Technologien eV (SPECTARIS). Sven Behrens, general manager of the organization, released the details at the Congress for Optical Technology, which was held in February in Berlin.The bar graph shows the development of the German beam source and optical components industry from 2005 projected through 2010. Values are in billions of euros. Image is courtesy of SPECTARIS eV.The companies that were surveyed expect an increase of approximately 10 per cent in domestic sales in 2008, with a value of about €3.5 billion, and of 8 per cent in foreign sales, with a value of about €6.2 billion. They predict that the number of employees in the industry will rise to about 48,700 in 2008, representing a 3 per cent increase over 2007. Previous forecasts by the companies generally have proved to be accurate, according to the association. On average, the companies predict annual growth of approximately 10 per cent. According to their projections, total sales for the German industry could reach nearly €12 billion in 2010, and the workforce, expected to increase by 4 per cent annually, could consist of about 52,700 employees by then.