LME Summit Offers In-Depth Look at Laser Industry

The fourth annual Lasers for Manufacturing Event and Summit (LME), presented by the Laser Institute of America in September, offered laser experts and representatives of the industry a forum in which to learn about all things laser.

Educational forums and speakers covered topics such as the economic outlook of the laser manufacturing industry, additive manufacturing and 3-D printing, worldwide emerging markets, potential benefits of laser processes and the future of laser technology. Other issues covered included laser welding and its guidelines and laser additive manufacturing systems.

Past LIA President David Belforte discussed a mid-year analysis for the laser industry, noting that “industrial lasers for materials processing represent 11 percent of all machine-tool sales globally.” He added that he and other industry experts anticipate global revenues from laser sales to increase by 5 percent by the end of 2014.

A panel of experts offered attendees the chance to discuss the current cultural climate in regard to the shortage of skilled labor available in the manufacturing industry, as well as programs that are in place in efforts to fill that gap.

Nine live lasers were presented at LME, giving attendees a firsthand look at various systems and products, including CO₂ and fiber gantry lasers, galvo-steered fiber lasers, laser marking machines and laser welders.

Exhibitors included DPSS Lasers Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif.; Innovar Systems Ltd. of North Jackson, Ohio; Rofin-Sinar Inc. of Plymouth, Mich.; LaserStar Technologies of Pasadena, Calif.; and Gravotech of Rillieux-la-Pape, France.

For more information, visit www.lia.org/lasersummit.