Third-quarter 1997 shipments of industrial laser equipment and systems within North America, including exports from the US, rose 16.4 percent from the third quarter of 1996, according to a recently published report by the Laser Systems Product Group of the Association for Manufacturing Technology. A total of 42 companies reporting to the association had domestic sales of $102 million, while exports amounted to $45 million. CO2 lasers accounted for nearly 60 percent of all the lasers shipped, and more than 75 percent of all the shipments were laser systems. A majority of the market is the result of automotive-related orders, with increased demand from stamping and contract shops.