The increasing availability of industrial-grade ultrafast lasers and their use in machining will be the focus of a keynote address by Magnus Bengtsson at the Laser Institute of America’s third annual Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME). Bengtsson, director of strategic marketing at Coherent Inc., will present “Ultrafast Lasers — Are We There Yet?” discussing the best device sources, application examples and future opportunities of use. “People typically choose ultrafast lasers to enable a new process or because the requirements of the old process have become tougher to meet,” Bengtsson said. “There are also cases, e.g., glass cutting, where ultrafast lasers can enable higher throughput and better quality than longer-pulsed lasers. Ultrafast lasers have great potential, but it does not mean they are the solution to every problem. Quality, throughput and cost of ownership must all be balanced for each application.” As US manufacturers seek the advantages of lasers to increase efficiency and profitability, Bengtsson says LME fills a vital role. “We need an event like this in the US to broaden the appeal and the conversation beyond the laser industry itself and talk to a wider audience,” Bengtsson said. “We need to learn what challenges other industries face and see if we can help them come up with innovative solutions to support future manufacturing.” LME, taking place on Sept. 11 and 12 at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill., will include laser providers, system integrators and industry experts sharing experiences and information with the goal of employing lasers in the aerospace, automotive, defense, energy and health care industries. Bengtsson’s address will be one of four 30-minute keynotes speeches in the Laser Technology Showcase Theater. Other industry luminaries will update attendees on ultrahigh-brightness direct-diode lasers, additive manufacturing and 3-D printing, as well as the market for industrial lasers. The education track will also feature basic courses addressing the main types of lasers used for manufacturing, design and economic considerations when putting together a system for your applications, and laser safety. For more information, visit: www.lia.org/conferences/laserevent