GOTTINGEN, Germany, July 17 -- Lambda Physik AG has won a $1.7 million order to treat engine cylinder surfaces in the automotive industry with its STEEL 1000 excimer laser. This new surface treatment technology was developed during a joint research project funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research and will now enter the series production stage. The new system, which uses the Lambda STEEL 1000 excimer laser, reduces oil consumption by up to 75 percent, compared to the conventional treatment method, decreases wear and tear on cylinder sleeves and piston rings and reduces the impact of emissions on the environment, the company said. The order is from Elotherm GmbH, manufacturer of automated production facilities for the automotive industry, which will use the excimer lasers in a leading automotive manufacturer's production facility for the surface treatment of engine cylinder sleeves. The new production procedure is considered cutting edge in engine development and opens up new applications in the automotive sector for Lambda Physik, the company said. Until now, the technology has been used primarily in flat-screen production lines.