Laser-based solutions provider !%Coherent Inc.%! of Santa Clara, Calif., has opened a laser applications center in Shanghai, China, with Höganäs (China) Co. Ltd. and ABB. The new facility offers access to a Coherent HighLight 4000L, 4-kW, direct-diode laser system mounted on an ABB IRB 2600 robot, enabling the use of lasers as part of the metal cladding process. Applications center personnel will supply the knowledge and experience to optimize cladding process parameters and help those developing new cladding techniques to understand the suitability of laser technology.