Scanlab AG has increased its stake in the polygon scanner market by acquiring Next Scan Technology BVBA. Next Scan Technology is a Dutch-Belgian polygon scanner manufacturer. Its products include the Line Scan Engine series. The company will retain its operational site in Evergem, Belgium. "Amid rising demand for polygon scanners, Next Scan Technology needed to increase manufacturing capacity and set up worldwide sales, marketing and customer services, while strengthening its management team," said Lars Penning, the company's managing director. "Scanlab's global infrastructure and operational excellence makes it a perfect match to address new market opportunities — via smart crossover designs using galvo, polygon and mirror f-Theta technology." The two firms together create a team with differing, yet highly integrable polygon system approaches to ultrashort-pulse (USP) laser processing. USP lasers are used for ultraprecise micromachining of diverse materials, as cold ablation allows particularly fine, targeted material removal. To achieve industrial-scale productivity, USP lasers are combined with ultrafast scanners, such as polygon scanners. USP laser processing applications range from structuring touchscreen surfaces or solar cells, to microdrilling and processing of electronic components, glass and plastics, as well as sensor manufacturing. Scanlab is an independent OEM manufacturer of scan technology for deflecting and positioning laser beams in three dimensions.