Interview with Jens Bleher
The LASER show in Munich is the world's leading fair for Photonics Technologies and shows new trends in laser technology for material processing. Jens Bleher, Managing Director TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH, explains the innovations TRUMPF will present in Munich.
Mr. Bleher, what is TRUMPF's focus for this year's LASER trade show?
At LASER World of PHOTONICS 2009, TRUMPF will continue its campaign for innovation and push for continued development – even during these difficult economic times – in laser technology. Our customers expect this of us. As part of these efforts, we are focusing on energy and cost efficiency for applications in the multi-kilowatt range as well as in precision processing, microprocessing and laser marking.
Energy and cost efficiency are keywords: What should I think about in a production process?
When it comes to production costs, a deciding factor is always the bottom line – in other words, the total cost per part. Naturally, it is important that the laser used has a high level of energy efficiency. The laser also offers many additional benefits in comparison to alternative production methods. This is because the use of light as a tool usually increases the efficiency of the entire production process. Users frequently require less material, the processing quality is better and refinishing is often unnecessary. All of this saves on work and energy costs along the entire processing chain.
Why should a customer invest in new products now, of all times?
At the LASER trade show, we are going to introduce our new diode lasers from the TruDiode series. With a wall plug efficiency of about 40 percent, they are many more times efficient than lamp-pumped lasers. Users can reduce their energy costs by up to 90 percent. This means that our TruDiode lasers are the beam source of choice for welding applications currently performed with lamp-pumped solid-state lasers.
Our new TruDisk disk laser generation can also help manufacturers to significantly lower their operating costs. For example, the cost per kilowatt with our disk lasers has been reduced by more than half in the last four years. The high efficiency and long service life of the laser components also add up to relief in operating costs.
How do things look with lasers in microprocessing?
Companies that also use lasers for microprocessing are increasingly requiring energy- and cost-efficient processes in production. We are meeting these demands with our new TruMicro 7250. With its wavelength of 515 nm and its high average output of 400 watts, it’s the ideal laser for use in the production of thin-layer transistors, semiconductors and flat screen televisions. With the TruMicro 7250, materials such as amorphous silicon can be processed at a much lower energy and cost efficiency than has been possible to date.
As a laser manufacturer with the broadest product line of laser beam sources, you will display more innovative technologies, won't you?
We have innovative products on all technological platforms. For precision processing, we are introducing a new fiber laser generation from the TruFiber series. This product line has laser outputs of 200, 300 and 400 watts.
We will also introduce new fiber laser markers from the TruMark Series 5000 at LASER World of Photonics 2009. The first laser from the new series is the TruMark 5020, which is ideal for applications that require reliable pulses with excellent pulse-to-pulse stability at extraordinarily high frequencies.
An additional highlight in laser marking is the new NAVIGATOR operating software. With NAVIGATOR, the user can quickly and easily achieve high quality marking results without in-depth laser technology expertise.