LASER World of PHOTONICS 2015 programme announced

The 2015 LASER World of PHOTONICS and World of Photonics Congress are dominated by the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies. The UNESCO initiative is intended to highlight to the citizens of the world the importance of light and optical technologies in their lives, for their futures and for the development of society.

Opening ceremony of the trade fair and congress

The LASER World of PHOTONICS will open on 22nd June at 09:00am under the motto 'Light Solutions for the Society Challenges of our World'. The welcoming addresses will acknowledge the political, economic and societal position and importance of optical technologies. Special guest speakers are: Dr. Flavia Schlegel (UNESCO), Dr. Lawrence Goldberg (National Science Foundation, USA), Dr. Yanne Chembo (African Physical Society) and Prof. John Dudley (Chairman of the International Year of Light Steering Committee).

The Light Solutions for the Society Challenges of our World guided tour uses concrete applications on exhibitors' stands to showcase the photonics world.

World of Photonics Congress 2015

The World of Photonics Congress is taking place in parallel with the LASER World of PHOTONICS. Is it is one of the leading international congresses in Europe and among the top 3 worldwide. This year's World of Photonics Congress is setting new records with keynote speeches by Nobel laureates, the presentation of awards, eight conferences and more than 2,700 scientific and practical lectures. In 2013, 5,000 people attended the more than 2,500 lectures.

STARTUP World and PHOTONICS Award in Hall B3.325

For the first time LASER World of PHOTONICS will be offering a dedicated marketplace for young up-and-coming companies. The new STARTUP World exhibition space is a collaborative venture with Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO). This is where start-up companies can present their products to a wide industrial audience and get in touch with potential investors. On 24th June, at 10:30, the PHOTONICS Award will honour the best ideas. The award covers the entire gamut of optical technologies in two categories: 'Optical Technologies' and '3D printing'.

Photonics Applications in Automotive Sector in Hall A3.533

Photonics Applications in Automotive Sector showcases the most diverse photonics application areas in automotive manufacturing, live and in a practical setting. For example, there will be a BMW i8 on display, the first vehicle to feature the all-new light technology, laser light. LASER World of PHOTONICS is sending a clear signal with the special show: the world's leading photonics trade fair is the perfect meeting place for users and automotive industry suppliers, as well as a must for trade visitors. The special show's sponsors and exhibitors are BMW Group, JENOPTIK Optical Systems GmbH, KUKA Industries, Reis GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik, LIMO Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH, Newport Spectra-Physics GmbH, Polytec GmbH, ROFIN-SINAR Laser GmbH, Trioptics GmbH and TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH.

Photons in Production in Hall A2.524

Photons in Production showcases laser application areas in industrial production. The key areas of the live demonstration are:

• Laser live demonstration - process acceleration by innovative system technology;
• Laser welding - using adapted intensity distribution;
• Metal-plastic composites - laser-based joining of laser-structured metals and thermoplastics;
• Joining lithium-ion cells - laser welding in battery production;
• Laser safety - testing laser material-processing systems;
• Additive manufacturing - using laser melting to manufacture components;
• Small and nice - laser micro material processing; and
• Two become one - laser beam joining of dissimilar materials.

The Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Betriebswissenschaften of the TU Munich (iwb) (Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management) and the Bayerische Laserzentrum Erlangen (blz) (Bavarian Laser Centre) are cooperation partners.

3D Printing - Additive Manufacturing in Hall A3.541

3D Printing - Additive Manufacturing showcases the production chain from digital data to customised or complex components. This is where trade visitors can find out about the advantages of 3D printing for the design and production of bespoke components. Cooperation partners are: the Fraunhofer Institut für Lasertechnik (ILT) (Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology), the Bayerische Laserzentrum Erlangen (blz) (Bavarian Laser Centre), the Chair of Photonics Technologies of the University of Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (LPT), the Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Betriebswissenschaften TU Munich (Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management) (iwb Anwenderzentrum Augsburg), the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik (IWU) (Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology), the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik (IWS), (Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology), the special “Additive Manufacturing” Research Center 814 and industrial partners.

Practical lectures at the photonics forums (Halls A2, A3, B3)

The World of Photonics Congress is once again using the practical lectures as a vehicle for integrating application-oriented lecture series into its programme, bridging the gap between theory and practice. The application panels at the Photonics Forums in Halls A2, A3 and B3 offer all visitors, exhibitors and congress participants free lectures on current topics such as biophotonics, additive manufacturing, optical metrology, laser processing of glass and much else besides. In 2013 approximately 1,700 participants attended the practical lectures. They are sub-divided into four fields:

• Biophotonics and Medical Applications (Hall B3.561):
  • Laser Advanced New Methods for Diagnostics and Therapeutics (22nd June, 12:20-14:40)
  • Laser Applications in Optical Diagnostics and Ophthalmology (22nd June, 14:40-17:00)
  • Visions for Future Diagnostics - Infectious Diseases (23rd June, 10:00-12:20)
  • Innovation and Trends for Laser Solutions in Life Science and Bioinstrumentation (23rd June, 12:20-14:40)

• Laser and Optics (Hall B3.561)
  • Pico- and Femtosecond Lasers - Status and Prospects (23rd June, 14:40-17:00)
  • CW (and Long-Pulse) Diode-Pumped Solid State Lasers and Fiber Lasers - Status and Prospects (Wednesday, 24.06.2015, 10:00-12:20)
  • High-Power Diode Lasers: Edge Emitters and Vertical Emitters - Status and Prospects (24th June, 14:40-17:00)

• Industrial Laser Applications (Hall A3.533)
  • Advanced Applications of Ultrashort Pulsed Laser Systems (22nd June, 14:40-17:00)
  • 3D-Printing: Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing for Production of Metal Parts (23rd June, 10:00-12:20)
  • Ultrafast Laser Beam Deflection and Transportation (23rd June, 14:40-17:00)
  • Lasers in Microelectronics: The Smart World Approaching (24th June, 10:00-12:20)
  • Increased Automotive Efficiency Enabled by Laser Technology (24th June, 14:40-17:00)
  • Laser Processing of Glass (25th June, 10:00-12:20)

• Optical Metrology and Imaging (Hall A2.250)
  • Contact-Free 3D Measurement Methods Ranging from Laser-Scanning to Imaging (22nd June, 14:40-17:00)
  • High-Coherence Metrology from Long-Distance to Nanoscale Dimensions (23rd June, 10:00-12:20)
  • Terahertz Spectroscopy and Inspection in Industrial Applications (23rd June, 14:40-17:00)

Industry 4.0 in the Optics Industry (24th June, 12:20-14:20, Forum A3.450)

Optical components and systems are essential building blocks in delivering flexible, networked production solutions as part of Industry 4.0. The Industry 4.0 in the Optics Industry forum, organised by Spectaris, is dedicated to the manufacturing of optical systems and manufacturing with optical systems based on selected examples. Speakers will be discussing requirements, solutions and gaps, to make Industry 4.0 a success story in the key technology that is photonics.

12th International Laser Marketplace (24th June, 13:00-17:00, conference room, Press Center West)

Organised with Optech Consulting, LASER World of PHOTONICS 2015 is staging the 12th International Laser Marketplace. The seminar on markets and trends in Laser Materials Processing addresses executives in the laser industry. Worldwide leading experts will discuss international markets and market trends as well as new applications and technologies.

Career Center (daily, Hall B1.561)

Once again in 2015, LASER World of PHOTONICS is putting on the Career Center in collaboration with its career partner beratungsgruppe wirth + partner. The jobs board in the Career Center in Hall B1 is where those who are interested will find current job vacancies as well as trainee and internship opportunities being offered by exhibitors at the LASER World of PHOTONICS. At the same time university graduates and engineers and physicists with professional experience can receive complimentary career advice from experienced personnel experts between 10:00 and 17:00.

Biophotonics Innovations for Medicine and Life Sciences (Hall B3.470)

Biophotonics research is one of the driving forces in medical engineering. The market is experiencing rapid development. The trade fair stand showcases current research activities together with product developments from the latest joint projects being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The exhibits are from the point-of-care diagnostics (e.g. the identification of infective agents), high-resolution microscopy and optical in-vivo imaging fields.