Press

In its special show "Photonics meets Robotics: AI Success Stories" Laser World of Photonics 2025 will be focusing on the future field of cyberphotonics, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen is playing a key role in this. Researchers from the institute will give presentations on specific applications and exhibit research results to show how AI and other digital methods are already increasing quality and efficiency in photonics, robotics and laser-based, highly automated manufacturing processes. The special show in Hall A3.433 builds a bridge between LASER and the parallel automatica.

Whether in medical technology, quantum technology or semiconductor production, optical systems are an integral part of many high-tech applications. To ensure that lenses, mirrors and other components meet the highest requirements, manufacturing needs processes that combine precision, efficiency and flexibility. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT develops tailor-made solutions for precisely this purpose, solutions that consist of a few highly efficient and extremely productive individual steps. Laser-based optics manufacturing enables the industry to produce dimensionally accurate and functional components with low roughness, from prototypes to series production, from microlens arrays to macro-optics, from spheres to free-form optics.

Ultrashort pulse lasers have been a hot topic in precision material processing for years. To discuss the later developments, the UKP workshop in Aachen has become the meeting place for the constantly growing community. This year, the major topics were beam sources, system technology, beam shaping and, of course, applications. Many of the innovations presented had a common goal: scaling down to smaller structure sizes and scaling up productivity.

Thanks to synchrotron radiation, welding processes can be observed in greater detail than ever before – live and in real time! Researchers from Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen University – Chair for Laser Technology University are working at DESY to make vapor capillaries, melt movements and defects visible. Their findings optimize battery and microelectronics production and pave the way for the development of new materials.