Laser Institute of America

Reinhart Poprawe, LIA’s 2012 president, has worked in the laser industry and its related organizations for over 30 years. He received an M.A. in physics from California State University in Fresno in 1977. After completion of his Ph.D. in physics (Darmstadt, 1984) he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Aachen, Germany where he worked as head of a department for laser-oriented process development.

In 1988 Poprawe started Thyssen Laser Technik GMBH and was the company’s CEO. Since 1996 he has been managing director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and holds the University Chair for Laser Technology at the RWTH Aachen. In 2004 he served as vice rector of Aachen University and currently is a member of several boards in the scientific and industrial organizations, e.g. the AKL Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e. V. Aachen. He also chairs the RWTH International Board and is the Rectors delegate for China.

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By: Geoff Giordano

With more therapeutic procedures moving into private medical offices and homes, the standard regulating the safe use of lasers in health care has undergone a much-needed update to ensure users, as well as patients, are protected.

The revised “ANSI Z136.3 Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care” publication defines the parameters of proper laser use outside the tightly regulated hospital environment. Formerly titled the “American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care Facilities,” the revision released in January includes new guidelines and information on:

•Wavelengths employed in medical environments. While some lasers are no longer listed, at least four new wavelengths have been added.

•The duties of laser safety officers involved with rented or borrowed laser equipment.

•Audit requirements and procedures.

•Clinically relevant terminology.

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LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA 2012, the leading laser and photonics trade show in Asia, is going to open on March 20-22, 2012 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. For steady and new customers alike, the 7th LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA is going to offer a more diversified exhibition range covering laser systems for production engineering, laser and optronics, fiber communication, optics, machine vision, IR and test and measurement, displaying a most comprehensive and international platform for laser and photonics applications as well as industry trends. TRUMPF, Rofin, IPG, Unity Prima, Miyachi, Han’s Laser, SIASUN, SPI, Delphi, II-VI, Coherent, Newport, Qioptiq, Raylase, Leoni, Physik Instrument, Huagong and Chutian amongst others, have already decided to participate in LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA 2012.

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ORLANDO, FL, Dec. 9, 2011 — Reflecting the increased importance of lasers in manufacturing, medicine and research, the Laser Institute of America’s three-day course for safety officers has bucked recessionary trends to set an attendance record.

A record number of attendees from a broad range of disciplines participated in the Dec. 6-8 workshop created and taught by LIA Education Director Gus Anibarro. The course drew representatives from the Army, Halliburton, SeaWorld, Disney, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and a handful of small laser job shops.

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Revision of the Z136.3 was driven by the movement of the widespread use of medical lasers – from hospital operating rooms to the office and/or clinic environment.  In an effort to acknowledge the diversity of laser therapy applications and practice setting locations, the title of the standard has been changed to “Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care.”

The revised Z136.3 is recognized as the definitive document on laser safety in all health care environments. Whether the laser is used in a hospital, clinic or alternative health care setting, the newly revised document is a must read for every LSO and facility providing laser based therapy. (more…)

UAW Recognizes Need for Laser Safety Training

ORLANDO, FL, October 3, 2011 — A key new auto-industry labor agreement stipulating increased laser-safety training for employees underscored the timeliness of the Laser Institute of America’s (LIA) safety program at the inaugural Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME).

On the same day the United Auto Workers (UAW) union ratified a four-year contract with General Motors, LIA Education Director Gus Anibarro enlightened over 100 LME attendees about the hazards of certain lasers and the proper methods for avoiding worker injuries. Such training is becoming increasingly important as major industries — automotive, aerospace, medical and others — incorporate lasers in more and more manufacturing applications involving cutting, welding and drilling.  (more…)

ORLANDO, FL, September 28, 2011 — The Boston University Photonics Center will be hosting the fall meeting of the Laser Institute of America New England Chapter on Wednesday November 30, 2011 from 5 – 7 p.m. The technical presentations will focus on Laser Applications in MicroFluidics, and be followed by a dinner reception.

Thomas J. Dudley, the Assistant Director of the Photonics Center will present an overview of work being conducted by faculty, staff and students, particularly in MicroFluidics and BioPhotonics.  The featured technical presentation will be 3D Microstructures in Glasses and Sapphire by In-Volume Selective Laser-Induced Etching from work by Martin Hermans, Maren Hörstmann-Jungemann, Dagmar Schaefer and Jens Gottmann at Aachen University/Fraunhofer Institute, Aachen, Germany. Insapphire, micro channels with aspect ratios as large as 10,000:1 are produced with diameters 1-10 µm and a length of 1 cm. (more…)

ORLANDO, FL, October 4, 2011 — Laser-based manufacturing got a significant shot in the arm in September as the Laser Institute of America drew nearly 70 exhibitors and over 800 experts, advocates and practitioners to its first-ever Lasers for Manufacturing Event.

LIA, the leading laser applications and safety authority, created LME to do something no other U.S. based organization has done: convene the laser-manufacturing brain trust to educate representatives from various industries about how to improve efficiency and profitability with laser welding, cladding, drilling and cutting technology. The show, held Sept. 27-28 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL, drew not only manufacturers located near the venue but attendees from other countries including Russia, Japan, Egypt, Korea and Turkey. (more…)

ORLANDO, FL, September 16, 2011 — In a letter of support U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D) Florida thanks the Laser Institute of America “for taking the lead in providing the education, practical examples and connection to world class laser and system manufacturers which LME provides.” He said “it is clear that increasing the use of lasers for manufacturing can immediately and practically help to improve U.S. competitiveness, increase innovation and create well paid jobs, all of which are important priorities for our nation” and states that “industrial lasers are making such a positive impact on Aerospace, Automobile, Medical and other areas of manufacturing.” (more…)