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The Laser Institute Names n2-Photonics GmbH Recipient of the 2026 William M. Steen AwardFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Orlando, FL — July 17, 2026 — The Laser Institute (LIA) has named n2-Photonics GmbH the recipient of the 2026 William M. Steen Award, recognizing the Hamburg-based company for a significant and innovative development in laser material processing. The award will be presented at ICALEO 2026, taking place October 5-8 at the Hilton Denver City Center, during the Awards Ceremony. n2-Photonics is recognized for its MIKS pulse compressor, an add-on module that shortens the output of industrial ultrafast lasers to the sub-50 femtosecond regime at 1030 nm. Bringing pulses this short to standard industrial platforms lets manufacturers process materials that are hard to machine cleanly with longer pulses, among them glass, sapphire, silicon carbide, and polymers. Research groups working at 1030 nm have found that pulses shorter than roughly 50 femtoseconds can reduce or remove thermal damage, surface roughness, and cracking in sensitive transparent materials. Shorter pulses also lower the ablation threshold, so material can be removed precisely at lower pulse energies. In practice, that means cleaner edges, a smaller heat-affected zone, and fewer defects. The William M. Steen Award is conferred annually to a single institution that has demonstrated a significant and innovative development in laser material processing. Named after an early pioneer in the field, the award is adjudicated by a panel of laser industry leaders and reflects the growing role of laser material processing in modern manufacturing.
Save the Date - The William M. Steen Award will be presented at this year's LIA Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, taking place as part of the ICALEO program at the Hilton Denver City Center in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 12:00pm (EDT). About The Laser Institute Contact: The Laser Institute |