5 / 24
Ausg.Nr._12/2017
5
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2017
T
he world’s leading trade
fair LASER World of PHO-
TONICS, from June 26 to
29, 2017 in Munich is setting new
records: more than 1,250 exhibi-
tors are anticipated, occupying
55,000 square meters of exhi-
bition space to present visitors
from around the world their ide-
as for the future of optical tech-
nologies. Right next door, lead-
ing researchers and industrial
practitioners will be meeting for
a technical dialog at the World of
Photonics Congress 2017, one of
the biggest trade congresses in
the world of photonics.
It is considered to be a key indus-
try for the 21st-century. Photonics
paves the way for modern com-
munication as it does for medical
progress. It allows machines to
feel and robots to see. It affords
astronomers the most profound
insights into the origins of the
universe and provides biologists
with live images from within living
cells. Photonics has now become
a driver of progress in all areas of
human life. Light possesses unim-
agined leverage—that is far from
having been exhausted.
Photonics industry on course
for growth
According to market forecasts,
the photonics industry will in-
crease its global sales in this
current decade from 350 billion
to 615 billion euros. What is driv-
ing this is the increasing need for
sensors, imaging systems and
highly accurate laser systems
in the networked, largely auto-
mated production processes of
Industry 4.0. The development of
(partially) autonomous vehicles
and rising traffic safety levels also
presupposes the massive use of
environmental sensors and ever
more intelligent light. The latter
is only one of the growth drivers
in the lighting industry, in which
LED and OLED technology will tap
further potential. Only two exam-
ples among dozens that are lend-
ing photonics global momentum.
Trade fair highlights 2017:
Photonics 4.0 and additive
manufacturing
With its focus on sensors, laser
material processing, imaging
and additive manufacturing LA-
SER World of PHOTONICS 2017 is
targeting dynamic growth areas
in which optical technologies pro-
vide a clear boost to productivity
and process reliability. Together
with cameras, which themselves
detect the most minute defects in
high-speed processes, the flex-
ible, precisely controllable tool
that is light, together with con-
tactless optical measuring tech-
nology, underpins self-correcting
production processes in Industry
4.0. Here too, photonics is the
enabler.
The LASER World of PHOTONICS
2017 spotlight will also be on ad-
ditive manufacturing. Expert Prof.
Claus Emmelmann, CEO of LZN
Laser Zentrum Nord GmbH, an-
ticipates a new market for lasers
worth billions. According to fore-
casts, the additive manufacturing
market will grow to 100 billion
euros within 10 years, one third
of which will be accounted for by
plant and equipment.
The Bio-photonics is yet another
trade fair highlight: ultrahigh
resolution imaging, ever more
accurate spectroscopy and laser
systems are enabling doctors,
biologists and chemists, but also
pharmaceuticals and materials
researchers as well, systemati-
cally to advance the boundaries
of knowledge. Patients benefit in
the form of improved diagnos-
tics, therapies and less invasive
operating procedures, in which
surgeons work with lasers instead
of scalpels and look deep into
organs or blood vessels, without
having to open the body in the
process. Opthalmology is also
making rapid progress thanks to
lasers.
After the successful premiere of
STARTUP World in 2015, LASER
World of PHOTONICS 2017 will
once again provide a communica-
tion platform for young entrepre-
neurs. The world’s leading trade
fair will therefore be a meeting
place for the most important com-
panies in the photonics industry,
from start-ups to the key players.
World of Photonics Congress
2017
Many a technology, now in use,
was initially unveiled and dis-
cussed at World of Photonics Con-
gress,whichtakesplaceinparallel
with the trade fair in the ICM—
International Congress Center
Munich. June 2017 will again see
the scientific elite of the photon-
ics world converging on Munich.
Five conferences will be taking
place.
• CLEO
®
/Europe-EQEC 2017
• Lasers in Manufacturing – LiM
2017, mit einer Sub-Konferenz
zum Additive Manufacturing
• EOS Conferences on Optical
Technologies
• Optical Metrology 2017
• ECBO 2017
Text & Image:
Messe München GmbH
Messegelände
D-81823 München
26.–29.06.2017
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2017:
Home to the future of technology