Rofin-Baasel UK Limited

The consistency and quality of laser generated perforations used on product packaging has a direct influence on the shelf life and ultimately, the value of the produce within the pack

ROFIN has introduced a new laser series for high-speed micro material processing, with a special focus on photovoltaic manufacturing.

Laser marking has found its way into a host of different applications and indeed is now commonplace in many industries. One of the more unusual application scenarios for the technology however is marking medals with individual names and event timing parameters at sporting events.

Rofin-Baasel has been recognized as one of 16 suppliers to receive Intel Corporation’s Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) award for their performance in 2009. Rofin is recognized for their significant contributions providing Intel with laser mark equipment, deemed essential to Intel’s success.

When we look around our home, or car for that matter, it seems that almost every electronic device has an LCD display of some description, with screen sizes ranging from miniature to over 50 inches in the case of LCD televisions. In the vast majority of cases, every pixel in the screen is active. The rows and columns of the pixel matrix are activated using transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive paths. As part of the process in the production of TFT displays, a conductive connection must be established between the rows and columns of the matrix – an intentional short circuit, as it were. However, at a later stage in the production process, this step must be carefully undone. The power and precision of Rofin’s new PowerLine SL 8 IC laser makes it the ideal tool for this intricate task.

In September 2006, Rofin-Baasel UK started supplying laser welding wire consumables to customers within the United Kingdom and Ireland who use the company’s lasers for injection mould tool repair, jewellery manufacturing and spectacle frame repair. At the time this may have been perceived as just a logical extension of Rofin’s philosophy of providing a total solution. However, the result for their customers has been a significant improvement in technical support, shorter delivery times and a reduction in price of over 50% in many cases.

The jewellery industry is renowned as being built upon detailed knowledge of precious metals and gems coupled with intricate manual skills and techniques which have been used for generations. With such a traditional reputation, the image of the jewellery workshop to those outside of the industry might be considered to be that of a place left behind in the technology race. In reality however, today’s jewellery workshop is a place where traditional skills and craftsmanship are often enhanced by the latest laser welding technology. The increasing use of lasers, by an industry perceived to be steeped in tradition, proves that jewellers are actually embracing this technology to the benefit of both their customers and their businesses.

As the leading manufacturer of lasers and laser based solutions for materials processing within the medical device industry, Rofin will be a key participant at MEDICA 2009 in Dusseldorf. During the exhibition, from the 18th to the 21st November, Rofin will showcase examples of systems and solutions for welding and marking, which will be located on the ACIG booth, number 55 in hall 13.

XL Precision Technologies specialises in the manufacture of precision micro-components and complex machined tubes, many of which are destined for the medical market. The precise nature of these components, coupled with the rigorous quality standards required by the medical industry, means that the processes used to manufacture them must themselves provide absolute precision and consistency. Recent investments by the company in new Rofin laser technology for micro-machining and laser welding, has ensured that XL Precision Technologies remain a world leader in the manufacture of tight tolerance, micro-dimension components.

The use of lasers for marking has today become commonplace in many industries and applications. Indeed many of the every - day products which we take for granted, including the keyboard used to type these words, are marked using a laser. There are however other less well known applications where lasers are used to mark individual items with data matrix codes, bar codes, serial numbers, dates and other pieces of important information, for a variety of reasons.

Having recently received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in international trade, Winbro Group Technologies continue to reach out into new markets, aided by the power of Rofin Lasers. The coveted award, received by Winbro in April of this year, was in recognition of the company’s outstanding achievements in export growth of over 70% of their leading edge technology systems to more than 15 countries, including China, US, Japan and Russia.

David Belforte is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Industrial Laser Solutions. When David considered using a laser to mark plant variety information on to plastic plant labels, as an alternative to a traditional pencil marker, he was surprised to find that this was not going to be quite as straight forward as he first thought. In this article David outlines his quest for a solution, aided by Rofin-Baasel.

Rofin is a name synonymous with quality and innovation in the world of lasers. Building upon this enviable reputation and the success of the Rofin Multiscan VS laser coding and marking system, Rofin-Sinar has now launched the Multiscan HE which is configured for operation in harsh environments.

For more than 60 years, Heckler & Koch products have been meeting the challenging requirements laid down by international public authorities for the manufacture of handguns and assault rifles. From the outset the emphasis has been on product quality and performance, which today this is achieved using a combination of craftsmanship and Rofin laser technology.

The recent delivery of a new Rofin DC 050 slab laser to Mercedes-Benz located in Stuttgart-Hedelfingen, Germany is in itself newsworthy, but this event also represents an exceptional milestone for Rofin as it marks the 5,000th CO2 Slab Laser to be delivered by the company.

With the recent launch of a new series of high powered fibre lasers, Rofin further consolidates the company’s ability to offer the most complete range of lasers and laser systems. The new FL Series offers two models; the FL x75 and FL 010 with output powers of 750 and 1,000 Watts respectively. The excellent beam quality from this new series of lasers can be coupled with fibre optics of between 50μm and 600μm in diameter, equivalent to beam quality of 2.5 to 30 mm x mrad. In addition the Rofin FL 010 S offers the option of a fibre laser solution with single mode beam quality of typically 0.4 mm x mrad and 1,000 Watt output power.

Using the latest high power solid state lasers, paint and metallic surface coatings can be ablated either extensively or highly selectively with ever reducing cycle times.

Rofin has broadened its successful high power DQ series of q-switched solid state lasers with introduction of the new DQ 010. The high performance lasers of the DQ series have already proven to be excellent tools for surface applications such as ablation, cleaning and insulation with other applications currently in development. The 1 kW output power and increased pulse peak performance of the DQ010, which are 1,000 times higher than CW powers, reduce cycle times and ultimately operating expenses.

Industrial laser applications within the medical device industry form a significant part of Rofin-Baasel’s business globally. Most of the laser applications within the medical device industry are ‘micro’ in nature; on components down to sub-mm in size. These applications include the common laser processes of cutting, welding, marking, drilling and surface treatments but across a wide range of materials and devices, both metallic and plastic, and from implants to instrumentation.

The shelf-life of perishable food has a great influence on its value. The freshness of these products is largely determined by air-ventilation and the preservation of humidity within the packaging. Packaging technology is increasingly demanding precise control of perforations, as the ability to control and optimise the hole dimensions can further enhance the shelf life of fresh food products. This means less waste, lower costs and ultimately more attractive pricing for the customer.