Hannover, Germany - In many areas of modern industrial manufacturing, it is possible to use the laser for protecting resources and for improved energy efficiency. The Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) will present examples of green photonics at the LASER fair in Munich from May 23 to 25, 2011. Environmentally-safe laser structuring of glass is just one example to be shown.
The spectrum of themes dealing with the environmentally friendly use of light includes using laser technology for lightweight construction, for regenerative energy production, as an alternative to environmentally harmful processes, or for new, energy-efficient laser systems.
For example, LZH laser technology can be used for processing CFRP materials (carbon fiber reinforced plastics), a here-to-fore particularly difficult material to laser process. This technology is instrumental in innovative lightweight concepts for the aeronautical and automobile industry. Expensive and costly raw materials can be reduced, and the use of fuel can be significantly lowered.
Also, the welding speed of gas-metal welding (GMAW) can be doubled using laser technology. This means that laser research at the LZH is a contributing factor to energy efficiency in production.
Lasers can also be used to reduce pollution, for example, for structuring the surface of glass. Laser technology can be used instead of chemical engraving or sandblasting. Cover-up foils and environmentally hazardous chemicals are no longer necessary.
LZH laser technology is also important in the production of regenerative energy. In this field, the laser can be used for welding glass tubes for higher quality solar receivers, or for increasing the energy efficiency of photovoltaic cells, or for lowering production costs for warm water solar collectors.
Furthermore, LZH will present new fiber components that can be used in energy efficient fiber laser systems for material processing including a newly-developed, ultra-short laser oscillator based fully on fiber lasers.
LZH will be at Booth C2.107.
