Industrial Laser Solutions

Rofin and IMRA America enter license agreement on ultrafast laser micromachining

Feb. 5, 2014

Rofin can now use IMRA’s patent rights for a method to control the configuration of laser-induced breakdown and ablation.

Plymouth/Ann Arbor, MI - Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc. and IMRA America Inc. have entered into a license agreement for the use of IMRA’s patent rights for the patent family including US patents RE37,585 and 5,656,186: “Method for controlling configuration of laser induced breakdown and ablation.”

This patent family was invented by Gerard Mourou and colleagues while at the University of Michigan and is licensed to IMRA from the university. The invention is fundamental in taking advantage of ultrafast lasers for micromachining. The inventors recognized that ultrashort pulses are shorter than the time needed for most energy transfer processes within the material. Therefore deterministic, ultraprecise material processing could be realized. This method is sometimes referred to as “cold“ or “athermal“.

“IMRA and Rofin and its subsidiaries have had a long business relationship in developing and implementing laser technology. We believe our intellectual property and technical strengths will aid IMRA and Rofin together to further advance fiber and ultrafast laser products and their applications,” said Takashi Omitsu, IMRA president

“With the signing of the license agreement, we are able to complement our comprehensive ultrashort pulse laser offering with the corresponding license for the applications described under the above mentioned patents. The use of ultrafast technology will rapidly grow as laser processing requires even more precision,” said Günther Braun, president and CEO of Rofin. “We look forward to continuing to build on our long-term and successful partnership with IMRA.”

Rofin-Sinar Technologies is a developer, designer, and manufacturer of lasers and laser-based system solutions for industrial material processing applications. IMRA America Inc. is dedicated to the development of ultrafast fiber laser technologies for commercial applications. IMRA’s technology portfolio includes over 450 US and international patents and patent applications.