Lasers & Sources

DirectPhotonics lands first 2-kW direct diode laser order

March 28, 2013

DirectPhotonics Industries, a maker of ultrahigh brightness direct-diode lasers for material processing, has received its first order for the 2-kW DirectProcess laser from a unnamed German research firm. The laser is designed for industrial metal cutting and welding of steel and non-ferrous alloys.

Conard Holton

Berlin, Germany--DirectPhotonics Industries, a maker of ultrahigh brightness direct-diode lasers for material processing, has received its first order for the 2-kW DirectProcess laser from a unnamed German research firm. The laser is designed for industrial metal cutting and welding of steel and non-ferrous alloys. Previously the company had several orders from customers in Europe and North America to supply 500-W and 1-kW versions of the DirectProcess product line, shipments of which are expected starting in the second quarter of this year.

The DirectProcess fiber-coupled laser system generates an optical power of 2 kW ex fiber in the 930-nm region with a beam parameter product of 7.5 mm-mrad. The optical output power can be modulated up to 50 kHz with a rise and fall time of less than 10 µs. The DirectProcess laser comes in a 19-inch rack mount and is cooled with standard industrial water.

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The DirectProcess product series is based on several patents on power scaling of single-emitter laser diode systems with ultra-high brightness as needed in macro material processing. Stefan Heinemann, CTO of DirectPhotonics, said, “We are proud to ship our first kW lasers only 20 months after the start of our company.”

High brightness, direct diode lasers have been a hot topic recently. TeraDiode, based in Wilmington, MA, is also developing a multi-kW laser based on a related technology.

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.