LASER World of Photonics Preview: Inspiring: One of the largest photonics tradeshows in the world
Every two years, Munich hosts an inspiring international trade fair and a technical conference that together draw over 1100 exhibitors and 25,000 researchers and professionals in lasers and optics—the LASER World of Photonics exhibition and the World of Photonics Congress. From fundamental and application-based scientific topics to the latest laser and photonics applications in industry and medicine, all sides of photonics are presented in five large halls and in the Congress center at Messe München.
Here's a brief introduction to what you will find at the trade fair this summer, from June 22-25, 2015. There's much more on the trade fair website: www.world-of-photonics.com.
The exhibition is very large and comprehensive, with halls or parts of halls focused exclusively on seven different application areas (see Fig. 1):
- Laser systems for production engineering
- Imaging
- Sensors, test and measurement/optical measurement systems
- Optics/manufacturing technology for optics
- Optical information and communication
- Lasers and optoelectronics
- Biophotonics and medical engineering
World of Photonics Congress
The technical conferences at the World of Photonics Congress reflect the close relationship between research and industry on the one hand and the focus on photonics applications in the industrial and medical sectors (see Fig. 2).
CLEO/Europe-EQEC 2015
The European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and the European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC) is the largest, most comprehensive gathering of optics and photonics researchers and engineers in Europe. It will showcase the latest developments in a wide range of laser and photonics areas; the European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC), on the other hand, features the fundamentals of quantum optics. CLEO/Europe-EQEC 2015 is organized by the European Physical Society (EPS), the Optical Society (OSA), and the IEEE Photonics Society.
Lasers in Manufacturing (LiM 2015)
LiM focuses on the latest developments as well as future trends in the field of laser materials processing, including process engineering, system technology, and process optimization. LiM is organized by the German Scientific Laser Society (WLT).
The hottest topics in 2015, representing about 50% of the 200 submitted abstracts, are on additive manufacturing and joining in the sub-conference on Macro-Processing and ablation, drilling, and micro-cutting in the sub-conference on Micro-Processing, with an emphasis on surface functionalization. Additionally, fundamentals, diagnostics and control, and system engineering will be the subject of numerous presentations. For extended networking, registration to LiM 2015 includes an evening reception at the Augustiner Keller in Munich.
EOS Topical Meetings
In 2015, these Topical Meetings are:
EOS Conference on Light Engineering (EOSLE)
With EOS past president Paul Urbach (Delft University of Technology) chairing the EOS Conference on Light Engineering, the focus will be to explore new developments in the field of light engineering for a variety of applications, including solid-state lighting and much more.
EOS Conference on Optomechanical Engineering (EOSOME)
Putting focus on new developments in the field of optomechanical engineering, EOSOME will deal with computation in optomechanical systems design, environmental influences, and optomechanical components. The goal is to provide a unique opportunity for the exchange of information with renowned researchers, scientists, engineers, and professionals.
4th EOS Conference on Manufacturing and Testing of Optical Components (EOSMTOC)
The plenary speakers for Manufacturing and Testing of Optical Components (EOSMTOC) and Optomechanical Engineering (EOSOME) are: Greg Forbes (Australia) and Victor Genberg (U.S.). EOSMTOC is a new addition to the World of Photonics Congress, dealing with computation in optomechanical systems design, environmental influences, and optomechanical components. Victor Genberg, president of Sigmadyne and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, will be discussing the challenges in integrated optomechanical analysis.
3rd EOS Conference on Optofluidics (EOSOF)
The EOS Conference on Optofluidics has been a success from the start, with participation from leaders in the optofluidics community from around the world. With Demetri Psaltis (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) as chair, the 3rd EOSOF will continue involving experts from the industrial and academic research sectors, and explore the latest developments in the field of optofluidics.
Optical Metrology
Optical Metrology focuses on the latest research in optical metrology, videometrics, and machine vision with applications for solving measurement and inspection problems in industrial design and production engineering, vehicle navigation, multimedia technology, architecture, archaeology, and the arts. It is organized by SPIE Europe.
European Conferences on Biomedical Optics (ECBO)
ECBO covers basic science, new technology, and applications in the fields of advanced microscopy, clinical and biomedical spectroscopy, diffuse optical imaging, molecular imaging, optical coherence tomography and other coherence techniques, therapeutic laser applications, laser-tissue interactions, optoacoustic methods, and other new biophotonics techniques. The 2015 conference is being organized by SPIE with the support of the OSA.
Application panels
The application panels revolve around practical experiences in laser and photonics applications in medical technology and industrial manufacturing. The lectures cover a wide range of topics and include information about new application sectors and the market potential of laser technology, such as machining lightweight components, additive manufacturing, or ophthalmology. The application panels are developed by Messe München in close cooperation with the photonics industry. They take place in the forums at the LASER World of Photonics trade fair.
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.