In preparation for a return to growth in the industrial laser market, ILS has created an International Editorial Advisory Board to assist the editors in presenting the most appropriate educational editorial to our diverse readership base, which has been made more so as our Website is accessed by an expanded audience in more than 130 countries.
To begin with I asked current Contributing Editors to transition into Editorial Advisors, expanding their responsibilities. I then filled out the International Editorial Advisory Board with the addition of several industry specialists with high visibility, which brings specific technology expertise to our already powerful group of advisors.
For your edification here is a list of the ILS International Editorial Advisory Board with their bona fides and technology interests.
Mariana G. Forrest – PhD, MS, Dip.Eng. (automotive applications)
Tony Hoult – PhD, BSc (industrial applications for fiber lasers)
Keng H. Leong – PhD, MS, BA (laser processing applications)
Hua-Chung Man – PhD, MS, BS (laser processing in China)
Stan Ream – MS, BS (laser materials processing)
Ronald D. Schaeffer – PhD, MS, BS (laser micromachining)
Martien H.H. van Dijk – MS, (laser drilling/joining applications in Europe)
Kunihiko Washio – PhD, MS (solid-state laser materials processing in Japan)
It never occurred to me when asking these well-known and highly regarded industry experts to join the ILS International Editorial Advisory Board that they also pack a load of academic credentials; all have advanced degrees and six are PhDs. I can tell you this, not one of these Advisors trades on their hard-earned titles as I can't recall ever hearing them use their titles. But then, I am an American and we refuse to dip our colors to any sovereign nation—so we judge the person not the title. Besides, it would be hard for me to call Ron Schaeffer “Doc” as I beat out rhythm behind his guitar solo in the band Beer's Law.
The ILS International Editorial Advisory Board members are respected within the industry for their experience, knowledge, background in industrial laser materials processing, and perhaps more than anything else, for being what my best man used to call “good people.” I have interfaced with these Board members for many years and I have always appreciated their support of ILS and the mission of this magazine—to bring readers the latest, authoritative information on the technical and cost benefits of industrial laser materials processing.
Board members can serve as your conduit to ILS editors. If you have routine contact with them and would like to share news items or comments about the technology and markets, they will be pleased to pass this on to us. In this way ILS has many eyes into the laser technology centers around the world. I encourage your interaction with the Board members.
One last note; these are trying times in the global manufacturing sector and momentous changes are happening every day. Running lean is the order of the day for a large portion of this community and ILS in not immune from this pressure, as you may have noticed. We are using the ILS Website, www.industrial-lasers.com, as another vehicle to bring the technology news to readers, and we invite you to bookmark this site and access it regularly.
David Belforte | Contributing Editor
David Belforte (1932-2023) was an internationally recognized authority on industrial laser materials processing and had been actively involved in this technology for more than 50 years. His consulting business, Belforte Associates, served clients interested in advanced manufacturing applications. David held degrees in Chemistry and Production Technology from Northeastern University (Boston, MA). As a researcher, he conducted basic studies in material synthesis for high-temperature applications and held increasingly important positions with companies involved with high-technology materials processing. He co-founded a company that introduced several firsts in advanced welding technology and equipment. David's career in lasers started with the commercialization of the first industrial solid-state laser and a compact CO2 laser for sheet-metal cutting. For several years, he led the development of very high power CO2 lasers for welding and surface treating applications. In addition to consulting, David was the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Industrial Laser Solutions magazine (1986-2022) and contributed to other laser publications, including Laser Focus World. He retired from Laser Focus World in late June 2022.