JK Lasers

Last updated

JK Lasers
Founded1972
FounderRon Burbeck
Jim Wright
Headquarters,
Products Fiber lasers, pulsed lasers, laser rods
Website www.jklasers.com

JK Lasers was a global laser manufacturer based in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Established by Ron Burbeck and Dr Jim Wright MBE in 1972, the company first launched a range of pulsed lasers using ruby, YAG and glass laser rods. This was followed by the MS-Series of Nd:YAG laser systems, designed for industrial welding, cutting and drilling applications. [1]

In 1982, JK Lasers was acquired by Canadian company Lumonics to form one of the largest laser companies in the world. [2] Lumonics merged with General Scanning Incorporated (GSI) in 1999 and, following the sale of the Lumonics brand, the laser segment of the business changed its name to the GSI Group Laser Division. [3] Under this name, the company launched its first rack-mountable ytterbium industrial fiber lasers in 2007. [4]

The GSI Group Laser Division completed a rebrand back to JK Lasers in August 2012. General Manager Dr Mark Greenwood said: “The rebrand to JK Lasers is an important step for us. It is a return to our roots; a recognition of our long and successful history.” [5] JK Lasers range of products includes watt to kilowatt fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, Nd:YAG lasers, process tools and software. [6] Its first multi-kiloWatt class of fiber lasers, the JK2000FL, was launched in April 2012. [7]

In April 2015 GSI sold its JK Lasers subsidiary to SPI Lasers, part of the Trumpf group. All products were rebranded with the SPI logo, essentially ending the JK brand.

Awards

In 1978, JK Lasers was awarded The Queen's Award for Export Achievement. This was followed in 1990 with The Queen's Award for Technological Achievement. In 2005, the company was named ‘Outstanding partner in Engineering and Technology’ by McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals [8] Dr Jim Wright's "outstanding contribution" to the industrial use of lasers in the UK was recognised with the AILU Award in 1998. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photonics</span> Technical applications of optics

Photonics is a branch of optics that involves the application of generation, detection, and manipulation of light in form of photons through emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, and sensing. Photonics is closely related to quantum electronics, where quantum electronics deals with the theoretical part of it while photonics deal with its engineering applications. Though covering all light's technical applications over the whole spectrum, most photonic applications are in the range of visible and near-infrared light. The term photonics developed as an outgrowth of the first practical semiconductor light emitters invented in the early 1960s and optical fibers developed in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laser cutting</span> Technology that uses a laser to cut materials

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to vaporize materials, resulting in a cut edge. While typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, it is now used by schools, small businesses, architecture, and hobbyists. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser most commonly through optics. The laser optics and CNC are used to direct the laser beam to the material. A commercial laser for cutting materials uses a motion control system to follow a CNC or G-code of the pattern to be cut onto the material. The focused laser beam is directed at the material, which then either melts, burns, vaporizes away, or is blown away by a jet of gas, leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish.

A diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is a solid-state laser made by pumping a solid gain medium, for example, a ruby or a neodymium-doped YAG crystal, with a laser diode.

A vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VECSEL) is a small semiconductor laser similar to a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). VECSELs are used primarily as near infrared devices in laser cooling and spectroscopy, but have also been explored for applications such as telecommunications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yttrium aluminium garnet</span> Synthetic crystalline material of the garnet group

Yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG, Y3Al5O12) is a synthetic crystalline material of the garnet group. It is a cubic yttrium aluminium oxide phase, with other examples being YAlO3 (YAP) in a hexagonal or an orthorhombic, perovskite-like form, and the monoclinic Y4Al2O9 (YAM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solid-state laser</span> Laser which uses a solid gain medium

A solid-state laser is a laser that uses a gain medium that is a solid, rather than a liquid as in dye lasers or a gas as in gas lasers. Semiconductor-based lasers are also in the solid state, but are generally considered as a separate class from solid-state lasers, called laser diodes.

<i>Photonics Spectra</i> Monthly B2B magazine

Photonics Spectra is a monthly business-to-business (B2B) magazine published for the engineers, scientists, and end users who develop, commercialize and buy photonic products. It provides both technical and applications information for all aspects of the global industry, integrating all segments of photonics: optics, lasers, imaging, fiber optics and electro-optics as well as photonic component manufacturing, solar cell improvements, LED lighting for cars and offices, THz, EHz, UV, IR, and visible light imaging and test equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IPG Photonics</span> U.S. fiber laser company

IPG Photonics is an American manufacturer of fiber lasers. IPG Photonics developed and commercialized optical fiber lasers, which are used in a variety of applications including materials processing, medical applications and telecommunications. IPG has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, Russia and Italy.

Ophir Optronics Solutions is a multinational company that sells optronics solutions. The company develops, manufactures and markets infrared (IR) optics and laser measurement equipment. Founded in 1976, the company was traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange from 1991 until it was acquired, and was a constituent of its Tel-tech index. Headquartered in the Har Hotzvim industrial park in Jerusalem, Israel Ophir owns a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) complex that includes the group's main production plant. Ophir has additional production plants in North Andover, Massachusetts and Logan, Utah in the US and sales offices in the US, Japan and Europe. In 2006, Ophir acquired Spiricon Group, a US-based company in the beam-profiling market. Ophir's sales increased sharply from $45 million in 2005 to $74 million in 2007. During 2007, Ophir established a Swiss-based subsidiary to market lenses and components for surveillance and imaging systems in Europe. In May 2010, Ophir acquired Photon Inc., another US-based beam-profiling company. Newport Corporation, a global supplier in photonics solutions, completed its acquisition of the Ophir company in October 2011. In 2016, metrology firm MKS Instruments bought Newport Corporation, including the Ophir brand, for $980 million.

The PASCAL Photocoagulator is an integrated semi-automatic pattern scan laser photocoagulation system designed to treat ocular diseases using a single shot or predetermined pattern array. The device is for ophthalmologists, particularly those that focus in vitreo-retinal surgery, a type of eye surgery. It was developed by OptiMedica, an ophthalmic medical device company located in Silicon Valley.

Denis R Hall FRSE FIEEE FIEE FInstP is a professor of photonics at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. In 2004 he was awarded the Association of Laser Users award for his contributions to the development of industrial lasers and their applications.

The European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) is a not-for-profit association with headquarters in Paris, France. EPIC serves the photonics community through a regular series of workshops, market studies and partnering. EPIC focuses its actions on LEDs and OLEDs for lighting, optical fiber telecommunications, laser manufacturing, sensors, photovoltaics and photonics for life sciences. EPIC coordinates its activities internationally through its membership in the International Optoelectronics Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert L. Byer</span> American physicist

Robert Louis Byer is a physicist. He was president of the Optical Society of America in 1994 and of the American Physical Society in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AILU</span>

The Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU) was established in 1995 as an independent, non-profit organisation run by and for laser users involved in activities including manufacturing, healthcare, academic and industrial research; as well as suppliers of laser-related products and services.

Thomas Baer is the executive director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center, a consulting professor in the applied physics department and an associate member of the Stem Cell Institute at Stanford University. His current scientific research is focused on developing imaging and biochemical analysis technology for exploring the molecular basis of human developmental biology and neuroscience. He received a B.A. in physics from Lawrence University in 1974, and a Ph.D. in atomic physics from the University of Chicago in 1979, where he studied with Professors Ugo Fano and Isaac Abella. After receiving his Ph.D. he worked with Nobel Laureate John L. Hall at JILA, University of Colorado, performing research on frequency stabilized lasers and ultra-high precision molecular spectroscopy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avo Photonics</span>

Avo Photonics, Inc. is a service corporation that designs, develops, and manufactures private-label opto-electronic products for the medical, industrial, defense, aerospace, and communication markets.

Amada Weld Tech, a subsidiary of Amada Weld Tech Co., Ltd., designs and manufactures equipment and systems for resistance welding, laser welding, laser marking, laser cutting, laser micro machining, hermetic sealing, micro tig welding, and hot bar reflow soldering and bonding. Established in 1948, AMADA WELD TECH is headquartered in Monrovia, California, US. The company's equipment is used in numerous industries, chief among which are medical, aerospace, automotive, batteries, and electronic components. Amada Weld Tech has approximately 200 employees, with 7 sales and manufacturing offices serving about 12,000 customers worldwide. More than 80,000 items are manufactured annually. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2015, China Compulsory Certificate (CCC), European Conformity (CE), and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) quality certifications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightwave Electronics Corporation</span>

Lightwave Electronics Corporation was a developer and manufacturer of diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and was a significant contributor to the creation and maturation of this technology. Lightwave Electronics was a technology-focused company, with diverse markets, including science and micromachining. Inventors employed by Lightwave Electronics received 51 US patents, and Lightwave Electronics products were referenced by non-affiliated inventors in 91 US patents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumonics</span> Defunct Canadian company

Lumonics was a global laser manufacturing company based in the Kanata North Business Park region of Ottawa.

References

  1. "Lasers for Industry" (PDF). Jklasers.com. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  2. "A serious laser player — PROFILE". Electro Optics. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. Robert C. Pini. "General Scanning and Lumonics Agree to Merge (Photonics Spectra | Dec 1998 | FastTrack)". Photonics.com. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. "WORLD OF PHOTONICS — Laser 2007: of green apples and fiber lasers". Laser Focus World. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  5. SPIE Europe Ltd (16 August 2012). "GSI Group Laser Division Rebrands as JK Lasers". Optics.org. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  6. "Laser Products". JK Lasers. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  7. "2-kW Fiber Laser — JK Lasers (photonics.com | May 2012 | Products)". photonics.com. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  8. "Newsletter_Making_Sparks_10.indd" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  9. "Award". AILU. 20 October 1998. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.