LIA Corporate Member IPG Photonics is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance fiber lasers and amplifiers for diverse applications in numerous markets. IPG Photonics’ diverse lines of low-, mid- and high-power lasers and amplifiers are used in materials processing, communications, medical and advanced applications. The company pioneered the development and commercialization of optical fiber-based lasers, a new generation of lasers that combine the advantages of semiconductor diodes with the high amplification and precise beam qualities of specialty optical fibers. Because these lasers deliver superior performance, reliability and usability at a lower total cost of ownership compared with conventional lasers, fiber lasers are displacing traditional lasers in many current applications and enabling new applications for lasers.
About IPG
Headquartered in Oxford. Mass., IPG is a global company of over 1,500 employees with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Germany, Russia and Italy, and regional sales offices in Detroit, Silicon Valley, China, France, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore and the U.K. The company sells its products globally to OEMs, system integrators and end-users in a wide range of diverse markets that have the in-house engineering capability to integrate IPG’s products into their own systems. Since its founding in 1990, IPG has shipped more than 40,000 units to over 500 customers worldwide.
More specifically, IPG manufactures active fiber lasers, direct diode and amplifiers operating at .7 to 2 microns for applications in materials processing, telecommunications and scientific research. Industrial lasers operating at 1 micron are available from 10 watts to greater than 50 kilowatts. These devices feature low divergence, air cooling, high electrical efficiency and unparalleled diode life.
Ever Expanding
In the spring of 2010, IPG Photonics acquired privatelyheld, Germany-based Cosytronic KG (COSY), a specialist in the joining technology with an emphasis on engineering know-how in automated welding turnkey solutions. The acquisition allows IPG to extend its product offerings to include a welding tool that integrates seamlessly with IPG’s fiber laser.
“With the acquisition of Cosytronic, we plan to enhance IPG’s product portfolio of laser welding tools with fiber lasers – a promising complementary market for us,” said Dr. Valentin Gapontsev, IPG Photonics chairman and CEO. “Combining our state-of-the-art fiber laser technology with COSY’s proven and innovative laser welding technology opens exciting opportunities to build robust integrated robotic solutions for various automotive, sheet metal production and other material applications.”
IPG Photonics also acquired the outstanding shares of privately-held, Birmingham, Alabama-based Photonics
Innovations, Inc. (PII), a maker of active and passive laser materials and tunable lasers for scientific, biomedical, technological and eye-safe range-finding applications. The January 2010 acquisition allows IPG to expand its product offerings to the middle infrared (approximately 2 to 5 micron). PII’s core capabilities include novel optical and laser materials fabrication, solid-state and tunable laser design and optical and sensing systems development. PII was established by researchers at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to apply proprietary and patented optical materials, lasers and spectroscopic technologies to the development and commercialization of state-of-the-art optical sensing instruments.
Having An Impact
The company is leveraging its brand and position as a pioneer and leader in developing and commercializing fiber lasers and amplifiers to increase its market share in the broader market. According to the company, IPG’s lasers should continue to displace traditional lasers in many existing applications due to their superior performance and value. Quite simply, IPG’s products are disrupting the market by empowering tomorrow’s applications today, they state.
“IPG reported stronger second-quarter financial results, continuing the momentum that has been building in 2010,” said Gapontsev. “Despite some underlying uncertainties in the global macro-economic environment during the second quarter, many of our end markets are benefitting from a secular recovery.
“Materials processing had an outstanding quarter with sales increasing 91% year-over-year and 34 percent on a sequential basis. Demand for high-power cutting lasers and pulsed lasers for engraving and marking drove this strong performance as did sales to China, which more than tripled from the same period last year. Medical application sales continued to be strong, increasing 32 percent. Advanced applications sales were five percent lower year-over-year and up 15 percent sequentially, and telecommunications sales decreased 24 percent year-over-year and improved 15 percent sequentially as customers began re-ordering.”
IPG’s plans for the future are simple – to continue to displace existing laser and non-laser technologies and target new applications for fiber lasers with the manufacture of simple, more usable lasrs. The company also plans to expand its product portfolio and develop integrated laser systems business. For more information, visit www.ipgphotonics.com.