LASER World of PHOTONICS 2013
provides photonic industry with upswing
The global elite of the photonics industry gathered at the LASER World of PHOTONICS and Europe's largest Photonics Congress, the World of Photonics Congress, in Munich from 13 to 16 May 2013. The bottom line: more exhibitors than ever before, visitor numbers stable at a high level, a high number of product premieres and an insight into revolutionary technologies, such as 3D printing, digital photonic production, medical technology or biophotonics.
The LASER World of PHOTONICS was celebrating 40 years of existence. The anniversary event was booked out like never before, closing with a record number of 1,136 exhibitors and represented companies. With almost 27,000 trade visitors from 74 countries, visitor numbers again reached a very high level. The proportion of foreign visitors rose to a record level of 54 per cent. Significantly more visitors came from China, Russia and South Korea.
Image: Messe München
The world's leading trade fair has grown into a significant source of stimulus for the industry. Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Messe München's Managing Director, drew a satisfied conclusion: "The 40th anniversary of the world's leading trade fair has demonstrated that Messe München has firmly established its preeminence as a platform for the global photonics industry. This is also underpinned by the continuing increase in the internationality of the visitors."
Thanks to the many positive meetings, exhibitors were very satisfied with the way the trade fair went. Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders, Chairman of the LASER World of PHOTONICS Advisory Board and Board of Management Member of Toptica Photonics AG, said: "We enjoy the world-leading character, the international show public and the strong congress program. At 40, the LASER World of PHOTONICS exudes a maturity that will benefit the continuing disproportionate growth in photonics."
The congress too is considered worldwide to be the industry's top event. Prof. Dr. Peter Loosen, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the World of Photonics Congress and Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT expressed his satisfaction: "The congress is one of the most important events in the world in the Photonics field. The combination of trade fair and congress is unique. The congress's Application Panels, held in the trade fair halls, are a good example of the successful intertwining of basic research and application-oriented industrial implementation."
Top scores from visitors and exhibitors
The role of the world's leading trade fair as a networking and innovation platform is also borne out by the results of the poll conducted by market research institute TNS Infratest.
Image: Messe München
Almost all visitors, 97 per cent, gave the trade fair an overall rating of "excellent to good". For 98 per cent of visitors, the LASER World of PHOTONICS is the leading trade fair. 96 per cent intended to return, an equal number praised the contributions at the Photonics forums. Most exhibitors (91 per cent) gave the trade fair an overall ranking of "excellent to good", 97 per cent would like to exhibit at the trade fair again. Anton Gaedtke, Vice President Sales Europe, Qioptiq Photonics GmbH & Co KG, Germany had this to say: "The anniversary event has demonstrated that the LASER World of PHOTONICS deserves the title "leading international trade fair". The trade fair is of very great importance to us because it enables us to present our entire range of services in a fitting manner. The Munich location has proved itself to be ideal for this format of trade fair."
Innovation extravaganza in terms of light: trends and future topics
Photonics is considered to be one of the most important cross-cutting and key technologies of the future. Exhibitors displayed innovations and solutions from all corners of the Photonics world in the four trade fair halls. Klaus Löffler, Director International Sales of TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik said: "The LASER World of PHOTONICS is very important because in principle it is the exhibition showcase for laser technology. We have 19 objects here on the stand and 13 of these products are world premieres. We use the trade fair here in Munich precisely for this presentation function."
Top trends among the great variety of offerings were additive production, ultrashort pulse lasers, laser applications for electro-mobility, energy technology and automotive engineering, modern solid-state light sources (LED, OLED), Automated Visual Inspection, lasers for analytics and imaging in biophotonics as well as laser applications and optical diagnostics in medicine. A highlight was the strongly visited special exhibition "Digital Photonic Production" in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT. It illustrated the advantages of the additive production process and demonstrated 3D printing in metal. Other visitor favorites: the special exhibition "Photons in Production" with live demonstrations including laser-based joining of lightweight materials and the "biophotonics research focus area" stand. Absolute crowd pullers were the user forums in the halls under the umbrella of the World of Photonics Congress. Staffed with high-ranking speakers from the Photonics industry, from research or user industries such as the automotive sector or medical technology, for days the latest challenges in the various areas were dealt with using practical examples.
Source: Messe München