Towards 2020 – Photonics driving economic growth in Europe

2. Photonics Research and Innovation Challenges
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2.2 Industrial Manufacturing & Quality
Main socio-economic challenges addressed
Laser deposition of metal.
© TRUMPF
Photonics is already a strategic capability for
European industry and a key enabling technology
for manufacturing processes, and will
become even more so in future. With the ‘laser
light’ tool, manufacturing processes can be
handled automatically and flexibly, producing
components and products of extraordinary
quality, and in a much ‘greener’ way in comparison
to most other energy sources.
The trend towards customisation and the growing
importance of industrial design, as observed
most notably in consumer electronics, will require
novel methods for proving new product properties
and shapes, and bespoke production capabilities.
The inherent flexibility of the laser tool makes it
the ideal choice for meeting these requirements.
Further advantages of the laser as a working tool
are that it does not wear out, it allows the integration
of monitoring and control systems based
on intelligent photonic sensing techniques, and it
allows zero-fault production, even in single part
production.
The extreme precision with which laser energy
can be applied results in a substantial reduction
in the total energy consumption, when compared
to standard production processes. This makes laser
processing an increasingly relevant technology for
a future sustainable economy in Europe. The ability
of the laser to machine materials that are otherwise
very difficult to process with conventional tools
makes it an ideal tool for fabricating lightweight,
high-strength constructions, such as crash-safe
car bodies or wind turbine blades. Furthermore,
the laser itself will play a major role in facilitating
green manufacturing, since laser processes allow
for very precise, well-controlled and therefore
highly efficient energy deposition on the work
piece. A further environmental attraction of laserbased
processes is the reduced consumption of
chemicals, for example, by replacing the chemical
etching baths currently used for the manufacturing
of rotogravure cylinders by a laser engraving
process. Innovative laser processes will increase the
efficiency of photovoltaic devices and will enable
energy storage devices with higher capacities; a
key requirement for future electric cars.
Laser processing is also expected to make a significant
contribution in tackling the societal challenge
presented by the ageing population in Europe. This
will result from the wide range of innovative new
products enabled by new photonic manufacturing
technologies, including such varied products as
pace-makers, synthetic bones, endoscopes, and
micro-cameras used for in-vivo health care processes.
Today, photonics is not solely a driver for innovation
in manufacturing; the photonic technologies, laser
tools and process systems themselves are a worldwide
multi billion industry, dominated by European
companies. Consequently, in addition to photonics
aligning well with sustainable development, green
technologies and resource-efficient production, it
also contributes significantly to employment.
With the ‘laser light’ tool,
manufacturing processes
can be handled automatically
and flexibly.
Photonic technologies,
laser tools and process
systems themselves are a
worldwide multi billion
industry dominated by
European companies.