World of Photonics Portal - PRESS RELEASES

Munich, 5 March 2009. In spite of the difficult global economic environment, LASER World of PHOTONICS is still growing. The exhibition area at the world’s leading trade fair for lasers and photonics, which will be held for the 19th time in Munich from 15 to 18 June 2009, is being extended by 10,000 m² in a fourth exhibition hall, i.e. to a total of 42,000 m². In addition to this substantial growth, the main characteristic of LASER World of PHOTONICS 2009 will be its greater orientation towards applications. The potential of optical technologies will be demonstrated by means of practical applications: Light at Work!

Together with the World of Photonics Congress, which will take place from 14 to 19 June 2009, LASER World of PHOTONICS is the most important international event for optical technologies. It acts as a platform for the exchange of information and experiences between companies, experts and scientists from all over the world. The expansion of the trade fair reflects the satisfaction among exhibitors. During the four-day trade fair, the world’s leading companies in the field of optical technologies will present the complete range of products in the industry to international trade visitors. The key topics this year will be biophotonics and life sciences, lasers in photovoltaics manufacturing, and illumination. The trade fair will not only look closely at individual components, system solutions will also be presented.

A long-term success story
The trade fair has been a regular fixture for the international community of optical technologies since 1973. Its worldwide success is firstly due to the extensive presence of the industry: from small and medium-sized enterprises through to international market leaders, the world’s most innovative companies are represented in Munich. Secondly, the trade fair and congress program is ideally geared towards the requirements of science and industry: 94% of exhibitors and 96% of visitors awarded the last LASER World of PHOTONICS in 2007 top marks ranging between “Good” and “Excellent”.

Key topics at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2009
LASER World of PHOTONICS and the World of Photonics Congress will focus on the following three key topics this year: biophotonics and life sciences, lasers in photovoltaics manufacturing, and illumination.
The trade fair will present the key topics on joint stands, by individual exhibitors and in the accompanying program. The World of Photonics Congress will also examine the topics in the lecture series called “Application Panels” during which application-oriented talks and workshops will describe the latest market developments and technologies on display in the exhibition halls.

Technology transfer for stable industry growth
The world’s leading trade fair for optical technologies will feature a varied accompanying program to support the exchange of ideas and experiences between industry and research. LASER World of PHOTONICS will therefore offer value added to the participating exhibitors and visitors from industry and science. Forums, special shows, workshops and discussion sessions will provide up-to-date information on industry topics, trends and developments in the fields of lasers and photonics.

Due to the close links between the World of Photonics Congress and the trade fair, LASER World of PHOTONICS will also act as a platform for dialogue between research and industry. Close and intensive exchanges between scientists and industrial experts during the trade fair and Congress will offer efficient cooperation which promotes innovative strength and, thus, growth in the industry.

Networking of science and industry through the World of Photonics Congress
The World of Photonics Congress, which will be held concurrently with LASER World of PHOTONICS, is the leading international congress for optical technologies in Europe. About 3,100 delegates from all over the world are expected to attend this congress in Munich from 14 to 19 June 2009.

The World of Photonics Congress will comprise a total of seven conferences of the world’s leading associations and organizations in the field of optical technologies. The topics will range from the new conference topic of production of optical components and laser material processing through to metrology and laser medicine. The Congress will also include Application Panels which, as an application-oriented series of lectures, will bridge the gap between theory and practice. The Congress has been financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since 2004.

LASER World of PHOTONICS – partner for the industry
LASER World of PHOTONICS has been working closely with leading companies in the industry since 1973. Together with its partners, the trade fair organizes its program according to the industry’s requirements. The following companies are members of the technical advisory panel: Coherent, Newport Spectra-Physics, TRUMPF, ROFIN-SINAR, LINOS Photonics, OSRAM, Polytec, TOPTICA Photonics, Jenoptik, Laser 2000, Berliner Glas, KUKA Systems, Lasos, Laser Components and LIMO, as well as the VDI Technology Center and SPECTARIS (German Industry Association for Optical, Medical and Mechatronical Technologies). The trade fair also works closely on both the national and international level with research institutes, trade associations and media partners from every relevant market.