Improved laser facilities to help companies win more contracts

The North West Laser Engineering Consortium has ambitious plans to help manufacturers evolve their production processes into state-of-the-art facilities. Here’s how...

PRODUCTS manufactured using lasers have become an intrinsic part of our everyday lives whether we realise it or not.

They are used in the production of everything from televisions to Perspex shop signs and even play a part in the generation of electricity at nuclear power stations.

While lasers remain most closely linked to the aerospace and automotive sectors - where their precision welding, metal cutting and engraving potential makes them invaluable - they are also becoming increasingly used by chemical and biomedical companies.

There are currently estimated to be 400 manufacturing companies based in the Northwest which use the technology in their manufacturing processes. And the region is also home to several leading laser manufacturers including Widnes-based Datalase, Holmes Chapel-based Lynton Lasers and Laser Quantum, in Stockport. Indeed, it is estimated that the sector will be worth around £15bn a year to the UK’s economy by 2015.

Dr Eamonn Fearon, at Liverpool University’s Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre, said that there has never been a better time for the Northwest’s manufacturers to harness the power of laser technology.

“Lasers might be compared to a great, big Swiss Army knife - you can change the blades according to your needs. Most people understand that lasers can be used to cut materials, but laser technology has many more applications and is a phenomenal tool for manufacturers to utilise.”

A ‘power house’ which is driving the use of laser technology in this region is the Northwest Laser Engineering Consortium (NWLEC) which was established by Liverpool University’s Laser Group in conjunction with Manchester University’s Laser Processing Research Centre in 2005, and was funded by Northwest Science.

This strategic alliance brings together world-leading expertise from both universities to research and develop laser capabilities for the benefit of industry in the Northwest. It is backed by an industry consortium that includes major international companies based in the region, such as Rolls Royce and BAE Systems, and a growing number of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Dr Fearon adds: “The NWLEC created the largest concentration of lasers and laser expertise in the UK - and many parts of its research are now world-renowned. It is our remit to help manufacturers in the Northwest - as well as UK plc - by leading research into how they can use lasers to give them a business advantage.

“The collaboration has led to an increased understanding of the need to address new micro and nano applications of lasers and new laser types.

“The UK in general has been the source of innovation in laser processing and we intend to maintain this position. And through innovation, we also intend to help companies operating in the Northwest win more contracts as a result of our work with them.”

The Knowledge Exchange in Laser Engineering project (KE-Las) was established by the NWLEC to enable companies operating across the Northwest region to benefit from the potential advantages that the technology offers.

The initiative, which will run until 2013, was made possible thanks to a £1.7m grant for “knowledge exchange activities” awarded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

It gives this region’s SMEs access to NWLEC’s expertise and lasers - and the organisation will even carry out research on their behalf if this can be shown to have tangible business benefits.

Dr Fearon adds: “The initiative is intended to give the manufacturing SMEs access to unrivalled expertise in laser technology - it really is investing for the future. It is our intention to help these manufacturers make solid business progress through innovation. The service - which part funded via NWDA and the ERDF - also allows them to discover whether their product can be improved upon using lasers.”

Dr Fearon believes that it is initiatives like KE-Las which will help ensure that the laser engineering sector in this region continues to prosper.

He adds: “The laser applications sector in the Northwest is in good shape but there remains potential for manufacturers to make even greater use of the technology. This region has a long-standing tradition of innovation and it is vital that we keep on innovating to ensure success. Countries like Japan and Germany are excelling in manufacturing but much of the laser technology they use was pioneered in Britain.

“While many companies in the laser engineering sector have been affected by the recession, the impression I’m getting is that they are looking to the future to ensure that they are well-placed to emerge from it.