06 Mar New association strengthens collaboration and networking
The alliance Laser.Region.Aachen has now become an association under the same name. For years, more than 60 industrial companies from all areas of laser technology, RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen, research institutions, as well as educational, funding, and social partners have been working together within this alliance. The new association aims to consolidate these activities, connect companies, science, and education, and ensure that projects can continue beyond their funding periods.
According to the new association, the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is supporting Laser.Region.Aachen with around €15 million. Companies in the region are investing an additional €5 million in laser-based technologies. Numerous projects have already started or are about to begin. “By jointly linking interfaces between processes such as additive manufacturing, cleaning, welding technology, material processing, and metrology, many new opportunities have already been created,” says Edwin Büchter, Chairman of the Board of Laser.Region.Aachen and Managing Director of the company Clean-Lasersysteme.
Vorstand des Vereins Laser.Region.Aachen: (v.l.) Prof. Sebastian Bremen, Meike Jungbluth, Edwin Büchter. Image: Laser.Region.Aachen
Another key focus is securing skilled workers. With the project ‘PersoLas’, the alliance is developing concepts for recruiting and qualifying personnel in laser technology. One result is the new training program ‘laser technology specialist’, which, according to the association, provides employees with practical access to laser-based technologies and supports companies in developing their workforce.
Recruiting and training skilled personnel in laser technology is an important concern for the association. Image: Clean-Lasersysteme
Further projects will address laser applications for electromobility, for example in battery manufacturing, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into laser-based manufacturing processes. In addition, digital platforms are being created: a kind of ‘yellow pages of laser technology’ will provide an overview of companies and research partners in Laser.Region.Aachen.
Further information: laserregionaachen.de
Source: www.cleanlaser.de
Image: Laser.Region.Aachen