Laser Institute of America

ORLANDO, FL, Dec. 9, 2011 — Reflecting the increased importance of lasers in manufacturing, medicine and research, the Laser Institute of America’s three-day course for safety officers has bucked recessionary trends to set an attendance record.

A record number of attendees from a broad range of disciplines participated in the Dec. 6-8 workshop created and taught by LIA Education Director Gus Anibarro. The course drew representatives from the Army, Halliburton, SeaWorld, Disney, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and a handful of small laser job shops.

Read the rest of this entry »

Revision of the Z136.3 was driven by the movement of the widespread use of medical lasers – from hospital operating rooms to the office and/or clinic environment.  In an effort to acknowledge the diversity of laser therapy applications and practice setting locations, the title of the standard has been changed to “Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care.”

The revised Z136.3 is recognized as the definitive document on laser safety in all health care environments. Whether the laser is used in a hospital, clinic or alternative health care setting, the newly revised document is a must read for every LSO and facility providing laser based therapy. Read the rest of this entry »

UAW Recognizes Need for Laser Safety Training

ORLANDO, FL, October 3, 2011 — A key new auto-industry labor agreement stipulating increased laser-safety training for employees underscored the timeliness of the Laser Institute of America’s (LIA) safety program at the inaugural Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME).

On the same day the United Auto Workers (UAW) union ratified a four-year contract with General Motors, LIA Education Director Gus Anibarro enlightened over 100 LME attendees about the hazards of certain lasers and the proper methods for avoiding worker injuries. Such training is becoming increasingly important as major industries — automotive, aerospace, medical and others — incorporate lasers in more and more manufacturing applications involving cutting, welding and drilling.  Read the rest of this entry »

ORLANDO, FL, September 28, 2011 — The Boston University Photonics Center will be hosting the fall meeting of the Laser Institute of America New England Chapter on Wednesday November 30, 2011 from 5 – 7 p.m. The technical presentations will focus on Laser Applications in MicroFluidics, and be followed by a dinner reception.

Thomas J. Dudley, the Assistant Director of the Photonics Center will present an overview of work being conducted by faculty, staff and students, particularly in MicroFluidics and BioPhotonics.  The featured technical presentation will be 3D Microstructures in Glasses and Sapphire by In-Volume Selective Laser-Induced Etching from work by Martin Hermans, Maren Hörstmann-Jungemann, Dagmar Schaefer and Jens Gottmann at Aachen University/Fraunhofer Institute, Aachen, Germany. Insapphire, micro channels with aspect ratios as large as 10,000:1 are produced with diameters 1-10 µm and a length of 1 cm. Read the rest of this entry »

ORLANDO, FL, October 4, 2011 — Laser-based manufacturing got a significant shot in the arm in September as the Laser Institute of America drew nearly 70 exhibitors and over 800 experts, advocates and practitioners to its first-ever Lasers for Manufacturing Event.

LIA, the leading laser applications and safety authority, created LME to do something no other U.S. based organization has done: convene the laser-manufacturing brain trust to educate representatives from various industries about how to improve efficiency and profitability with laser welding, cladding, drilling and cutting technology. The show, held Sept. 27-28 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL, drew not only manufacturers located near the venue but attendees from other countries including Russia, Japan, Egypt, Korea and Turkey. Read the rest of this entry »

ORLANDO, FL, September 16, 2011 — In a letter of support U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D) Florida thanks the Laser Institute of America “for taking the lead in providing the education, practical examples and connection to world class laser and system manufacturers which LME provides.” He said “it is clear that increasing the use of lasers for manufacturing can immediately and practically help to improve U.S. competitiveness, increase innovation and create well paid jobs, all of which are important priorities for our nation” and states that “industrial lasers are making such a positive impact on Aerospace, Automobile, Medical and other areas of manufacturing.” Read the rest of this entry »