Ministerial launch of high power laser project

John Battle MP - Minister for Science, Energy and Industry - discusses high speed laser welding of a car body component with TWI senior technician Andrew Hassey (right of photo) during the launch of a £2.5M project to create ahigh power YAG laser facility at TWI.

The three-year collaborative venture will produce a 10kW YAG laser processing cell which will be available to project partners for feasibility studies, proving trials, prototype work and small batch production. Demand for its use isexpected to be high as it paves the way for significant extension to the range of applications handled by YAG lasers, as well as expansion of laser processing into new industries. Already, 17 UK-based companies are participating.

The project partners are:
Air Products plc
BOC Ltd
BP Exploration & Production
British Aerospace
British Nuclear Fuels plc
British Steel plc
Caterpillar (UK) Ltd
GKN Sankey Ltd
Hydro Aluminium
Kvaerner Govan Ltd
Lloyd's Register
Lumonics Ltd
Magnox Electric plc
Ministry of Defence
Rolls-Royce & Associates
Rover Group Ltd
Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd as well as DTI and TWI.