1961: Q-Switch

Q-switching allows short pulses with very high power in the nanosecond range. It was crucial for the first applications like the welding of springs for watches.

1962: Semiconductor laser

The semiconductor laser had been researched since 1955. Laser light was first generated in 1962. In the 1980s it was established in the communication technology and after that it found its way into many products, making them remarkably smaller.

1963: Mode-locking

Mode-locking produces a regular stream of very stable pulses all of the same intensity. It has been fundamental for laser communication and is at the basis for femtosecond lasers.

1964: CO₂ laser

The CO₂ laser was the first laser that allowed very high power for laser treatment of materials, and laser machining with larger materials.

about 1965: Laser marking

The idea of marking metal came up early. Yet it took ten years before it started to grow into the widespread application it is today.

1966: Dye lasers

The emission spectra of fluorescent dyes permit tuning the laser wavelength over a fairly broad range. Dye lasers are fundamental for the operation of many lasers including some femtosecond lasers.

1967: Sheet metal cutting

The concept took hold when the first gas assist nozzle was presented. It soon drove the development of a jobshop industry and easy-to-handle high powered laser systems.

1971: Micro-via drilling

Western Electric was the first to connect two layers of a multilevel substrate by a conducting hole. This technique plays an important role in the production of high efficiency solar cells.

about 1971: Turbine blade drilling

The race for faster jet planes led to a new cooling technique: laser drilled holes in the turbine blades. This application drove developments like precision multi-axis positioning systems and computer control of beam focus.

about 1973: Hermetic sealing

Industry demands for electronic circuitry that could operate in “unfriendly” environments played an important role in the initiation and growth of industrial lasers.

1982: Tailored blank welding

This technique contributed immensely to the design and production of lighter weight and more energy efficient vehicles. More than 400 automated laser blank welders are currently installed globally with that number increasing.

1987: Additive process

At the beginning was the idea of a California company that would use a laser to generate three dimensional structures in a light-sensitive polymer. Later on, methods such as rapid prototyping, laser deposition welding and micro stereolithography emerged from this idea.

1992: Stent cutting

A fine example of how the laser revolutionized an industry — medical devices. Starting from the first application, the laser became the tool of choice as the world demand for stents rose quickly.