Press Releases

Industrial manufacturing is under increasing pressure. Sales markets that were considered secure for decades are becoming unstable. Robust supply chains are being threatened. Energy and material costs are rising, markets demand a growing number of variants, and new products must reach production readiness ever faster. In this environment, the laser has established itself as a reliable manufacturing tool. Its physical principles are well understood, and many laser-based processes are mature and proven in industrial use. As a result, the focus of research is clearly shifting. The key question is no longer whether a process can be realized with a laser, but how efficiently, robustly, and economically it can be operated in everyday production.

Two world-leading research institutions are joining forces and their laser design and simulation expertise – to successfully transition laser-ignited inertial fusion from the experimental stage to industrial application. In the project ICONIC-FL (International Cooperation on Next-gen Inertial Confinement Fusion Lasers), the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT Aachen, Germany, are diligently collating their sophisticated laser simulation models. The shared aim is the development of high-energy lasers that can ignite a fusion reaction and will run at maximum efficiency in 24/7 power plant operation. This requires precise and highly accurate predictions of laser performance, which is why powerful computer simulations play a central role in the development of laser architecture.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and Etxetar S.A. have signed a memorandum of understanding, thereby strategically expanding their cooperation. The focus is on the further development and industrialization of laser metal deposition (LMD) and extreme high-speed laser metal deposition (EHLA).

From April 22 to 24, 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is hosting the 15th "AKL – International Laser Technology Congress". For three days, Aachen will once again become the center of the international laser and photonics industry. The congress program has been significantly expanded and is aimed at laser users, manufacturers, and developers, focusing on the latest research results, industrial trends, and practical solutions. Thanks to over 500 participants, more than 80 presentations, and 53 exhibitor stands, AKL has established itself as the leading European platform for applied laser technology.

Over the next three years, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will be working with regional partners to develop new technologies to reduce the cost-intensive use of precious metals in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. At Fraunhofer ILT's Hydrogen Lab, researchers are presenting the entire process chain – from simulation and testing to the manufacturing of components and systems for hydrogen technology.

The high-tech company TRUMPF, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, and the Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems at the Department of Physics at Freie Universität Berlin are researching the fundamentals of laser physics with the help of quantum algorithms. The long-term goal is to use quantum computers to significantly accelerate the development process for new lasers in the future. “If we understand the physical processes involved in generating and amplifying laser light more precisely, we will be able to make our products even more efficient and increase their performance in the future,” says Daniel Basilewitsch, who is responsible for the project at TRUMPF. The central question is whether quantum computers can simulate the complex quantum mechanical processes that take place in lasers better than the conventional high-performance computers that TRUMPF has used to date.

How can artificial intelligence (AI) contribute to value creation in laser manufacturing technology and optical design? What approaches are there and what is missing to leverage the potential? A conference organized by SPECTARIS and supported by Fraunhofer ILT and the German Association for IT-SMEs in Berlin on October 1 and 2 provided answers.

Tools made of hard materials and ceramics such as tungsten carbide are particularly wear-resistant. However, the tools used to manufacture them wear out all the faster – unless the tool is laser light. Researchers at Fraunhofer ILT have developed a process chain in which hard material components can be shaped and polished using an ultrashort pulse (USP) laser without changing the clamping setup.

For more than 30 years, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has been shaping metallic additive manufacturing with groundbreaking system and process innovations. At Formnext from November 18 - 21, 2025, the laser institute will be presenting its comprehensive portfolio in Hall 11, Booth D31: developments that are geared toward key industry challenges. They reduce costs, save rework, and make components more robust. From high-strength tungsten components and multi-material approaches for extremely stressed components in fusion applications to highly productive simultaneous coating and finishing processes that save time and energy, to smart structures such as printed sensors that make metal components smart.

From April 22 to 24, 2026, Aachen will once again become the meeting place for the international laser world: The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will host the 15th AKL – International Laser Technology Congress. Users, manufacturers, and developers will be meeting at AKL'26 to discuss the latest trends and practical solutions in applied laser technology for production. Thanks to over 500 participants, more than 80 specialist presentations, and around 50 exhibitors from industry and the supply sector, the congress is considered by many to be the leading forum for applied laser technology in Europe.