What happens when laser technology and data science are brought together? How can optical components be manufactured using only lasers? And what is the status of current laser fusion research? Experts discussed these and other questions at the Laser World of Photonics 2025 trade fair in Munich.
![At the special exhibition "Photonics meets Robotics: AI Success Stories," Dr. Peter Abels from Fraunhofer ILT (left) presented automation in laser technology using artificial intelligence as a core topic.](/en/press/press-releases/2025/7-24-laser-report-25/jcr:content/contentPar/sectioncomponent/sectionParsys/textwithinlinedimage/imageComponent2/image.img.4col.large.jpg/1753174537914/pm-laser-nachbericht-25-2.jpg "At the special exhibition "Photonics meets Robotics: AI Success Stories," Dr. Peter Abels from Fraunhofer ILT (left) presented automation in laser technology using artificial intelligence as a core topic.")
Laser World of Photonics 2025 in Munich ended on June 27 and set several records: 1,398 exhibitors from 41 countries met around 44,000 visitors, more than ever before. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT was represented at a total of seven stands – at LASER, World of Quantum, and automatica. At the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's joint stand in Hall A3, the Aachen institute showcased its projects in four technology markets: energy management, automotive engineering and mobility, aerospace, and microelectronics. During the trade fair, Fraunhofer ILT presented topics including AI in photonics, high-energy lasers for fusion, component-integrated sensor technology, lasers for climate research, laser-based optics manufacturing, quantum communication, and medical technology.
At the special show "Photonics meets Robotics: AI Success Stories," Fraunhofer ILT used artificial intelligence as a core topic to show how automation could work in laser technology. The idea behind this is multi-layered: First, sensors collect data from a machine; then, AI learns to understand the process and recognize errors; the user models the process using the data, enabling forecasts to be made for changes in process parameters; and finally, the control loop is closed, and autonomous manufacturing systems work toward first-time-right production.
The exhibits at the special show included an autonomous, mobile repair robot that uses laser material deposition to repair sections showing wear, an innovation developed with Picum MT. Also on display was a smart articulated arm robot for VR-assisted laser welding, as part of a project with partners such as Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik, Scansonic MI, Maintastic, and 4D Photonics. The focus is always on combining sensory precision with data-driven decision-making logic.
Prof. Carlo Holly, head of the Data Science and Measurement Technology Department at Fraunhofer ILT and Chair of Optical Systems Technology at RWTH Aachen University, summed it up in his presentation: "By combining digital measurement technology, AI-supported analysis and simulation-based design, we are able, for the first time, to not only monitor processes, but also proactively control them—with enormous potential for efficiency, quality, and sustainability."
![Dr. Sarah Klein from Fraunhofer ILT (front right) presented a compact EUV source at the Fraunhofer press tour, which is currently being used in industry and research as a "workhorse" for measurement processes in the EUV range.](/en/press/press-releases/2025/7-24-laser-report-25/jcr:content/contentPar/sectioncomponent/sectionParsys/textwithinlinedimage_732353239/imageComponent1/image.img.4col.large.jpg/1753174700347/pm-laser-nachbericht-25-3.jpg "Dr. Sarah Klein from Fraunhofer ILT (front right) presented a compact EUV source at the Fraunhofer press tour, which is currently being used in industry and research as a "workhorse" for measurement processes in the EUV range.")
A second focus was on manufacturing optical components with only lasers. Shaping these components is crucial to center the surfaces, a necessary step which can now be done in a single clamping operation. This avoids centering errors and reduces scrap. The component is then transferred to another system for polishing and shape correction.
The final polishing is carried out using a CO2 laser, which locally melts and smoothens the surface. For any remaining waviness, a pulsed CO2 laser is used, which selectively removes several nanometers of material, as Martin Kratz explained. The process works independent of geometry and is also suitable for aspherical or free-form optics – ideal for customized, cost-efficient production starting from a batch size of one.
The advantages for industry: reproducible quality, shorter process times thanks to linear scaling for rotationally symmetrical optics, and new degrees of freedom in design. Here, too, Fraunhofer ILT sees the laser not just as a tool, but as part of a digitally integrated manufacturing system.
A third pillar of the trade fair presentation was the development of high-energy lasers, which are used in areas such as fusion research and secondary beam sources. Together with partners in industry and research, the Aachen-based research institute is working on expanding and establishing supply chains for such laser systems. In the application panels "Laser fusion: energizing photonics industry" and "Laser-based high-energy beam sources for industry and research," the partners presented concrete approaches for developing and manufacturing the necessary components and systems.
In the DIOHELIOS project, for example, Fraunhofer ILT is working with industry partners on robust, scalable QCW diode laser modules and their beam shaping for homogeneous beam distribution over 100×100 mm² – a key component for future megajoule laser systems, as Dr. Sarah Klein emphasized at the joint Fraunhofer booth. In addition, a compact EUV source and a concept for neutron sources were presented – for example, for the non-destructive testing of nuclear waste containers or containers at airports and seaports. Here, too, laser-based systems form the basis for portable, high-resolution imaging, with clear implications for industrial use.
![The speakers at the application panel "Laser fusion: energizing photonics industry" presented concrete approaches for the development and manufacture of the necessary components and systems for a fusion power plant.](/en/press/press-releases/2025/7-24-laser-report-25/jcr:content/contentPar/sectioncomponent/sectionParsys/textwithinlinedimage_93351697/imageComponent2/image.img.4col.large.jpg/1753174800525/pm-laser-nachbericht-25-7.jpg "The speakers at the application panel "Laser fusion: energizing photonics industry" presented concrete approaches for the development and manufacture of the necessary components and systems for a fusion power plant.")
The topics covered in Munich went far beyond these three examples: Researchers from Fraunhofer ILT held in-depth discussions on future topics and new projects in the World of Quantum (which saw record participation from 160 companies, start-ups, and research institutions), the MedtecLIVE Healthtech Pavilion, and the special show Photonics in Production. "The response in Munich showed that we have our finger on the pulse of the industry with our topics – whether it's about classic production issues, AI applications in photonics, quantum technology or fusion," said Institute Director Dr. Jochen Stollenwerk, summarizing the results. "Now we need to translate the momentum from the trade fair into cooperating together in concrete projects."
On the topic of AI in photonics, the industry association SPECTARIS, in cooperation with Fraunhofer ILT and the German Federal Association for Medium-Sized Businesses in IT (BITMi), is hosting the conference "AI in Photonics – Adding Value in Laser Manufacturing Technology and Optical Design" in Berlin on October 1 and 2, 2025. Speakers from TRUMPF, ZEISS, Microsoft, and other companies will provide insight into application scenarios and system integration, and the program will also address issues of financing and the legal framework. The conference is aimed at decision-makers, developers, and researchers alike and is intended as a practical forum for anyone who wants to actively shape the application of AI in photonics.
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT