• The industry’s showcase and meeting place for young talent
• World of Photonics Congress: around 3,500 participants point the way to the future of photonics

From June 26 to 29, LASER World of PHOTonICS in Munich demonstrated its pre-eminent position as the world’s leading photonics trade fair: 1,293 exhibitors presented their products to the more than 32,000 trade visitors—record figures for the trade fair on both counts. The supporting program afforded numerous insights into future photonics application areas. From June 25 to 29, the World of Photonics Congress in the ICM – International Congress Center Munich wowed attendees with lectures by eminent researchers such as Dr. Paul Hilton and Federico Capasso.

Summing up, Messe München’s Managing Director Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, said: “Be it autonomous driving or diagnostic medical procedures—technical progress is based on photonics and LASER World of PHOTonICS is where companies showcase the appropriate innovations. The great importance enjoyed by optical technologies worldwide is also reflected in the increased internationality of the event.”

For example, 800 of the 1,293 exhibitors were from abroad. 60 percent of the visitors and Congress participants traveled from outside Germany. And the exhibitors' assessment of their market is between very good and good.

These facts made for a good atmosphere in the halls
Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders, Chairman of the LASER World of PHOTonICS Advisory Board and Board of Management Member of Toptica Photonics, added: “LASER World of PHOTonICS acts as a ‘marketplace’ where we exchange ideas with customers and competitors and where we also define our future strategy. In particular, quantum technology has seen a strong increase recently.”

LASER World of PHOTonICS 2017 in figures
The trade show ended with a record-breaking number of visitors. More than 32,000 trade visitors from 90 countries descended on Munich—and they were very satisfied with what LASER World of PHOTonICS had to offer: The Gelszus Messe-Marktforschung survey revealed that 99 percent of visitors rated the trade fair as excellent or good with the bulk of them assuming that the trade fair will continue to grow in importance.

In addition to Germany, the top visitor countries were—in this order—France, UK, Japan, Switzerland and the USA.

1,293 exhibitors from 42 were on show at the world’s leading photonics trade fair. That equates to an increase of 5.4 percent on the previous event. Exhibitor growth was generated both domestically and from abroad.

Sensors as a dynamic growth sector
The sensors exhibition area grew significantly, demonstrating that the precisely controllable tool that is light, together with camera systems and contactless optical measuring technology, underpins tomorrow’s production processes. Dr. Peter Leibinger, deputy CEO of TRUMPF GmbH & Co. KG, accords sensors a critical position as regards Industry 4.0, namely as the “link between the factory, IT, the Cloud and the supplier.”

Successful premiere for the Make Light MAKEATHON
The first ever Make Light MAKEATHON, staged in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s (BMBF) Make Light initiative, proved to be a crowd puller. Within just 24 hours, 79 students and young engineers developed hardware prototypes with sonorous titles such as “Smog Dog”—a device the size of a robotic lawnmower, capable of locating air pollution or the smell of burning with its optical sensor system.

Dr. Frank Schlie, Head of the Quantum Technologies and Photonics Unit at the BMBF said this about the importance of this competition: “Germany has a long tradition in photonics and is a world leader in many areas, which is only possible with good companies. For them to be able to grow requires people with ideas, a breath of fresh air for the industry. Our aim with the Make Light initiative is to make photonics accessible to talented young people. We are reaching out in particular to those interested in working in the technology arena but who have not previously considered photonics.”

In addition to the Make Light MAKEATHON, Start-Up World and the PHOTonICS Awards offered the industry’s young talent a major platform—with the young entrepreneurs’ capacity for innovation readily apparent here as well.

Extensive supporting program, strong Congress
In addition to the focus on young talent, the trade fair’s supporting program was first and foremost about transferring know-how: It was the first time that visitors were able to find out about future topics during guided tours. The “laser technology for e-mobility” guided tour proved especially popular. Another visitors’ favorite was the special show “Photons in Production” with live demonstrations such as the welding of high-strength steel as well as the Application Panels with senior speakers from the photonics industry.

The photonics research summit also offered knowledge transfer at the highest level: A good 3,500 participants attended the seven conferences taking place during the World of Photonics Congress. The “Digital Optical Technologies” conference being held for the first time provided an insight into mixed, augmented and virtual reality applications. Participants were able to combine science and practice in “hands-on sessions” and test relevant devices. Another instance of bridging the gap with the practical world was the “Industrial Perspective on Quantum Technologies” lecture series with contributions from industry—Robert Bosch GmbH for example. The gist: Europe leads the way in quantum technologies—with world beating experts, companies and research institutes.

once again, the presentation of the Herber Walther Award at the World of Photonics Congress proved to be a program highlight. The award has been conferred for more than ten years now, this year going to the American experimental physicist Prof. Randall Hulet of Rice University in Houston/Texas.