Industrial laser company Coherent Inc (coherent.com)has significantly expanded its Gilching (Germany) micro-machining and sub-system facility — and completed the relocation of its laser marking group from nearby Gunding.

The resulting Centre of Excellence — designated Coherent Munich — will be a significant upgrade to the company’s applicationsand R&D capabilities, and “affirms Coherent’s commitment to the industrial materials processing and manufacturing segment”.

Coherent Munich’s primary focus will be twofold. Firstly, it will supply high-performance integration-ready laser-based sub-systems for a wide range of precision industrial manufacturing and marking applications in medical-device manufacturing, electronics packaging and jewellery production.

Specifically, this will include the development and production of fibre, CO₂ and solid-state laser-based sub-systems incorporating a laser, optics, software and applications expertise.

Secondly, it will supply a portfolio of laser machines to accomplish specific tasks, such as glass or tube cutting, the precision welding of metals and polymers, black marking, roll-to-roll packaging — and others.

Thomas Merk, general manager of Industrial Lasers and Systems, said: “Our goal is to make industrial manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective by delivering superior laser-based products that leverage our deep underlying applications and process knowledge, and which are developed in close co-operation with our customers.

“Combining our Gunding and Gilching operations brings a wider range and depth of expertise under one roof, enabling us to better accomplish our aims.

“We believe the Centre of Excellence will enable us to serve a broader range of applications with even more competitive sub-systems and turn-key solutions.”