Based in Notzingen, Germany, Lasercomb (www.lasercomb.com) develops and manufactures mechanical cutting, milling and water-jet systems, as well as laser-based production systems; these are used in the packaging industry and in die making.

The company recently took delivery of its 250th Slab laser from Coherent (www.coherent.com).

Founded near Stuttgart in 1973, one of Lasercomb’s first developments was a laser-based system for wood-working
applications.

Two years later, the company designed and installed a laser cutting system (in Yugoslavia) for die making; this was equipped with one of the first industrially available CO₂ lasers (from a British company).

In 1995, Lasercomb began fitting its systems with diffusion-cooled ‘Slab’ lasers from Rofin (now Coherent).

From that point on, all Lasercomb laser-based systems — from the compact low-cost entry-level version through the cross-table laser system to automated rotation systems — were equipped with Coherent CO₂
Slab lasers (these use only a few extremely durable components and do not require conventional gas circulation, considerably reducing maintenance and service work).

Ralf Penzkofer, Lasercomb managing director, said: “In Coherent, we have found an extremely professional supplier that provides us with efficient, reliable and low-maintenance beam sources with top service. The Slab laser guarantees mature technology, high process reliability and cost-effectiveness.”

Today, Lasercomb concentrates primarily on development, design and sales, component production being out-sourced to partners throughout Europe, thereby allowing the company to concentrate in-house on solution concepts for customers.

However, final assembly and testing take place at the Notzingen plant, where 40 employees work in a 2100m² production area, making about 15 laser-based systems a year for customers all over the world.