The long journey from idea to industrial success

It is astonishing how long it can take from the first idea to the industrial success of a laser technology product. Three laser technologies in which TRUMPF participated will be investigated from conception to realization. The first case study focuses on the diffusion cooled coaxial CO2 laser geometry with diffraction limited resonators. The second case study highlights some of the stages along the very successful route to implementation of the thin disk laser; from the conception at the IFSW1 and the ITP2, both in Stuttgart, to the successful industrial installations in automotive applications. Finally the development of high power diodes for diode pumped solid state lasers is also discussed.