3D Printing is the Future
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2015, being held from June 22–25, shed light on the industry. The enormous energy inherent in the topic was tangible at the leading trade fair in Munich: there were around nine per cent more exhibitors (1,227) and more than ten per cent more visitors (more than 30,000) in attendance and a new hall was opened. Concrete applications attracted keen interest with 3D printing applications on the rise!
AM for Production Miracles and More…
Additive manufacturing is used in lightweight construction, dental technology, lighting and medicine: that was demonstrated by various exhibitors as well as by the special show “3DPrinting – Additive Manufacturing”. The two meter high and six meter wide letters “LIGHT” created by Fraunhofer ILT using generative manufacturing symbolized the importance of generative manufacturing processes for lightweight construction. The company Materialise created a stir with a prototype heart from a 3D printer.

In the physical world of optics and photonics – as used in imaging and lighting applications – Edmund Optics showed their custom printed optics lens portfolio created with amazingly progressing Luxexcel Printoptical Technology.
3D Printing affects all Fields of Endeavor
Internet, Smartphone, car, road traffic, aviation, food and beverages, medical operation, disease diagnosis: 3D printing and Photonics are intelligent, is part of our everyday lives and is transforming our world: Both 3D printing and Photonics are fascinating and have truly become game-changing technologies in industry and society.
International Year of Light 2015
The International Year of Light 2015 was a golden thread running not just through the trade fair but also through the World of Photonics Congress in the International Congress Center Munich (ICM).

Photonics Industry has Momentum
According to a recent study by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and trade associations SPECTARIS, VDMA and ZVEI the global turnover of the Photonics industry in 2014 was around 350 billion euros. It is due to hit 615 billion euros by 2020.
Finally, the outlook is good for the next LASER World of PHOTONICS, to be held from June 26–29, 2017.