AILU - The Association of Laser Users

AILU Half-Day Workshop - Handheld Laser Applications
2026-06-04 09:30 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | TWI, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, United Kingdom
Introduction
Chair: Paola de Bono (TWI)
Hand-held laser systems for welding, cleaning, and marking have grown rapidly in recent years, driven by falling fibre laser costs, compact and ruggedised delivery optics, and demand from industries seeking flexible, portable alternatives to fixed automation. From shipyards and oil & gas maintenance to fabrication shops and heritage conservation, these systems are being deployed across an increasingly broad range of applications — and the market shows no sign of slowing.
Yet hand-held operation introduces challenges that fixed-beam systems do not face. Operator technique directly affects process quality; fume and radiation hazards are less easily controlled; and buyers navigating a crowded supplier landscape often find it difficult to assess what a system is truly capable of.
This workshop brings together experts from across the sector to address these questions directly. Topics will include:

Technology — how hand-held laser systems work, and how current designs have evolved
Capability — what welding, cleaning, and marking applications are achievable, and what their limits are
Safety — the regulatory landscape, risk assessment, and practical control measures for hand-held operation

Who Should Attend
This workshop is relevant to anyone involved in hand-held laser systems: equipment manufacturers and distributors, system integrators, safety officers, end users in manufacturing, maintenance, or conservation, and organisations considering purchasing a system for the first time. Whether you supply, specify, or operate — or are simply evaluating whether hand-held lasers are right for your business — this event will provide the knowledge and contacts you need.
The Workshop will be followed by the AILU AGM.
Programme
09:30 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome
Paola De Bono, TWI
Session 1

10:10 – 10:30 Handheld Laser Welding Systems – An Aerospace End User Perspective
Mark Dodds, ITP Aero
10:30 – 10:50 Handheld Laser Cleaning Capability and Performance on Grade 5 Ti 6Al 4V
Ali Khan, TWI
10:50 – 11:10 Laser Cleaning at Scale: A Real World Case Study
Harvey Allpress, LaserTec Laser Cleaning
11:10 AM – 11:40 Break
Session 2
11:40 – 12:00 Reduced Hazard Handheld Laser Cleaning Using Retina Safe Wavelengths
Tara Murphy, Woodrow Scientific
12:00 – 12:20 Hand-held Laser Safety Standards are Changing: Are You Ready ?
Neal Croxford, Dovecote Technologies
12:20 – 12:40 Laser Safety for Handheld Laser Systems
Ross Tomlin, Pro-Lite Technology
12:40 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 14:20 Tour of TWI Labs (optional)
14:30 – 15:30 AGM (optional)

Venue
TWI
Granta Park
Great Abington
Cambridge
CB21 6AL

The 2026 AGM will follow this workshop, see here.

AILU AGM 2026
2026-06-04 14:30 - 15:30 | TWI, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, United Kingdom
Thursday 4th June 2026
14:30-15:30
Members only.
Follows AILU’s half-day workshop on Handheld Laser Applications
Venue
TWI
Granta Park
Great Abington
Cambridge
CB21 6AL

Notice of AGM
Agenda
Minutes of last meeting
AILU accounts to 31.10.2025

AILU Event: Early Careers Group Seminar & Tour
2026-06-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Micrometric, Doddington Road, Lincoln, LN6 3RX, United Kingdom
Early Careers Group Seminar & Tour
Monday 8th June 2026

Programme to follow

Venue
Micrometric Ltd,
Doddington Road,
Lincoln,
LN6 3RX

AILU Supported Event - PLI Conferences 2026
2026-07-01 07:00 - 2026-07-02 16:00
PLI Conferences will be held from July 1st to 2nd, 2026 at the stade Beaublanc in Limoges (France).
This event is organized by the CLUB LASER & PROCÉDÉS in partnership with ALPHANOV, with support from ALPHA-RLH and the EUROPEAN CERAMIC CLUSTER. This year, collaboration is strengthened with the FRESNEL INSTITUTE for the poster session and with CAILABS for the thematic panel meeting.
PLI Conferences is the unmissable event dedicated to industrial laser processes and their advances. An overview of the latest innovations in the field is presented through a rich program of expert conferences.
The 2025 edition brought together 162 participants and 34 booths, 79% of which were industrial and 23% from foreign countries.
The conference program is organized around thematic sessions and time for discussion between participants. Simultaneous French/English translation will be provided. To eat, you will have access to coffee breaks and a lunch buffet.
The programme is available here and registration is open
Find out more www.clp-laser.fr/event

High Power Laser Applications Workshop
2026-07-02 09:00 - 17:00 | IPG Photonics GmbH, Carl-Benz-Straße 28, Burbach, 57299
** SAVE THE DATE – 2 July 2026 **
Introduction
High power fibre lasers have transformed modern manufacturing — delivering exceptional beam quality, energy efficiency, and reliability across an ever-expanding range of industrial applications. This event brings together leading engineers, researchers, and technology providers to explore what today’s high power fibre laser systems can do, and where they are headed next.
Attendees will gain valuable insights into laser applications spanning cutting, welding, cladding and more. From thin sheet to heavy section, from precision micro-processing to high-throughput production, the full capability of modern fibre laser technology will be on display.
Whether you are looking to adopt fibre laser technology for the first time, scale up existing processes, or stay ahead of the latest developments in beam delivery, system integration, and process optimisation, this showcase offers the connections and knowledge to move your work forward.
AILU is proud to collaborate in this event with IPG Photonics GmbH who are hosting the workshop at their European Customer Centre, in Burbach, Germany. This event is open to all AILU members and non-members who will be able to experience some of the latest developments in high power laser sources and applications.
Tickets are available from IPG and more details will follow shortly as we arrange the programme of speakers and exhibitors. As the event takes place in Germany, all delegates and exhibitors will be invoiced by IPG, the official host of the event.

PROGRAMME AND FURTHER INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

AILU Supported Event - COLA 2026 International Conference on Laser Ablation
2026-09-14 09:00 - 2026-09-18 16:00 | Radisson Blu Hotel, Vilnius
14-18 September 2026, Vilnius, Lithuania
Since 1991, COLA has played a pivotal role in advancing laser ablation technologies and fostering collaborations among researchers and industry experts. COLA2026 is an interdisciplinary conference and the topics cover a wide range of scientific research that bridges the gap between basic science and applications / technology.
The 18th COLA conference will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from September 14-18, 2026, and promises to be an exceptional gathering of laser scientists, end-users, students and industry professionals from around the world.
Find out more at https://www.cola2026.org/

Important Dates

Abstract Submission opens: 12 January 2026
Abstract Submission closes: 31 March 2026
Author notification: 1 June 2026

Conference Topics

• Fundamentals of Laser-Material Interactions
• Emerging Applications of Laser Ablation
• Quantum Electrodynamics in Extreme Laser Fields
• Pulsed Laser Ablation and Deposition
• Laser Ablation in Liquids
• Laser Ablation in Bulk Materials
• Laser-Based Analytical Methods
• Ultrafast Phenomena
• Applications of Laser Materials Processing
• Laser Direct Writing
• Surface Micro/Nano Structuring
• Laser Micro/Nano Machining
• Laser Applications in Biology and Life Sciences
• Lasers in Nanoscience
• Smart Beam Shaping and Manipulation
• Emerging Photon Sources and Applications

AILU Supported Event - LANE 2026
2026-09-21 09:00 - 2026-09-25 16:00
14TH CIRP CONFERENCE ON PHOTONIC TECHNOLOGIES (LANE 2026)
21-25 September 2026

Venue
Heinrich-Lades-Halle Erlangen
Rathausplatz 2
91052 Erlangen
Germany

Contact
info@lane-conference.org
www.lane-conference.org

The Call for Contributions for the LANE 2026 conference is open.
There are two submission lines in LANE 2026:
(A) Scientific contribution (paper & presentation):
Submit your manuscript until 28.02.2026. Please note that there is no preceding abstract phase. Your scientific paper (with a total length of 4 pages) will be reviewed by an international review committee of renowned experts. In case of a positive review result, the paper will be published online as a special issue of Elsevier’s open access journal ‘Procedia CIRP’ and presented live at LANE 2026. Papers published in Procedia CIRP will be available online on ScienceDirect. Procedia CIRP is indexed in the EI Compendex and Scopus databases.
(B) Industrial contribution (presentation only):
Industrial abstract submission deadline is 28.02.2026. Abstracts should consist of about 150 words and must be written in English. Your abstract on your industrial presentation at LANE will be reviewed on its relevance for application. In case of a positive review result, your presentation will be scheduled at LANE 2026.
As the first step on the way to your LANE contribution, please create an account at our conference management system ‘ConfTool’:
https://www.conftool.com/lane-conference-2026
Scientific contributors will receive the paper template in December 2025.

AILU Supported Event - Advanced Engineering 2026
2026-11-04 09:00 - 2026-11-05 17:00 | NEC Birmingham
4-5 November 2026
NEC, Birmingham
Advanced Engineering is the only UK event connecting all industrial ecosystems, driving high-value manufacturing and supply chain solutions.
Here, the brightest minds in design, engineering, and manufacturing come together to solve real-world challenges, accelerate innovation, develop skills, and build a more sustainable future.
From net-zero composites to energy-efficient processes, visit the future of engineering.
Find out more here www.advancedengineeringuk.com

AILU's Industrial Laser Applications Symposium (ILAS) 2027
2027-03-24 08:00 - 2027-03-25 17:00 | Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, CV8 2LD, United Kingdom
ILAS 2027 is a unique 2-day event, attracting international delegates, speakers and exhibitors from around the world to share the latest in laser material processing technology and applications.
Enjoy plenary presentations from renowned international speakers, keynote speakers on a range of topics covering the whole of industrial laser technology, and around 80 high-calibre presentations from industry and academia. On top of this, 30 exhibitors will represent the latest in laser technology and the complete supply chain. Whether you’re a researcher, engineer, business owner, student or technology supplier, the programme is built to inform and inspire across the full breadth of laser applications.
Make new contacts, expand your network, find business or collaboration opportunities, meet potential employers and employees to develop your organisation or career.
2027 marks the tenth Industrial Laser Applications Symposium
It’s where academia meets industry for all things industrial laser related, so don’t miss out.

See the dedicated ILAS 2027 webpage here: https://ilas2027.co.uk
