Laser Processing of Non-metals

In the early days of laser technology, engineers first cut plastics with lasers for industrial use. Although laser processing of metallic materials dominates today, applications with non-metals are gaining ground. Their versatility enables efficient, precise, and innovative solutions for materials that were once considered challenging to handle with conventional methods.

Our workshop opens with a keynote providing an overview of current trends and innovations in the field of polymers and non-metals. Following this introduction, researchers from Fraunhofer IWS, along with external speakers from science and industry share their latest findings. They explore laser applications ranging from aerospace, plant engineering, and automotive to the construction sector, offering insights into how lasers advance non-metal materials.

Lunch-to-lunch Workshop in Dresden 

We kindly invite you to Dresden for this two-day workshop in a lunch-to-lunch format. Alongside the lectures, you join discussions and build networks, including an informal evening event on the first day. A guided lab tour at Fraunhofer IWS completes the program: experts walk you through selected laboratories and systems and demonstrate state-of-the-art laser technologies in action.

What Does the Workshop Involve?

Over the course of the workshop, you gain insights into the broad spectrum of laser processing for non-metals. Presentations highlight wood and glass processing, cutting of fiber-reinforced materials and airbags, and pioneering approaches such as polymer 3D printing with lasers or direct joining of plastic-metal hybrid structures. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest research, exchange ideas with experts, and see how laser technologies push the boundaries of material processing.

You can find the detailed program here.

Registration form