A strong new partner for LASER World of PHOTONICS

LASER World of PHOTONICS is expanding its network with a strong cooperation partner: The VDMA Working Group Laser and Laser Systems for Materials Processing is assuming the role of conceptual sponsor for the leading international trade fair for photonics components, systems and applications. With its member companies from the fields of laser and automation technology and its quantum technology and photonics forum, the working group is the perfect link between LASER World of PHOTONICS, World of QUANTUM and automatica—the leading trade fair for intelligent automation and robotics—which will take place simultaneously for the first time from June 27 to 30, 2023.

“The fact that the VDMA is now assuming the role of conceptual sponsor for LASER World of PHOTONICS sends a strong message”, says Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Messe München. He explains that it is important to join forces, especially with regard to the major transformation processes on the path to climate neutrality and all-encompassing digitization. The cooperation between LASER World of PHOTONICS and the VDMA Working Group Laser and Laser Systems for Materials Processing follows in the same spirit – and is the next logical step following the trade fair’s co-location with automatica, he adds. The latter was already connected to the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association through a conceptual technical sponsorship.

Exchange of platforms

With more than 3,500 member companies in 36 trade associations, ten national offices, and various working groups and forums, the VDMA is the largest network organization for mechanical engineering in Germany and Europe. The Working Group Laser and Laser Systems for Materials Processing has been promoting networking between suppliers and users of laser technology as well as players from automation and robotics for three decades now. In addition, the working group is behind the Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum in the VDMA. “There are strong synergies in terms of technical content between our association and LASER World of PHOTONICS as well as World of QUANTUM that we want to leverage with Messe München”, explains VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann. When comparing the members of the Working Group Laser and Laser Systems and the Robotics + Automation Association with the exhibitor lists of LASER World of PHOTONICS, World of QUANTUM and automatica, there are numerous similarities. The agreed expansion of the cooperation therefore brings together what belongs together, he says.

Leveraging synergies

The VDMA and its member companies contribute comprehensive expertise from various industrial photonics, automation and robotics applications, making them the perfect link between the three Munich trade fairs taking place in parallel from June 27 to 30, 2023. The VDMA presence will be clearly visible in the exhibition areas of LASER World of PHOTONICS, World of QUANTUM and automatica, as well as in their conference and supporting programs. Synergies can be leveraged with a view to the industrial application of laser and quantum technologies, in the area of Photonics 4.0 / Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), as well as in the expansion of the start-up arena, in public relations and market research. “We will begin in June and continue to expand our cooperation over the next few years”, explain Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer and Thilo Brodtmann.