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Over the years, different types of lasers have established themselves thanks to their versatility. Apart from technical differences in construction, the particularity of each laser lies in the propagation medium used to emit energy and the resulting wavelength. The most common are gas lasers (such as the CO₂ laser), semiconductor lasers, fibre optic lasers and solid-state lasers. Depending on the...

The CO₂ laser has been on the market for many decades. Over the years it has proven to be a sturdy tool, capable of providing thousands of hours of processing without having to be serviced or replaced.

Laser cleaning is the process of using lasers to remove dirt, debris or contaminants from the surface of an object. It is a process that lends itself to a variety of industrial and non-industrial applications. From cleaning thermoforming moulds to restoring monuments, there is no area where laser cleaning cannot be successfully applied.

Laser cleaning is one of laser’s many applications. The process is based on laser ablation, i.e. the removal of a portion of material from a surface. Ablation is at the basis of all common laser processes: cutting, drilling, engraving, marking.

The manufacturing process of abrasive materials has always been a productive challenge. The main problem is that the abrasive power of these materials also exerts itself on the production tools themselves, damaging them over a short period of time.

Composite materials are known for their extraordinary mechanical and physical properties. They are created by combining two different materials, resulting in a new material with better properties than their component materials taken individually.

Laser marking is one of the most widely used laser processes in the industrial sector. It is typically used to apply information to packaging: expiry dates, traceability codes, production batches, logos and other graphics. The fundamental advantages of laser marking over traditional methods are the very high processing speeds and the high levels of precision that can be achieved. 

Bags and pouches of all kinds have been conquering the packaging market for several decades now. Flexible packaging adapts to the shape of the object it covers, so less material gets wasted.

Paper processing is one of the main areas of application for the CO₂ laser. The world of paper converting has benefited greatly from the spread this tool. The CO₂ laser offers speed, efficiency and flexibility, allowing laser companies to meet the demands of an increasingly fragmented market.

It is now a fact: the current pandemic has led to an explosion in online shopping and home deliveries. Contagion risks have led people to reduce any situation that include physical contact. Shopping activities have moved online for all types of goods, including basic necessities. Online shopping seems to be an increasingly common behaviour.

Governments and organizations are constantly seeking solutions to make identification documents secure and tamper-proof. Cost-effective productions are key because in most cases security requirements combine with the need to maintain low costs.

Laser engraving and marking for fabric are some of the innovative technologies that have taken hold in the fashion and interior design sector. Indeed, their introduction has given a sector that usually relies on unchanging production processes, the impetus to experiment.

Plastic is one of the best suited materials for CO₂ laser cutting. The best results are obtained with some types of thermoplastic polymers such as polypropylene.

PTFE is a synthetic polymer used in many fields. The acronym stands for Polytetrafluoroethylene, but it is better known under trade names such as Teflon or Algoflon. It appears as a plastic material, usually white in color though it can be colored black with additives. It can be used alone or in combination with other polymers.

Laser wire stripping is the process of removing all or part of the insulating material that covers electrical cables. In other words, it is the process used to uncover the metal core of the cables. It is typically done at the cable’s ends to make connections possible, but it can also be done in various ways along the cable.

In recent years, CO₂ lasers have increasingly been used as work tools in the flexible abrasive material sector. CO₂ laser technology can perform advanced processes which are well-adapted to new generation products (suitable for the most innovative processes and sectors).

Laser marking is one of the most common industrial processes. In its broadest sense it consists in using the laser beam to create marks on the surface of a material.

The synthetic leather market has seen exponential growth in recent years. Natural leather is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity, both for economic and environmental reasons. On the one hand, the need for finished products at ever lower prices limits the use of expensive raw materials, and on the other, animal and environmental issues are driving companies to choose eco-friendly solutions.

The world has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic since March. Governments have tried to limit the spread of the virus by limiting the movement of people. Schools, offices and production activities considered non-essential have stopped. Suddenly, thousands of companies have faced an unprecedented health crisis, that has quickly become an economic crisis.

Laser material processing started a revolution in the industrial world. It has brought quantitative improvements such as an increase in production speed, and qualitative ones, such as the possibility of creating customized products with high added value, even on a small scale.

Microperforation is a laser process that consists in creating micro holes on a sheet of raw material. Microperforation makes it possible to precisely choose the size, depth and quantity of holes per square centimeter. The flexibility of this technique makes it easy for the operator to change the processing characteristics according to the intended final use of the piece.

Laser marking has become a standard in many industrial sectors. Its advantages are flexibility, speed, precision, the quality of the etched signs, eco-friendliness.

Depainting operations has always been an expensive and time consuming process. Removing paint from an object, especially a large painted surface, requires many hours of work. In most cases, solvents and big quantities of water are used to strip paint which has negative consequences on the health of workers and the environment.

Plastic processing was one of the sectors in which the introduction of the CO₂ laser was immediately appreciated. Laser has made it possible to carry out faster, more precise and less wasteful processes.

From February 4th to 6th El.En. will participate at SPIE Photonics West, the international trade fair dedicated to laser and photonics in general.

Laser drilling consists of creating micro-holes on various types of materials. It is one of the first applications of laser for material processing.

Laser kiss cutting (or kiss die cut) consists in removing the superficial portion of a sheet of material according to a specific cutting path.

Laser cutting consists in removing a portion of material from an object according to a pre-defined cutting path.

The laser scanning heads are a fundamental component of the galvo systems for laser cutting and marking. These devices deflect the laser beam coming from the source and move it along the X and Y axes according to the operation required.

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive on this blog is about the difference between fiber optic Lasers and CO₂ Lasers. These are the two types of lasers most used for industrial application. If compared to fibers lasers, CO₂ lasers have numerous advantages that fiber lasers don't have.

Until recently and partly still, industrial processes were focused on mass production. This encouraged a tendency to standardize products and processes, to reduce the number of possible customizations and to maximize the number of pieces produced thus increasing the company’s profit.

From the 19th to the 26th of October 2019, El.En. S.p.A. was at K2019 because of Maklaus, a leading company in the design of perforators for moving material. At the trade show, Maklaus presented the prototype of a machine with two CO₂ RF 303 laser sources and two Gioscan 1735 std resolution 35 mm scanning heads.

The fashion industry is always looking for new ideas and new technology to make them possible. Laser has become an incredible tool for stylist and designers, enabling them bring even the most technically difficult ideas to light. The pioneer designers who made the first use of laser, often went on to become famous in the fashion world.

Glass is one of the many materials that can undergo CO₂ laser treatments. Laser is most often used for markings or cuts. In this article, we will explore how compatible glass is with laser technology and its possible applications.

The packaging and paper goods industry are the sectors which have most benefited from the introduction of the CO₂ laser. This tool has triggered innovations in applications, production methods and in products.

Polyester is the most common synthetic fibre used in the textile industry. Whether it be fashion, design, furniture making or decorations, there is no field in which polyester hasn’t found some application. Just open your closet and have a peak at the composition of your clothes. You will find that most are fully or in part made of polyester.

The answer is a lot! The ability to make cuts with very close tolerances, down to a fraction of a millimeter, is one of the main advantages of laser cutting. In fact, laser is not subjected to the mechanical limits of traditional cutting tools.

CO₂ laser is one of the technologies that boasts the largest variety of uses. The areas of application range from the medical sector to the restoration of monuments. Whether it is applied to skin resurfacing or eliminating writing from ancient walls, CO₂ laser is an incredibly efficient and cost effective tool.

Thermoplastics are polymeric materials with incredible properties. Their name derives from their main property: becoming viscous when heated and solidifying once cooled.

The packaging sector has numerous applications for CO₂ laser. There is nothing surprising there since the materials best suited for packaging are also the ones, due to both composition and shape, that work best with CO₂ laser technology.

CO₂ lasers are one of the most widely employed technologies in manufacturing. The technology is so flexible and powerful that it is installed on a large number of industrial machines, used in a wide array of sectors. CO₂ laser sources are well renowned for their resiliency: a machine based on this technology insures thousands of hours of high quality work.

Easy opening packages, single portioned or disposable boxes, to be kept in bags; tear-apart openings, scored on the packaging and other solutions. More than ever, consumers are used to easy-opening packaging.

In this article we will focus on one of CO₂ lasers’ applications: laser heat treating of metals.

Plastics polymers are used a lot in the food packaging industry, most successfully for fresh produce. Their versatility and resistance to chemical agents make them perfect for this type of application.

Sound absorbing panels are used to reduce or eliminate  noise in a specific environment. They are usually used in spaces where acoustic is extremely important such as auditoriums, cinemas, concert halls, etc.

The use of laser CO₂ in food production processes has become a well accepted trend. Laser is often used to replace labeling processes or the printing of expiry dates, identifying codes and other distinguishing marks on food products. Markings on cheese or fresh products are some examples of laser use we have already covered in previous articles.

CO₂ laser is now widely used in the textile industry. It is mainly used for decorations and in fabric finishing. The CO₂ laser’s wide range of applications has substituted traditional operations in the textile industry most of which are polluting, slow and costly.

The food industry has long been experimenting the use of thermoplastics for food packaging. Materials such as polyester are easy  to  manipulate and inexpensive. Plus, the fact that they are sterile, strong and waterproof make them ideal for the packaging of fresh or ready to use food products.

Peeling fruit and vegetables using laser technology? This is only one of the many applications of the CO₂ laser for the food industry. Because of its wavelength, the CO₂ laser allows you to efficiently process materials of organic origin, such as wood, leather, fabric, paper and similar materials.

After the SPIE Photonics West, El.En. S.p.A. is taking part to another internation trade fair. This time we will be at the Laser World of Photonics China. Held in Shanghai, this trade fair is Asia's leading event for the laser, optics and photonics industry. Laser World of Photonics China is going to be held from March 14 to 16, 2018 in Halls W1–W5 at the Shanghai New International Expo...

From January 30 to February 1, El.En. S.p.A. will be at SPIE. Photonics West exhibition. This event is the world's largest on laser, photonics and biomedic technology. Come find us at booth number 4565: we will showcase our latest CO₂ laser technology! Find out more on the SPIE. Photonics West website.

The introduction of lasers in industrial processes has been a small revolution: the effectiveness and versatility of this technology has allowed us to significantly renew diverse production fields. Especially the die sector has seen radical changes over the past years due to innovations in laser technologies.

The unstoppable growth of organic food sales seems to suggest that consumers are increasingly aware of genuine, natural, and environmental friendly fresh products. Organic food is realized in compliance with natural cycles, isn’t treated chemically, and is environmental friendly.

The clothing industry is the second biggest polluting industry, being just behind the petrol industry. To give you an idea of the massive impact the fashion industry has on the environment, consider this: it is estimated that 10% of world’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the textile industry.

Let’s continue our journey of discovery of the different CO₂ laser applications for the packaging industry. In the past articles, we’ve already described how laser micro-perforation can drill accurate holes on plastic film to create packages suitable to preserve fresh food. Laser micro-perforation applications, unlike traditional mechanical micro perforation applications, offer speed,...

Wood, paper, cardboard, plastic, PMMA. And also rubber, leather, metals, and ceramics: the potential applications of the CO₂ laser are endless. Perhaps for this reason, among the many different laser types developed over the years, the CO₂ laser has become the most widely diffused laser technology for laser material processing applications. The invention of this type of laser dates back to 1964:...

PRESS RELEASE Powerful laser designed by the EL.EN. Group donated to “Angeli del Bello” (the Angels of Beauty) of FlorenceTuscan firm donates a special laser for graffiti removal to the City of Florence and to the Angels of Beauty. A donation ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 7, at Serre Torrigiani, the foundation’s annual fundraising dinner that works to better the...

The results for the first six months of the year showed strong revenue growth (+ 19%, 143 million), but no parallel development of marginality was achieved. A dynamic mainly related to the greater weight gained in the mix produced by the industrial sector, characterized by a lower level of profitability than the medical one, and which should continue in the second part of the year. [read the full...

Let's continue exploring the main applications of the CO₂ laser. In this article we will be talking about acrylic CO₂ laser cutting. As we have seen in previous articles, the CO₂ laser has expanded the possibilities of treating and working many materials. Among them is methyl methacrylate, a plastic material best known as Plexiglas® or Perspex®.

The fashion, decoration, and design sectors are generally very competitive. They require a continuous stream of products and models to be offered to the public. There is a constant search for new and original design which is capable of characterizing the designer, while at the same time being in the interest of the public. In fields like design, innovation mainly relies on the imagination of...

It has been four intense days. We have received many visitors, collected all their feedback and comments, and got a pulse of the laser market. Research is not only performed in the lab. In order to make outstanding products that are performing and adding value to daily practices, we have to listen to the needs of the people.

After a strong growth trend mnarked by the record results of the previous fiscal year, the first quarter of 2017 showed a reduction of the company's profit margins due to a shift in the product mix towards the industrial sector which saw a clear expansion thanks to the boom of the Chinese market.

The change in consumer behavior has augmented the demand for ready-to-use food. This, in turn, has resulted in the demand for different packaging types. The food technology industry has developed along and adapted in concordance with these behavioral changes, offering increasingly advanced food packaging. Consumers no longer want to be confined to plastic bags or containers, but want packaging...

The 23rd edition of Laser World of Photonics, the most important international event dedicated to laser technology and the photonics sector will take place from the 26th to the 29th of June. Research, technology and industry are only some of the focuses of this trade fair, which each two year hosts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Laser World of Photonics is an unmissable...

One of the characteristics of CO₂ lasers is that it allows you to carry out processes which were impossible to perform beforehand, because of technical limitations in the past.

Laser labeling of food is a recent innovation that makes it possible to reduce production waste by replacing traditional food labels with laser engraved labels. Laser marking of food is suitable for companies wanting to optimize their production process, saving resources and materials while also decreasing their ecological footprint. The possibilities are endless.

Recent years have seen the development of a greater sensibility towards the environmental impact of the production processes. Manufacturers are trying to streamline the use of resources and materials, switching to greener ways of producing goods. For the packaging sector this meant an overall reduction of the materials composing the packaging products: paperboard boxes, rolls of wrapping paper...

Corrugated fiberboard is the most widely used packaging material. A low cost, its great mechanical properties and an overall good strength make it perfect for manufacturing boxes, cartons and other packages different for design and dimensions.

Laser cutting of wood-based products is one of the most important applications of CO₂ lasers. Today, laser is a powerful, flexible and reliable tool: it made it possible to overcome the limits imposed by the traditional methods of machining wood based materials.

Laser engraving is one of the many applications of CO₂ lasers. This process uses the energy delivered by the laser beam to mark the surface of a material. In the last decades, laser engraving proved to be an effective and efficient tool for the manufacturing applications, especially for the fashion and decorating industry.

In the last few years, laser-based processes have found application in nearly every sector. Practically every machining operation, that has traditionally been performed by mechanical tools, finds a laser equivalent. Lasers can currently cut, weld, drill, heat treat, kiss cut a very wide range of materials.

El.En. laser will be present as an exhibitor at SPIE Photonics West 2017, the world's largest multidisciplinary event focusing on laser technology, to be held in San Francisco from January 31 to February 2, 2017. As exhibitors we will be at the stand nr. 4365 where we will showcase our most recent laser technologies.

El.En. will exhibit at "EXPOLASER" in Piacenza 12 - 14 November 2015.

El.En. has exhibited at "Laser World Of Photonics " in Munich 22 - 25 June 2015.

El.En. takes part in the next conference "Science and Applications of Laser Technology" to be held in Austria on 18 March with a speech on the theme: "State of the art laser applications in medicine, industry and art conservation."

El.En attended the EXPOlaser Forum that was held in Piacenza on November 14th, 2014.

El.En. has exhibited at "Lasys " in Stuttgart 24 - 26 June 2014