From April 17 to 19, 2024, laser manufacturers and users from various industries will meet for the 14th time at the “AKL – International Laser Technology Congress” in the Eurogress in Aachen. 82 speakers will inform the visitors on the latest trends in laser technology in production. AKL’24 will present and participants will discuss the latest findings from applied research and pioneering achievements in the industry – from smart solutions for functional surfaces, AI-supported laser systems to networked digital manufacturing systems for the production of tomorrow. Registration for AKL’24 is now open at www.lasercongress.org.

The “AKL’24 – International Laser Technology Congress” took place in Aachen from April 17 to 19, 2024. For the 14th time, the congress provided a platform for an intensive professional exchange on current technology trends and perspectives in laser technology. In addition to three forums and nine sessions with a total of 82 specialist presentations, the 525 participants from 21 countries had access to a fully booked exhibition with 58 companies and 60 “Laser Technology Live” demonstrations in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and RWTH Aachen University. Two evening events and the deliberately relaxed schedule on the three days of the congress invited participants to network. In short: AKL’24 was the place to be for the laser community.

The AKL – International Laser Technology Congress 2024 fully confirmed its reputation as the leading forum for the European laser industry: There were 525 participants and 81 speakers from 21 countries, a fully booked exhibition accompanying the conference and 60 “Laser Technology Live” demonstrations in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and RWTH Aachen University. The congress focused on innovations for established laser applications as well as potential billion-euro markets of the future – including cyberphotonics, quantum technologies and laser-ignited inertial fusion energy (IFE). Once again, the Gerd Herziger Session was a highlight.

After having to take a pandemic break of four years, the industrial laser technology community met at “AKL’22 – International Laser Technology Congress” in Aachen from May 4 to 6, 2022. The industry is doing well, and the biggest trend is the extensive digitalization of processes. At the same time, common beam sources are being pushed to ever new levels of peak performance. New to the conference program was the Quantum Technology & Photonics Forum, where major German companies presented an amazing range of topics.

The Innovation Award Laser Technology is provided with 10 000 € prize money and initiated by the associations Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V. and the European Laser Institute ELI has been conferred to Dr. Boris Regaard, Project Manager at TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG and Stefan Wolf, Head of Research & Development at PRIMES GmbH on May 4, 2022 in Aachen´s Coronation Hall.

Visitors to this year’s AKL – International Laser Technology Congress in Aachen, Germany, had the unique chance to see where industrial laser technology stands today and where it will be tomorrow. The congress delivered the full picture of current technologies, from advanced laser sources and new process technologies to a wide range of applications such as Additive Manufacturing or even Quantum Sensing. To research such future topics, several projects have been started, and a whole new “I³ – Integrated Interdisciplinary Institute” has been inaugurated.