Industry to Researchers:

John Y. Walz

Industrial users say they are willing -- eager, even -- to adopt novel manufacturing technologies that can improve their processes and products.
"I doubt that you will find a bigger or better audience for your advanced laser technologies, or a better test bed," John P. McTague, Ford Motor Co.'s vice president for technical affairs, told laser manufacturers, researchers and industrial users at the International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics in Detroit in October. The caveat, he added, is that the technology must work, it must work better than what's already on the factory floor, and it must cost less…