Industrial Laser Shipments Up

Industrial laser manufacturers shipped 30 percent more devices and systems in 2000 than in 1999, according to year-end figures from the McLean, Va.-based Laser Systems Product Group of the Association for Manufacturing Technology.

The $721.6 million in industrial laser equipment and systems comprises $500.4 million within North America and $221.2 million to other parts of the world, the group reported.

Nd:YAG laser shipments grew by 60 percent to account for about $346 million of the total, but CO₂ shipments still edged them out, at just over $373 million. Excimer and other lasers accounted for the remainder, the group said.

Cutting remained the largest application for industrial lasers, accounting for more than 50 percent of the shipments, and nearly 80 percent of the shipments were configured as systems – laser plus workstation.