GSI Lumonics Inc.'s Component Products Group of Billerica and Alase Technologies Inc. of Pepperell, both in Massachusetts, have forged a working relationship. Under the arrangement, Alase supports GSI Lumonics' GMAX two- and three-axis scan heads, HC/3 scan and laser control interface card and WinMCL Plus software with a direct port from its WinLase 3.2 laser marking software. Rick Colonna, vice president of sales and marketing at Alase, noted that the port between the programs allows GSI laser marker users to upgrade to the latest Windows-based computer, scan head and drive electronics for most applications.

GSI received an order for multiple WaferRepair memory systems from a semiconductor DRAM manufacturer in Taiwan. It also garnered an order valued at $1.6 million from a Southeast Asia-based hard-disk-drive manufacturer for the supply of MicroE precision positioning systems. The products are scheduled for shipment this quarter.

Optilase, a distributor for GSI, has opened a laser processing development center in India's province of Chennai. Welding, cutting and drilling applications will be tested and developed at the laboratory, which is equipped with JK series continuous-wave Nd:YAG lasers and five-axis motion systems.