Keeping in line with China’s status as a growth market, Laser World of Photonics China was bigger than ever this year.The show, held March 17 to 19 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, welcomed a record number 22,000 trade attendees from 32 countries, a 20 percent increase in attendance, with 220 exhibitors from China and abroad, total exhibition space of 9000 sq m and more than 50 exhibitors in a special exhibit area for Optics and Manufacturing of Optics. Organizers say the higher numbers reflect China’s promising future in the photonics industry as well as the industry’s increasing confidence in the nation. The show featured a range of products from international companies. The event also drew industry players from South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the US, Germany and other countries. Participants included international businesses such as Trumpf Inc., Rofin-Sinar Group, Coherent Inc., the Spectra-Physics Div. of Newport Corp., nLight Corp., GSI Group Inc., Miyachi Corp., Laservall SpA, Linos Photonics and Jenoptik AG, plus Chinese companies such as Han’s Laser Technology Co. Ltd., Chutian Laser (Group) Co. Ltd. and Huagong Laser Engineering Co. Ltd., and institutes such as North China Research Institute of Electro-Optics.Among the attendees were industry experts, leaders and buyers. “Laser China this year is even better than last year. The visitors increased in both quantity and quality,” said Peter Chen, general manager of Coherent Commercial Co. Ltd. in Beijing.Focus on lasersLasers and laser systems for scientific applications and for materials processing were key topics this year. Attendees register for the Laser World of Photonics China trade show. Photos courtesy of Laser World of Photonics China. Two accompanying events helped the flow of information stay fast and furious, with 48 speaker presentations and more than 900 professionals in attendance. The fourth International Conference on Laser Processes and Components (LPC 2009) brought experts together to discuss laser microprocessing, macroprocessing, optics components, laser systems and safety, and facilitating cooperation and exchanges between the laser-photonics research community and industrial applications. And Optics Frontier 2009 examined laser technology’s frontiers and challenges, with various company experts presenting their most advanced laser devices.Teaming up with Electronica & Productronica China, Semicon China and the CPCA Show under the umbrella of the Shanghai International IT and Electronics Fair (SIIEF) meant that Laser World of Photonics was part of China’s largest electronics and photonics trade show: SIIEF 2009 alone filled nearly nine exhibition halls, covering more than 110,000 sq m. The diverse event offerings gave participants a chance to communicate and share a range of ideas and knowledge. Crowds filter through the section of the exhibition hall devoted to companies from Germany. Company representatives told organizers that they were pleased with the trade show. “The show was very successful, and we had a lot of visitors,” said Günther Weinmann, laser technology general manager for Trumpf China (Hong Kong) Ltd. “Many interested engineers, R&D and production people looked into how they can improve their new production with our laser technology.”Next year’s show – Laser World of Photonics China 2010 – will be held March 16 to 18 in the same location.