On the first day of the exhibition at Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East, the LaserTec special focus pavilion was pleasantly busy. With exhibitors available to showcase lasers used in precision welding, fine cutting, drilling and marking processes, and to demonstrate how companies incorporate this technology into their manufacturing to increase productivity, quality and profits, the attendees were able to visit a wide range of companies and investigate their diverse technologies. Several exhibitors mentioned being impressed with both the turnout and the enthusiasm of the visitors, especially in light of the poor economic conditions and stormy weather that marked the opening of the show. One even ranked the show as being one of the top two he had attended so far this year. All of the approximately 50 booths appeared to have a steady flow of traffic throughout the day. At the heart of the LaserTec pavilion sits Booth 2943. More than a traditional booth, this roped-off area, with its rows of seating and raised dais, serves as a theater for speakers to present their Innovation Briefs. These short sessions, ranging from 30 to 40 minutes, cover a variety of topics, including the use of ultrafast lasers in stent manufacturing and advances in light-curable adhesives. The presentations will run during the majority of the show. Rebecca C. Jernigan rebecca.jernigan@laurin.com