A report from the Laser Systems Product Group of the Association for Manufacturing Technology shows that, at $96.1 million for the third quarter of 2002, shipments of industrial laser equipment and systems were down 8 percent from the year before. Statistics compiled on the 45 companies that participated in the study revealed that shipments within North America amounted to $69.5 million and exports totaled $26.6 million. Deliveries of CO2 lasers, which comprised more than half of the total lasers shipped, were down by 5 percent and Nd:YAG, excimer and other laser distribution was down 12 percent. Laser cutting applications were the largest source of activity, accounting for 45 percent.