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News Release from: DTI Global Watch Service
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 01 February 2007
UK-Korea forum leads to laser business
In 2002 Powerlase's Sales Manager Duncan Cooper presented at the Global Watch Service-led UK-Korea High Tech Industry Forum in Seoul, and was introduced to several Korean manufacturers.
Advanced laser technology developed by an Imperial College London spinoff is being used by South Korean electronics giants Samsung and LG Electronics to revolutionise the manufacture of flat panel displays The success of Powerlase's high powered, diode pumped lasers in rapid laser patterning (RLP) techniques has led to significant orders and major expansion for the Crawley-based company
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Powerlase was founded in 2001 to develop the innovative lasers, which have several unique properties including very high average power, high repetition and nanosecond pulse.
The company soon recognised potential applications within the semiconductor industry.
In 2002 Powerlase's Sales Manager Duncan Cooper presented at the Global Watch Service-led UK-Korea High Tech Industry Forum in Seoul, and was introduced to several Korean manufacturers through DTI International Technology Promoter Hong Hai Seeto.
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"As is classic with lasers, it was an innovation looking for a problem to solve".
"Therefore, Powerlase's business strategy would benefit from identifying potential applications and relevant partners with whom to develop solutions", says Seeto.
One company, LG Electronics, began to work closely with Powerlase, developing the lasers for RLP, a technique which removes the transparent conductive oxide applied to plasma display panels (PDPs) to create the patterns of pixels required to make images.
By directly patterning the substrate, RLP replaces existing photolithographic techniques, speeding up production and reducing equipment and materials costs.
It also avoids the need to treat the PDP glass substrate coating with acid etchants, making the procedure cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
Powerlase's relationship with LG Electronics culminated in a multi-million-pound order for lasers in May 2006, followed by another substantial deal with Samsung in July.
Having established itself as a world leader in the supply of lasers for RLP, Powerlase is looking to develop other applications of its technology.
It is also involved in the development of extreme ultraviolet lithography for the silicon chip market.
Powerlase CEO Tony King says: "Our deals with LG Electronics and Samsung have contributed to a current year-on-year growth approaching 400% in 2006, and we have expanded our production capabilities five fold to keep up with demand".
"We've found the DTI Global Watch Service extremely helpful in facilitating our initial meetings in Asia and increasing our awareness of global opportunities".
Powerlase's success is a good example of the UK's current strengths in photonics, a major market sector worth more than GBP 150 billion globally.
The UK received a further boost in July last year with the publication of the UK Photonics Strategy, which identifies opportunities and challenges over the next five to 10 years.
This article is based on one that appeared in Global Watch, the monthly magazine of the DTI Global Watch Service.
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