PLYMOUTH, Michigan /ANN ARBOR, Michigan – ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc. (ROFIN), one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of laser sources and laser-based solutions and IMRA America, Inc., (IMRA) world leader in the research, development, manufacturing and application of ultrafast fiber lasers announce that they have entered into a license agreement for the use of IMRA’s patent rights for the patent family including U.S. patents RE37,585 and 5,656,186, “Method for controlling configuration of laser induced breakdown and ablation”.
This patent family was invented by Gerard Mourou and colleagues while at the University of Michigan and is licensed to IMRA from the University of Michigan. The invention is fundamental in taking advantage of ultrafast lasers for micromachining. The inventors recognized that ultrashort pulses are shorter than the time needed for most energy transfer processes within the material. Therefore deterministic, ultra-precise material processing could be realized. This method is sometimes referred to as “cold“ or “athermal“.
Mr. Takashi Omitsu, President of IMRA, commenting on the agreement, said: “IMRA and ROFIN and its subsidiaries have had a long business relationship in developing and implementing laser technology. We believe our intellectual property and technical strengths will aid IMRA and ROFIN together to further advance fiber and ultrafast laser products and their applications.”
“With the signing of the license agreement we are able to complement our comprehensive ultra-short pulse laser offering with the corresponding license for the applications described under the above mentioned patents. The use of ultrafast technology will rapidly grow as laser processing requires even more precision,” said Günther Braun, President and CEO of ROFIN. “We look forward to continuing to build on our long-term and successful partnership with IMRA.”
Contact:
Katharina Manok
ROFIN-SINAR
+49-(0)40-73363-4256
ir@rofin.com
With over 35 years of experience, ROFIN-SINAR Technologies is a leading developer, designer and manufacturer of lasers and laser-based system solutions for industrial material processing applications. The Company focuses on developing key innovative technologies and advanced production methods for a wide variety of industrial applications based on a broad scope of technologies. The product portfolio ranges from single laser-beam sources to highly complex systems, covering all of the key laser technologies such as CO2 lasers, fiber, solid-state and diode lasers, and the entire power spec spectrum, from single-digit watts up to multi-kilowatts, as well as a comprehensive spectrum of wavelengths and an extensive range of laser components. ROFIN-SINAR Technologies has its operational headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, and Hamburg, Germany and maintains production facilities in the US, Germany, UK, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Singapore, and China. ROFIN currently has more than 49,000 laser units installed worldwide and serves more than 4,000 customers. The Company’s shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RSTI and are listed in Germany in the “Prime Standard” segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ISIN US7750431022. ROFIN is part of the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index. Additional information is available on ROFIN-SINAR’s home page: www.rofin.com.
About IMRA America, Inc.: Founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1990, it is dedicated to the development of ultrafast fiber laser technologies for commercial applications. IMRA’s technology portfolio includes over 450 US and international patents and patent applications. The company’s pioneering technologies, rigorous quality control and high volume manufacturing operation make IMRA’s products the sound choice for scientific, OEM and industrial use. IMRA also continues with cutting edge research in areas of new functional nano-materials for bio-medical and energy applications, keeping IMRA front and center in a broad spectrum of research and development.
