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6 March 2018

Launch Event - Lasers for Productivity: A UK Strategy

• Sector: Lasers for Productivity
• Location: Attlee Suite, 1st Floor Portcullis House, 1 Parliament St, Westminster, London SW1A 2JR

Tuesday 6 March: 2.30 – 4.15 pm

**FREE EVENT - REGISTER HERE**

The recently published government white paper Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future  highlights the strategic changes to UK industry to address the needs of the technological revolution which is rapidly changing the landscape of the world.

Lasers are an enabling manufacturing improvements leading to greater efficiencies, faster growth and improved performance across all sectors of manufacturing, and the UK has a significant level of expertise in SMEs which manufacture laser systems, subcontractors offering laser processing services and companies of all sizes adopting laser welding, cutting, etching, drilling and 3D printing in a wide range of materials.  Applications include aircraft fuel efficiency improvements, lightweighting in the automotive industry, battery manufacture, consumer goods, packaging and electronic components to name but a few.

A document has been published, Lasers for Productivity: A UK Strategy (download a copy of the report HERE) which sets out the challenges and solutions to improving productivity by a more rapid adoption of this enabling technology.  Addressing the need for improved skills training to fill the vacancies required in this sector, access to finance for capital purchases by SMEs and innovative start-up companies, the report also highlights where the industry needs matched funding to transform the UK economy by making laser processing the norm not the exception and developing new equipment and processes to drive forward this sector which can provide increases in productivity, employment and exports.

This launch event brings together working parties representing manufacturers and end users, under the direction of the Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU) and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based production processes to present the strategic recommendations to the industry and government.

PROGRAMME DETAILS:

14.30 to 14.50
Welcome: Joanna Cherry MP

Introduction: a Minister from Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Brief overview - Industry representatives and AILU:

​Chris Dorman, Coherent
Fraser Shaw, Tannlin
Nick Weston, Renishaw
Jon Blackburn, TWI

​14.50 to 16:15
Networking and opportunity to view the showcase of laser manufactured samples supplied by AILU members.

Drop in by MPs throughout the event.

Light refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon.