What is a Laser Job Shop?

For the purposes of membership of AILU, we define a laser job shop as ‘any commercial organisation that uses industrial lasers, and perhaps complementary techniques for profit.‘ Membership of AILU automatically entitles such laser users to free membership of the Job Shop Group. See the Message from the Chairman (2008 and 2005).

The Job Shop special interest group

We believe that making a success of running a laser job shop is more of a challenge than ever and the growth of the laser job shop group (established in 1999) to its current level of over 80 members has clearly demonstrated that there is a need and much to be gained from the group’s activities.

Benefits of membership include:

• Networking opportunities.

We at least one informal business meeting a year for group members and invited guests, with key presentations on topics of common concern and interest.      

•     Advice on technical and safety matters.

We offer a Job Shop Forum on the web site for posting questions and answers plus a free over the phone consultancy service.      

•     Sales leads.

Sales leads from our web-based Products and Services Directory, Virtual laser Expert and Design for Laser Manufacture areas are automatically forwarded to all job shop members.      

•     Free surveys.

We conduct at least two surveys a year on commercial value to laser job shops. These surveys are free to participate in, and only participants receive the survey results, with total anonymity. Recent topics have included gas, electricity, materials and transport.

Job Shop Member Quotes

“Membership of the AILU laser job shop group and participation in the surveys has helped our purchasing department save thousands of pounds”
Dr John Powell, Technical Director, Laser Expertise Ltd.

“Sharing information with other members has enabled us to cut materials we have never cut before so we are now able to reach markets that were previously inaccessible” Martin Cook, Managing Director, Cutting Technologies Ltd.

“In order to get the best out of your company, your employees and your suppliers you need to know what the rest of the industry is doing – The AILU surveys tell you exactly that” David Lindsey, Managing Director, Laser Process Ltd.