AILU provides a wide range of general services to laser users and suppliers and hosts a number of special interest groups (SIGs) to better support members who have particular interests in common. These include a Job Shop SIG (established in 1995, with 86 members*) for subcontract laser-based engineering companies; a Market Development SIG (established in 2005, with 240 members*) for suppliers of laser-related products and services; a Medical SIG (established in 2007, with 55 members*) for clinicians, manufacturers using lasers for manufacture of medical devices and suppliers of laser-related products and services; and the Micro:Nano SIG, AILU’s newest, launched in mid 2008 at AILU's 10th microprocessing workshop.

Lasers are a key technology in the micro and nano-engineering fields, where they provide high-resolution, accuracy, speed and flexibility. The engineering of micro features is key to the technical and commercial success of many mass-produced components ranging from photovoltaic cells, inkjet print heads and flat panel displays, to MEMS components and disposable medical instruments. It is to address the special needs of this burgeoning sector that AILU launched the Micro:Nano group.

[* Numbers of members correct as of June 2008.]

Free Membership of the Micro:Nano Group
Membership of the Micro:Nano Group is free to AILU members and non-members alike.

The activities of the Micro:Nano Group will address the interests of laser processing professionals involved in producing products, processes, devices and instrumentation for all sectors. All members will be mailed relevant news and events information as and when we receive it and will be offered the opportunity to shape future events and other Micro:Nano Group activities. As well as enjoying the AILU magazine, workshop discounts, free consultancy and networking benefits, AILU members of the Micro:Nano Group can participate in discussions on the dedicated Micro:Nano forum in the members area of the website.

The Micro:Nano Group activities and events are done in partnership with the Nanotechnology KTN and the Photonics KTN.

Joining the Micro:Nano Group
To join the Micro:Nano Group either fill in the flyer or email the AILU Office or Toby Gill (NanoKTN).

Micro:Nano Group Events

Microprocessing workshop, 4th June 2008: See events listing for full details of the programme. It was a very successful day with over seventy delegates, a review of the event at Daresbury is available here.

PKTN LUNCHTIME LECTURE: 7th July 2008: The Micro:Nano Group is delighted to present the first AILU lecture which is part of the Photonics KTN lunchtime lecture series.

Title: Laser processing of micro-optics and interconnects
Mike Osborne, Optek Systems, Abingdon, UK

Abstract: Laser processing of quartz optical components can be both rapid, flexible, reproducible and accurate. It allows production of geometries which are difficult or impossible to achieve by other means. The non-contact process allows on-line inspection of many different geometries such as single optical interconnects, multi-fibre ribbon cables and other micro-optical components. Laser cleaving is fast accurate process which reduces the likelihood of failure at both the processing stage and during deployment in the field.

These interactive meetings through the web provide an excellent opportunity for you to hear experts talking about their innovation with an opportunity to ask questions after their presentation.

FUTURE LECTURES

AILU would like to provide names of people available to give this type of lecture to a broader audience to promote the activities of all Special Interest Groups within AILU.

If you would like to suggest a topic and speaker for this forum please contact AILU Office

Funding Opportunities

High Value Manufacturing: step change in competitiveness.

This Technology Strategy Board competition opens on 19/1/2009 with expressions of interest due by 26/2/2009. Proposals are sort that bring a STEP CHANGES, i.e. 25-50% improvement, in the competitiveness of the participating companies manufacturing costs, life-cycle costs, environmental impact, product performance, durability and reliability, sales and/or time to market. Photonics, e.g. laser based materials processing, can be a key enabler for increasing manufacturing efficiency & capability and we expect several proposals featuring photonics/laser technology into this program. Projects can range from small, highly focused Basic Research aimed at establishing technical feasibility, through to Applied Research, and to Experimental Development projects. If your organisation is involved in supplying components or systems into manufacturing applications this competition is likely to be relevant to you. For further details see here

European funding

A series of Framework 7 ICT calls relevant to Photonics are anticipated in the Autumn of 2009. The final work program has yet to be announced but you can find indication to the content here .

Check out the ‘interesting text’ and ‘a list of possible’ link for information that would allow you to start to think of relevant projects and partners. There are also current calls open in nanotechnology and new materials that may be relevant to you, see http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm.

Thanks to SEPNET, The South East Photonics Network, for supplying these summaries

Technology Strategy Board Competition

This Competition opened on 10/11/2008 with expressions of interest due by 18/12/2008.

£10M has been allocated to fund highly innovative collaborative research and development in the area of Sustainable Materials and Products. Funding is available for industry-driven projects focused on materials technologies that will enable the UK to rapidly meet urgent and difficult environmental and social challenges and to create wealth, via the development and implementation of new or improved materials, processes and products. The focus will be on the development of technologies, across the materials sector value chain, for:

* The substitution/reduction of materials which are scarce, difficult to source, expensive or deleterious to health and the environment.
* The development of less polluting, wasteful and energy intensive processes, including for recycling.
* The design of products with extended life or which are easier to repair, reuse or recycle

For further details see here

Technology Strategy Board Competition

This competition opened on 10/11/2008 with expressions of interest due by 18/12/2008.

A second round opens on 19/01/2009 with expressions of interest due by 18/02/2009. An indicative £1million of Technology Strategy Board investment is available for Collaborative Research and Development feasibility projects in the area of next generation optical internet access. The intention is to help establish future European collaborations that will participate in larger initiatives such as Framework 7 or the proposed Photonics21 ERANET+. Total project costs must be in the range of £30k-100k and the project should last between two and six months. Applications can be submitted into either or both of the rounds with no preference given to
either approach.

For further details see here

For more information

Download a Micro:Nano Group brochure here.

To join the Micro:Nano Group either fill in the flyer or email the AILU Office