About Us

Background

The Association of Laser Users (AILU) was established in 1995 as an independent, non-profit making organisation run by and for laser users involved in activities including manufacturing, healthcare, academic and industrial research; as well as suppliers of laser-related products and services.

The aims and objectives of the association are set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association. They include, in particular, the fostering of co-operation and collaboration and the dissemination of information, experience and expertise relating to industrial laser technology, laser materials processing; its applications and related technologies.

The President's Message by Martin Sharp

November 2011

 

 

Technology Transfer has been high on my agenda over the last few months Mike Green and I have been working on a report looking at technology transfer within the Laser Materials Processing (LMP) community. At its heart is a survey on technology transfer that achieved a reasonable response.

A broad view of technology transfer was adopted. Too often the term "Technology Transfer" is regarded belonging solely to the territory of the academic / research organisation. It seems that many believe it is just the research community that have the knowledge that somehow has to be transferred into the commercial world.

The reality is that knowledge pervades the whole community whether it be in researchers, suppliers or users. There are many people in industry who possess in-depth knowledge, skills and experience of laser processes.

The broader interpretation of technology transfer in our survey was intended to see how important these other contributions to the technology transfer process were. And the results confirmed that they are indeed significant.

Both as suppliers and recipients of technology transfer, companies contribute a great deal of activity in transferring knowledge about LMP. Indeed the report argues that the majority of technical transfer activity is undertaken by manufacturer - suppliers and job shops. 


> Read more

Organisation

The organisation of AILU is under the direction of an elected standing committee made up of representatives from the UK industrial laser community. Elections are held annually at the Annual General Meeting. (See Joining the AILU committee and Officers and Committee)

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.”

Activities

The current activities of AILU include:

AILU’s Membership

Application for membership of AILU is open to the industrial laser community worldwide, and those with an interest in this community and its activities. We currently have over 300 members, made up of mainly manufacturing industry including laser job shops (40%), suppliers of laser-related products and services (30%) and research and consultancy organisations (25%).

See member benefits to review how membership could benefit you.

Cost of membership

There are two principle types of membership available: corporate and individual. The first member from an organisation whose activities are related to laser materials processing must enrol the organisation as a Corporate Member. Any additional employees of the Corporate Member, as well as with persons whose business activities is unrelated to laser materials processing, can join at a much reduced rate as an Individual Member. In addition, a concessionary rate is available for students, unemployed and retired persons. For 2008/9 the rates are as follows:

Corporate Membership: GBP 295 + VAT (@20%)

Individual Membership: GBP 70 + VAT (@20%)

If you are interested in joining the Association, you can apply for membership on line or by calling the AILU office on +44 (0)1235 539595. To apply online complete the AILU Registration Form and submit.  The AILU Registration Form can be used to apply to become a Member or to become a Registered Visitor.  Details of the benefits and privileges of Membership and Registration are described here. 

Please note that membership cannot be approved immediately; but please telephone the office on +44 (0)1235 539595 and we may be able to email you any information you need quickly. Also, you may be pleased to hear that payment is not required at the time of applying for membership and that the annual subscription pays for a full 12 months, whatever time of the year you join.

©AILU: Text on this page is available under the terms of the Wikipedia GNU Free Documentation License.


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