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 Paul Hilton


July 2010


Firstly let me take this opportunity to thank Stewart Williams for his last two years as President of AILU. During this period Stewart steered the association through some significant changes, including access to Knowledge Transfer Network funding and changes in the way the AILU committee operates. As I take over from Stewart, we have a new Government in the UK, there is talk of a double dip recession and it is clear that there will be significant cuts in public expenditure. An obvious question is ‘How will this affect AILU?’


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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 (@17.5%)

Individual Membership: GBP 70 + VAT (@17.5%)

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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