AILU Half-Day Workshop – Handheld Laser Applications
Introduction
Chair: Paola de Bono (TWI)
Hand-held laser systems for welding, cleaning, and marking have grown rapidly in recent years, driven by falling fibre laser costs, compact and ruggedised delivery optics, and demand from industries seeking flexible, portable alternatives to fixed automation. From shipyards and oil & gas maintenance to fabrication shops and heritage conservation, these systems are being deployed across an increasingly broad range of applications — and the market shows no sign of slowing.
Yet hand-held operation introduces challenges that fixed-beam systems do not face. Operator technique directly affects process quality; fume and radiation hazards are less easily controlled; and buyers navigating a crowded supplier landscape often find it difficult to assess what a system is truly capable of.
This workshop brings together experts from across the sector to address these questions directly. Topics will include:
- Technology — how hand-held laser systems work, and how current designs have evolved
- Capability — what welding, cleaning, and marking applications are achievable, and what their limits are
- Safety — the regulatory landscape, risk assessment, and practical control measures for hand-held operation
Who Should Attend
This workshop is relevant to anyone involved in hand-held laser systems: equipment manufacturers and distributors, system integrators, safety officers, end users in manufacturing, maintenance, or conservation, and organisations considering purchasing a system for the first time. Whether you supply, specify, or operate — or are simply evaluating whether hand-held lasers are right for your business — this event will provide the knowledge and contacts you need.
The Workshop will be followed by the AILU AGM.
Programme
09:30 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome
Paola De Bono, TWI
Session 1
10:10 – 10:30 Handheld Laser Welding Systems – An Aerospace End User Perspective
Mark Dodds, ITP Aero
10:30 – 10:50 Handheld Laser Cleaning Capability and Performance on Grade 5 Ti 6Al 4V
Ali Khan, TWI
10:50 – 11:10 Laser Cleaning at Scale: A Real World Case Study
Harvey Allpress, LaserTec Laser Cleaning
11:10 AM – 11:40 Break
Session 2
11:40 – 12:00 Reduced Hazard Handheld Laser Cleaning Using Retina Safe Wavelengths
Tara Murphy, Woodrow Scientific
12:00 – 12:20 Hand-held Laser Safety Standards are Changing: Are You Ready ?
Neal Croxford, Dovecote Technologies
12:20 – 12:40 Laser Safety for Handheld Laser Systems
Ross Tomlin, Pro-Lite Technology
12:40 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 14:20 Tour of TWI Labs (optional)
14:30 – 15:30 AGM (optional)
Venue
TWI
Granta Park
Great Abington
Cambridge
CB21 6AL
The 2026 AGM will follow this workshop, see here.