High Efficiency Laser Processing Systems

Partnership to advance fiber coupled diode laser technology

RUGBY, UK, 19th August, 2008 — GSI Group Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIG) Laser Division is to launch a £1.2m collaborative research and development project in partnership with the LPA Group at Heriot-Watt University, PowerPhotonic Ltd. and Cranfield University, thanks to investment from the Technology Strategy Board.

As lead partner in the High Efficiency Laser Processing Systems (HELPSYS) Project, GSI is aiming to develop fibre coupled diode laser sources with beam qualities good enough to be applicable to a broad range of mainstream applications. Specifically this will include a significant increase in the efficiency of current laser based welding processes to the point where they are more efficient than even conventional MIG or other techniques.