Since 25 years, BFi OPTiLAS has provided a wide range of lasers (laser diode, gas laser, solid state and diode -pumped lasers), optical and mechanical components and lasers accessories(electro and acousto-optics modulators, scanners and lasers safety products).

Semiconductor lasers (laser diodes) have been undergoing a revolution in technology, price, output powers and reliability .

The worldwide market for diode lasers now exceeds $2 billion and is growing despite falling prices. Telecommunications represents approximately half the total revenues. New EDFAs are using up to 8 pump lasers and will require more as additional wavelengths are added to increase the bandwidth of the system. Optical storage, CD and CD-ROM use a large quantity of low power visible diode lasers that are steadily replacing the HeNe laser in barcode scanners etc.

Combinations of high power laser diodes of 1-10 Watt CW output are beginning to be used for materials processing. Ingenious optical packaging of multiple diodes and arrays provide total powers of up to 100W ideally suited to soldering, thermal processing, plastics welding, printing, ophthalmology and surgical procedures. Industrial diode laser modules are achieving mean power outputs into the kilowatt range and are being introduced to the market now.

The future is clearly diode based and we are working to bring to the market products from the world’s leading laser diode and systems manufacturers.