A guest delivers a speech at the 2023 International Laser Industry Conference on May 15. [Photo provided to chinaopticsvalley.com]

It is said that the laser industry is closely associated with the manufacturing situation of a place and is the barometer of macroeconomics. Endowed with the natural smart manufacturing genes, the industry can effectively support the manufacturing transformation and upgrading.

The 2023 International Laser Industry Conference was held in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC), Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on May 15, as an integral part of the 19th Optics Valley of China International Optoelectronic Exposition and Forum (OVC Expo 2023).

Hundreds of academicians, specialists, and entrepreneurs covering all links in the industrial laser chain were invited to discuss current trends and topics such as laser-based intelligent manufacturing, cutting-edge laser technologies, tricky industrial bottlenecks, and emerging application markets.

Senior officials from the Wuhan government, Fan Dianyuan, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and president of the Russian Laser Association, delivered a themed speech via video links.

The manufacturing sector is the backbone of China's economy, and the intelligentization process is picking up speed. One proof is the surging numbers of industrial robots and machine tools. Last year, China churned out 443,000 industrial robots.

Industry leaders are invited to the stage to discuss freely with each other at the conference. [Photo provided to chinaopticsvalley.com]

Laser, dubbed the sharpest knife, the most precise ruler, and the brightest light, can be applied in the diversity of such robots and machine tools. The manufacturing tool enjoys a promising developmental channel.

"The widespread laser application scenarios enable the laser industry to proliferate through trials and errors. Now a full-fledged laser industrial chain has taken shape in our country, making it possible to serve global high-end clients," said Chen Yan, vice president of Han's Laser Technology Industry Group Co, a leading laser processing solution and related supporting facility provider.

In his speech at the meeting, Chen believed that the laser processing facility should now develop in two directions – more high-end or more civilianized, and suggested that the laser products be more professional for particular purposes.

"The laser equipment in the future will be a lot cheaper than now and will be as commonplace as screwdrivers. We should ensure that laser can be used in specific scenarios, such as in space or the deep sea," said Hong Minghui, an academician from the Academy of Engineering, Singapore.

The Optics Valley of China is one of China's largest laser equipment manufacturing bases and is currently home to more than 200 laser companies covering the industrial chain. It also boasts many national, provincial, and municipal laser R&D platforms and abundant laser scientists and researchers.