What an optics laboratory is, what it is needed for and how its presence at a laser equipment supplier affects business.
An optics laboratory is a complex of high-precision equipment along with a staff of qualified specialists, which allows to:
- carry out incoming control of laser sources and optical heads;
- perform maintenance;
- diagnose the causes of malfunctions;
- repair laser sources and optical heads supplied by various producers.
The optics laboratory, being a part of our company’s production facilities, is the only one on the territory of Ukraine, certified by manufacturers of laser sources.
Because laser sources cannot be repaired with just a screwdriver and a hammer. For the repair thereof expensive specialized equipment is needed as well as tools and high-qualification specialists.
The minimum set of such equipment will cost no less than USD 100K, and, accordingly, not every manufacturer, let alone a dealer or distributor, can afford such investments.
One more problem, and also an item of expenditure, is personnel training.
Personnelof our laboratory were trained at an enterprise of nLIGHT company, laser souces producer, in the US. They are bearers of special certificates that authorize them to maintain these laser sources, and have experience that enables them to work with sources supplied by other producers.
In particular, if a laser source supplied by another manufacturer breaks down, we are authorized by Rycus and IPG-Photonics to perform full diagnostics and most types of repair works.
What risks emerge in case the laser equipment supplier has no optics lab?
Since laser machines are the very first link in the value-added chain of metal processing – only after the metal is cut can it be transferred to the consequent stages of production – stopping its operation in practice results in shutdown of production.
Accordingly, a customer whose laser machine is out of operation is unable to manufacture its own product and fulfill its contractual obligations to ship finished products, which causes losses of reputation and money.
These losses can be enormous.
For instance, if a company operates at least two work-loaded shifts per day, we can imagine what it is like to stop the machine even for a week. Giant losses will be incurred! And if we talk about a month or two, then it is necessary either to buy a new machine or use supplies from contractors. This, in turn, substantially increases the cost of the finished product and its production time, and in some cases almost poses a threat of losing the business. Because it is very difficult to gain a client and quite easy to lose one.
Most of laser systems suppliers (in Ukraine these are usually dealers of equipment producers from other countries) do not have their own optics laboratories.
