In the first half of 2022, two completely different voices appeared about the development of the laser industry. Some companies believe that the cold winter is coming, and lasers are becoming less and less profitable (especially in the metal-cutting market); some companies step on the lithium battery outlet, and their revenue and profits have increased significantly. So, is there any way out for the once glorious laser cutting market? How will the situation of constant involution be broken?
There is no doubt that the laser cutting market in the 5-digit era is completely different from the laser market below 6kW in the past. Overall, 6kW can meet the needs of most sheet metal processing, but higher power-cutting applications are aimed at different market segments. 50kW can form a dimension reduction blow to other power segment products in the segmented field of thick plates and ultra-thick plates. demanding. Facing the cold winter of the industry, 50kW is expected to be an answer to breaking the situation.
For light source manufacturers, the days when higher profits can be obtained only by the superposition of modules to achieve higher power will never come back. Seeking differentiated advantages has become the key to breaking involution and increasing profits. For example, IPG has worked hard on the energy conversion rate and launched the ECO series lasers with electro-optical efficiency exceeding 50%, leading the transformation of low-carbon manufacturing; Raycus has set up a high-end banner, combining optical gates, variable spot, and other technologies to expand new applications, New Field;
The author believes that the laser-cutting market is still promising. Although the golden decade of extensive growth in the past has come to an end, in the future we will usher in a platinum decade that requires intensive cultivation and development based on quality. In the future laser-cutting market, solution providers with unique competitiveness and the ability to meet the special needs of subdivided fields will have more opportunities. Light source manufacturers are no longer just laser providers. The future market requires them to be more industry-minded and to discuss with equipment integrators to solve special problems in subdivided fields.
The decade of platinum is approaching, emerging applications will usher in great development, and laser cutting is expected to have a second spring. let us wait and see.