Multiple laser beam absorption technology and a reflector system allow a laser beam to pass several times through glass, so cutting in one step giving 'zero kerf width'.

H2B Photonics - the laser company for glass processing - and the laser producer Rofin presented new technology for cutting glass with disc lasers at the recent Glasstec 2006 show. * The MLBA cutting technology for flat glass - the patented MLBA (Multiple Laser Beam Absorption) technology features volume absorption of the laser radiation in the glass, and not surface absorption as with commonly used CO2 laser radiation. The specially developed reflector system allows the laser beam to pass several times through the glass.

In this way, laser energy is optimally used to cut glass with a thermally induced tension fissure in one single step - 'zero kerf width' cutting.

The customer's benefit is obvious: the MLBA technology cuts single glass plates 0.2mm to 24mm thick, or even multi-layer glasses (display glass, laminated glass) in one single operational step.

The usual subsequent breaking is no longer necessary and the customer can benefit from shorter production times by up to 50%.

A worldwide unique technology is the selective separation of single glass plates in a glass stack, as well as cutting of contours in one single step, which opens up completely new possibilities in glass processing.

The MLBA technology is clean and contact-free and in this way does not cause any pollution by additives (like cooling medial, cutting oil) or glass splinters.

These features make the MLBA method ideal for processing sensitive glass products or deployment in sensitive production environments.

The high edge quality, free of any glass chips or micro cracks, enhances the stability of glass parts by a factor of two.

Production losses by glass breakage or mechanical damage of high-quality glass parts are reduced to a minimum.

* Tubocut: cutting of tubular glass - the Tubocut method uses YAG lasers to cut tubular glass and hollow glass efficiently and free of glass chips.

The particular setting of laser beam and workpiece allows to exploit the energy efficiently and produces edges with the same high quality as with the MLBA process.

This reduces waste considerably during subsequent thermal operations and provides the customer with high processing stability.

* Opening up new possibilities for applications with disc lasers - as for other applications, disc lasers are most beneficial for cutting glass.

Performance stability, scalability and excellent dynamic features of the Rofin DS series with a power range of 750 to 3000W allow flexible and high-performance solutions for a wide range of applications.

YAG lasers allow the use of optical fibers, making the laser a very flexible tool, which can be integrated in almost any production environment.

By coupling several fibers to one laser, highly efficient and individual production solutions can be realized, putting the investment for laser sources in relation to the cutting system into new perspectives Present developments of the MLBA technology together with the new generation of disc lasers by ROFIN, broaden the range of applications even to borosilicate glasses achieving clearly enhanced cutting speeds.

* Products for customized solutions - H2B Photonics develops individual customized cutting solutions with the MLBA technology.

The portfolio comprises the reflectors and laser cutting heads which can be individually equipped for the process and the customer's product requirements and can also easily be integrated into existing production lines.

H2B realizes customized cutting solutions which are equipped with the requisite MLBA cutting technology and can be offered as complete systems.

For further requirements in process control, H2B offers integrated temperature measuring equipment and sensors providing additional options for complex cutting tasks.

Specialists from H2B Photonics together with Rofin experts install machines and process technology at the customer's site.

According to the customer's wishes, personnel can be trained and consulted at the H2B Photonics application center in Garbsen near Hanover, Germany, or at the customer's site.

Only high power industrial lasers by the partner company Rofin are used for system solutions.