The Laser
Group, part of the Department
of Engineering at the University of Liverpool, is the UK's
largest University based research group in laser materials processing.
Together with the newly commissioned Laser Engineering Centre
at Lairdside, the facilities at Liverpool are a resource of international
importance with state of the art high power laser equipment for
the research and industrial development of welding, cutting, marking,
surface treatments and novel laser based processes.
The Group is led by Ken Watkins who has over ten year's experience
and over 100 publications in the laser engineering field, particularly
in the area of surface treatments and novel laser based processes.
Professor Watkins is Director of the Laser Group and Director
of the Laser Engineering Centre. Currently the Group consists
of over 20 scientists, technicians and support staff.
The origins of the laser activity at Liverpool lie with Professor
Bill Steen at Imperial College in the 1970's. In 1988, Professor
Steen moved the group to Liverpool to take up the James Bibby
Chair of Engineering Manufacture, established by Dr Mason Bibby
in honour of his father.
AILU Young Engineer
of the Year Award
Stuart Edwardson received the AILU Young Engineer of the Year
Award from Association President Paul Hilton at the AILU AGM at
Cranwell, 19th April 2005. The award is given annually to young
researchers or industrialists who have made a significant contribution
in the field of laser materials processing. Stuart gave a short
resume of his work on laser forming after receiving the award.
