Beyond Limits, Unprecedented Innovation! BWT Launches the World’s Most Powerful Industrial-Grade Fiber Laser
2024-08-30
On the morning of August 30, BWT grandly unveiled the world’s first 200kW ultra-high-power industrial-grade fiber laser in Tianjin. This breakthrough not only elevates the power of industrial-grade fiber lasers to unprecedented levels globally but also solidifies China’s position as a leader in the ultra-high-power field, continuing to steer the global industrial applications of high-power lasers into a new era.
The World’s First 200kW Industrial-Grade Fiber Laser
The launch event was graced by numerous prominent guests from academia, research institutions, and industry. Distinguished attendees included Zhou Shouhuan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a renowned expert in optoelectronics and laser technology; Gan Lu, Deputy Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee; Song Jialiang, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Industry and Information Technology of the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee; Professor Liu Qiang, a Distinguished Changjiang Scholar and Director of the Department of Precision Instruments at Tsinghua University; Researcher Sun Qing from the National Institute of Metrology, China; Professor Xu Lianyong, Director of the Institute of Welding and Advanced Manufacturing Technology at Tianjin University; Professor Bai Zhenxu, Vice Dean of the School of Electronic and Information Engineering at Hebei University of Technology; and You Fude, Domestic Sales Director of GWEIKE Laser. Together, they witnessed the birth of this national heavy equipment.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Product Launch
(I) Led by Academicians, Witnessing a Pinnacle of Technological Achievement
Following the release of the world’s first 150kW product in March of this year, BWT has made bold strides, successfully reaching the new milestone of 200kW power, achieving another remarkable feat in ultra-high power. As a special guest, Academician Zhou Shouhuan highly praised BWT’s relentless pursuit and outstanding achievements in laser technology research and development. He emphasized that this is a significant milestone in the global development of laser technology, marking a new height in power enhancement and application expansion.
Zhou Shouhuan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a renowned expert in optoelectronics and laser technology
Gan Lu, Deputy Director, noted that as a technology-driven enterprise within the region, BWT’s R&D achievements serve as an excellent example for attracting more high-end manufacturing enterprises and research institutions to settle in the area. The Free Trade Zone will continue to optimize the business environment, providing strong support for the innovative development of enterprises.
Deputy Director Gan Lu of the Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee
In the product introduction segment, Zhao Juyun, Rotating General Manager of BWT’s Fiber Laser Business Unit, elaborated on the new product’s development process, core technological advantages, and market application prospects. The Thunder 200kW ultra-high-power fiber laser, with its breakthroughs in CTC chip integration, ultra-high-power beam combining and output technology, femtosecond laser fiber inscription grating technology, and ultra-high-power optical pressure measurement technology, further strengthens the four major characteristics of high power, high brightness, high integration, and long fiber delivery cable. This will significantly enhance the efficiency of processing ultra-thick metal plates, providing stronger support for the transformation and upgrading of traditional manufacturing.
Product Introduction by Zhao Juyun, Rotating General Manager of BWT’s Fiber Laser Business Unit
(II) Reshaping Industry, Leading Profound Changes in Manufacturing
As the new product was unveiled, the world’s first 200kW fiber laser made a stunning appearance, its unique design and exceptional performance earning rounds of applause and high praise from the guests.
Product Unveiling Ceremony
Researcher Sun Qing explained that every leap in laser technology is inseparable from precise and reliable metrology support. We worked closely with BWT’s R&D personnel, using a rigorous scientific approach and precise measurement data to witness the birth of this ultra-high-power laser. The laser’s maximum average output power reached 200.50kW, currently the highest power level for industrial fiber lasers worldwide.
Researcher Sun Qing from the National Institute of Metrology, China
Professor Xu Lianyong stated that this achievement fills the gap in domestic fiber lasers within the 200kW power range, laying a solid foundation for the research and industrial application of ultra-high-power fiber laser technology. It will further elevate China’s industrial laser manufacturing level.
Xu Lianyong, Director of the Institute of Welding and Advanced Manufacturing Technology at Tianjin University
Professor Bai Zhenxu shared the latest research findings and future application trends in laser technology, noting that the successful development of this laser will profoundly impact high-end manufacturing fields such as aerospace, shipbuilding, large-scale steel structures, and rail transit.
Bai Zhenxu, Vice Dean of the School of Electronic and Information Engineering at Hebei University of Technology
While challenging the limits of power, BWT has always focused on customer needs in R&D and production, with applications already spanning industrial processing and scientific research. At the event, GWEIKE Laser and BWT signed an 200kW intent cooperation agreement, marking the beginning of a deep collaboration in the field of ultra-high-power laser applications. You Fude, Domestic Sales Director of GWEIKE Laser, remarked, “BWT’s innovation and breakthroughs in high-power laser technology have set a new benchmark for the industry. We look forward to achieving greatness together.”
Signing Ceremony between BWT and GWEIKE Laser
After the event, the guests also toured BWT’s automated and intelligent production lines, getting an up-close look at the company’s strong capabilities and profound expertise in laser technology R&D and manufacturing.
Factory Tour
(III) Authoritative Certification, Reaching International Advanced Levels
In terms of technological advancement, the world’s first 200kW ultra-high-power industrial-grade fiber laser, with its superior processing capabilities and higher processing efficiency, will drive the transformation of traditional manufacturing towards high-end and high-efficiency directions.
Beyond its global leadership in power, BWT has also broken through the upper limits of the 200kW power synthesis technology within the laser industry, achieving industry-leading levels in output stability and beam quality through its high-brightness optical platform, core optical components development, and laser intelligent monitoring technology based on multi-information fusion.
Scientific and Technological Achievement Evaluation Meeting
On August 21, the ZKHC (Beijing) Scientific and Technological Achievement Evaluation Center organized an expert group to conduct an evaluation of BWT’s “Ultra-High-Power 200kW Industrial-Grade Fiber Laser” project. After an on-site inspection and multiple rounds of inquiries and discussions, the group concluded that the key technologies of this achievement possess independent intellectual property rights, with 12 authorized invention patents, 11 utility model patents, and 1 design patent. According to the authoritative measurements conducted by the National Institute of Metrology, China and the Testing Center of the Institute of Aerospace Information Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, all technical indicators of this achievement meet the relevant standards. The expert group unanimously agreed that BWT’s 200kW ultra-high-power fiber laser has reached the international advanced level, awarding it a Scientific and Technological Achievement Certificate.
Scientific and Technological Achievement Evaluation Certificate
The authoritative measurement report from the National Institute of Metrology, China indicates that BWT’s 200kW ultra-high-power fiber laser, based on CTC chip integration and a high-brightness laser module platform, achieves a maximum average output power of 200.50kW (full power test) with a beam quality of M² ≈ 35.70 for ultra-high power laser output.
Power Measurement Report by the National Institute of Metrology, China
The core driving force behind the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing industry lies in the profound practice of “technological innovation leading industrial upgrading.” In this process, BWT, as a pioneer in laser technology, has always adhered to the value of “Outstanding Innovation,” continuously pushing the power limits of industrial lasers and precisely meeting the diversified needs of industrial processing, injecting a constant and powerful impetus into the high-quality development of China’s manufacturing industry.
Looking to the future, BWT will continue to use technological innovation as an engine, consistently leading industrial upgrading and contributing more to the sustainable development of manufacturing in China and globally.
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Boosting Speed by 300%: Unlocking the Secrets to Accelerated Medium and Thick Plate Processing with the Thunder 60kW Laser
2024-08-23
Since 2023, laser processing technology has entered a fast lane of accelerated upgrades, with laser power making a leap from 10kW to 100kW, reaching new heights with breakthroughs at 150kW, pushing the limits of manufacturing efficiency in China. On the forefront of market applications, mainstream products have quickly advanced from 40kW to 60kW, marking a new stage of high-power, large-scale adoption in the industry.
As a popular product in the high-power domain, how does the 60kW fiber laser achieve efficient and precise cutting while maximizing its potential? This question has become a hot topic within the industry. Let's take BWT’s Thunder 60kW fiber laser as an example to analyze how to unlock its true potential for efficiency enhancement, cost reduction, and quality improvement.
What can a 60kW laser process?
Many users find that the Thunder 60kW high-power laser is particularly well-suited for medium and thick plate processing. This is because the 60kW laser not only handles most medium and thick plates effectively but also offers a significant leap in cutting efficiency, meeting the intense speed demands of users in the era of manufacturing upgrades.
BWT's Thunder 60kW fiber laser, powered by integrated CTC chip technology, comes standard with a 150μm core diameter and can be customized to a 100μm core diameter for even greater processing power and cutting efficiency. This laser excels in various processes, including cutting, drilling, and welding, particularly shining in the cutting of medium and thick plates and extra-thick plates, effortlessly handling materials such as carbon steel and stainless steel.
Medium and Thick Plate Cutting: For carbon steel and stainless steel plates ranging from 20mm to 100mm in thickness, the Thunder 60kW laser enables high-speed, high-quality cutting. For instance, it can achieve cutting speeds of 9m/min to 10m/min for 20mm carbon steel. Even for thicker materials like 50mm and 80mm carbon steel, cutting speeds of 2m/min and 0.7m/min are achievable, respectively.
Video 1: Thunder 60kW cutting 50mm carbon steel
Extra-Thick Plate Cutting: The Thunder 60kW laser also performs exceptionally in the extra-thick plate domain. It can maintain stable cutting speeds and high-quality cuts for 40mm, 60mm, and even 105mm stainless steel plates, achieving cutting speeds of 4m/min, 1.6m/min, and 0.5m/min, respectively.
Video 2: Thunder 60kW cutting 60mm stainless steel
Diverse Application Scenarios: With the widespread adoption of 60kW lasers, their application fields have expanded into high-end manufacturing sectors such as shipbuilding and aerospace, providing robust technical support for efficient and precise cutting processes.
What are the advantages of 60kW processing?
In the context of industrial upgrades, 10kW-class laser cutting technology has shaken the dominance of plasma cutting, eliminating the traditional issues of excessive spatter, dust, slow speeds, and low quality. The shift from traditional methods to laser cutting is gaining momentum, with laser technology displaying a significant speed advantage over lower-power products.
Testing data shows that the Thunder 60kW laser boasts extraordinary processing capabilities: in cutting 30mm carbon steel, its speed soars to 5m/min, representing a 67% to 100% increase compared to 30kW lasers. For 40mm carbon steel, processing speeds stabilize at 3.5m/min, a 75% to 133% improvement over 40kW.
Moreover, in stainless steel cutting, the Thunder 60kW laser stands out even more: for 50mm thick material, cutting speed surges by 300% to 567% compared to 30kW; for 60mm thickness, speed increases are even more impressive, reaching 433% to 700%, showcasing unparalleled efficiency and precision.
In laser processing, positive and negative focal points, as two major imaging techniques, each have unique advantages suited to different scenarios. The Thunder 60kW laser, when using oxygen-positive focal cutting for 40-50mm carbon steel, achieves cutting speeds of 0.8-1.1m/min, making it the top choice for fine cutting, precise drilling, and intricate engraving with its high accuracy and stability. Conversely, with oxygen-negative focal cutting for 50-60mm carbon steel, cutting speeds reach 1.3-2.0m/min, delivering uniform and refined results. This technique is widely used in cutting-edge fields like rapid laser prototyping, meeting the industry's dual demands for efficiency and quality.
Left: Oxygen-positive focal cutting of 50mm carbon steel
Right: Oxygen-negative focal cutting of 50mm carbon steel
How to resolve common processing issues?
During laser cutting, issues such as incomplete cuts and rough edges may arise, often related to material properties and process parameters. By adjusting the laser’s output power, cutting speed, and focal position, optimal interaction between the laser beam and the material can be ensured, resulting in efficient, high-quality cutting.
Here are some common problems and their solutions:
1. Incomplete Cuts:
Cause: Cutting speed too fast, laser output too low, misaligned beam path, or laser head contamination.
Solution: Reduce cutting speed, reset laser output power, realign the beam path, inspect, and replace the laser head if necessary.
2. Rough Edges:
Cause: Cutting speed too fast, incorrect focal position, or laser beam divergence.
Solution: Adjust the cutting speed to an appropriate range, fine-tune the focal position, and check and correct any laser beam divergence.
3. Other Common Issues:
Poor Piercing Quality: Piercing points require preheating, leading to a heat-affected zone around them, which can degrade processing quality. Solutions include setting the piercing point outside the cutting path, delaying the protective gas and laser emission.
Inaccurate Machine Settings: This may cause misalignment of the X and Y axes or non-perpendicular guide rails. Solutions include restoring factory settings, checking and tightening screws inside the worktable guide rail, and realigning the X and Y axes.
In addition to precisely matching materials and processes and optimizing cutting strategies, regular maintenance, smart control systems, and continuous exploration and innovation are crucial. Only by doing so can the potential of the Thunder 60kW fiber laser be fully realized.
In summary, the 60kW laser, with its powerful output and efficient processing capabilities, offers distinct advantages in medium and thick plate cutting. By properly setting processing parameters and maintaining equipment, manufacturing efficiency and quality can be further enhanced, reshaping the competitive landscape of the manufacturing industry.
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BWT and Tsinghua University Collaborate to Establish a PhD Student Social Practice Base
2024-08-16
On August 9th, BWT and Tsinghua University successfully concluded the "Tsinghua University, Precision Instruments Department, Graduate Social Practice Base" project, with the first group of six Tsinghua students exceeding expectations in completing their internship tasks.
Partnering with a Leading University to Cultivate High-Level Tech Talent
In an era of intensifying global technological competition, high-quality talent with innovative thinking and practical skills is the core force behind national breakthroughs and leadership in the tech sector.
The Department of Precision Instruments at Tsinghua University is one of China's oldest and most renowned engineering departments. It boasts two national key disciplines: Optical Engineering and Instrument Science and Technology, with numerous research achievements and international awards. The department integrates high-level academic research with the country's major needs, producing a large number of outstanding talents for the nation and society.
As a technological pioneer and industry leader in the laser sector, BWT has deep-rooted R&D and innovation capabilities. Through breakthroughs in kilowatt-level pump source technology and the original CTC chip integration technology, BWT has established an ecosystem encompassing diode lasers, fiber lasers, and ultrafast lasers. BWT plays a vital role in the development of the laser industry, empowering a wide range of industries.
Driven by a common philosophy of "innovation-driven and pursuit of excellence," BWT and Tsinghua University jointly established the "PhD Student Social Practice Base" in the first half of this year. Additionally, they created the "Tsinghua Friends—BWT Talent Scholarship," aiming to continuously cultivate high-quality tech talent over the next 5-10 years to support national and societal development. Notably, BWT's social practice program will be integrated into the required curriculum for PhD students in Tsinghua's Department of Precision Instruments. Each summer, these students will embark on a six-week practice journey at BWT, engaging in cutting-edge projects, delving into frontline research and development, and exploring new directions and pathways in scientific research.
Converging at the Forefront of Laser Technology to Forge a Talent-Powered Nation
During this practice period, Bai Benfeng, Party Secretary of the Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, visited BWT to check on the Tsinghua students. At a symposium, Secretary Bai encouraged the students to remain humble and diligent, broaden their horizons, deepen their knowledge, and grow through practical experience to become pillars of the nation, contributing to national development, technological breakthroughs, and industrial prosperity.
Discussion
Led by Chairman Chen Xiaohua, Secretary Bai Benfeng also toured BWT's exhibition hall and automated production line, gaining a detailed understanding of BWT's continuous innovation, pursuit of product excellence, and operational efficiency, and personally experiencing the company's "Outstanding Innovation" values.
Chairman Chen Xiaohua of BWT Introducing the Company’s Laser Products to Secretary Bai Benfeng
Visit to the Tianjin High-Power Laser Intelligent Manufacturing Base
BWT has leveraged its industry-leading resources to design a series of cutting-edge internship projects focused on areas such as CO2 laser processing, femtosecond laser technology, fiber and glass processing, and crystal thermal simulation. These projects offer future tech talent diverse and challenging practical opportunities. Based at BWT’s two R&D and production centers in Tianjin, the Tsinghua students actively participated in both workshop and laboratory settings, injecting new vitality and creativity into the projects with their rigorous scientific attitudes and innovative thinking.
The students expressed that this practice provided them with valuable technical experience and practical skills, further boosting their confidence in the nation's technological innovation capabilities. They are committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, deepening their knowledge, and adapting to the fast-evolving tech landscape, with the hope of contributing more to the country's technological progress in the future.
The Tsinghua Students’ 2024 Summer Internship Program Concluded Successfully on August 9th
This collaboration represents a vivid example of promoting industry-education integration and collaborative talent cultivation in the tech sector. BWT has always emphasized cooperation with universities and research institutes and will continue to expand the scope of collaboration, enhance the level of cooperation, and cultivate more high-level tech talents with international vision, innovative spirit, and practical skills, injecting strong momentum into the industry's technological development.
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The "Fastest Fish" in the Laser Cutting World! BWT's Thunder Series Fiber Lasers Drive Advanced Manufacturing to Be Higher, Faster, Stronger
2024-08-02
At the 100m freestyle swimming event in the Paris Olympics, 19-year-old Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle overcame adversity to set an astonishing new world record of 46.40 seconds, breaking a monopoly on Olympic championships held by European and American athletes for over 90 years. He has been hailed as the "Flying Fish" of the new era.
Pan's achievement is not only a challenge to and surpassing of personal limits but also a vivid interpretation of the Olympic spirit of "Higher, Faster, Stronger." Similarly, in another arena — the field of laser manufacturing — BWT is leading the trend in ultra-high-power laser technology, pushing new boundaries in industrial manufacturing with the same core spirit.
BWT Thunder Series Fiber Lasers 12kW-150kW
Higher Power: Reaching the Pinnacle of Technology
Just as Olympic athletes constantly push the limits of physical endurance, BWT is also scaling new heights in laser power. From 100kW to 120kW, 135kW, and now a record-breaking 150kW of ultra-high power, each leap represents a bold exploration of the limits of laser processing capabilities, marking a new chapter in laser technology.
BWT has achieved major breakthroughs in every stage, from light generation to transmission, detection, and application. The company has revolutionized the field by adopting CTC chip integration technology, developing a self-researched new generation of the Thunder optical platform, and employing techniques such as power beam combining and femtosecond laser-inscribed gratings. These advancements ensure high-quality, stable laser output, leading to comprehensive leaps in power, integration, brightness, and cable length. Higher power means stronger energy output, enabling easy handling of various challenging and large-scale cutting tasks, thus providing more efficient solutions for advanced industrial manufacturing.
BWT Launched the World's First 150kW Industrial Fiber Laser in March
Faster Speed: Defining New Heights of Efficiency
In the Olympic arena, speed is the key to victory; in the laser processing stage, efficiency is the measure of strength. BWT's Thunder Series ultra-high-power fiber lasers, with their outstanding performance and stable output, have redefined the limits of processing speed. Whether it's cutting thick metal plates or drilling components, these lasers can complete tasks in a short time with high quality, significantly improving production efficiency and product quality, thus creating considerable economic benefits for enterprises.
In BWT customer cutting applications, the Thunder 120kW has demonstrated faster speeds. When cutting 200mm thick stainless steel with air, its speed is 2.5 times that of a 60kW laser. When the thickness is reduced to 80mm, this advantage increases to 3.14 times, surpassing the performance boundaries of conventional lasers.
Stronger Capabilities: Unleashing Infinite Possibilities
BWT's Thunder Series fiber lasers boast powerful cutting capabilities, effortlessly handling workpieces of various materials and thicknesses while achieving high precision and low loss.
In thickness cutting tests, the Thunder 120kW shows no fear of thickness, challenging the world’s thickest plates. Whether cutting 300mm carbon steel or even thicker materials over 400mm, it achieves fine cross-sections and high-quality samples. This "stronger" capability will serve as the cornerstone for BWT's Thunder Series to exert even greater efficiency in advanced manufacturing fields such as aerospace, shipbuilding, railways, and automotive industries, injecting strong momentum into the leapfrog development of industrial manufacturing technology.
Notably, while pursuing efficiency and precision, BWT's Thunder Series fiber lasers effectively reduce material waste and energy consumption, lowering carbon emissions during production and contributing significantly to the construction of a green and sustainable industrial manufacturing system.
400mm Carbon Steel Sample: BWT User Cuts with Thunder 120kW
BWT's Thunder Series ultra-high-power fiber lasers—this "Fastest Fish" in Laser Cutting — not only lead the trend of high-power development but also drive the entire industry toward the emergence of "nuclear-grade" products featuring high power, high integration, and high brightness! BWT's ongoing evolution toward the world's first 150kW industrial fiber laser reinforces the leading position of Chinese laser technology in global competition.
As a pioneer in ultra-high-power laser technology, BWT remains at the forefront of technological innovation, breaking through technical bottlenecks and industry barriers, and is committed to providing the global manufacturing industry with a series of more efficient and precise laser processing solutions.
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The Paris Olympics are on the Horizon! The Laser Extravaganza is About to Begin
2024-07-26
On the banks of the Seine, the highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics will grandly commence on the evening of July 26th. Delegations from over 200 countries and regions will sail down the river, traversing through a corridor of history, ultimately reaching the iconic Eiffel Tower. Together, they will witness a "breathtaking global" visual feast, with a level of splendor that will surpass all expectations!
As the Olympic flame blazes in Paris, it ignites not only the competition of speed and passion, strength, and skill, but also the perfect blend of technological innovation and Olympic spirit. Countless cutting-edge technologies, like stars in the sky, illuminate the technological brilliance of the Olympics, presenting an unprecedented sports spectacle to audiences worldwide.
Now, let BWT reveal the laser technology powering the Paris Olympics:
Drones Performance - LiDAR 3D Measurement
On the night the Olympic flame arrives in Paris, 1,100 drones equipped with LiDAR 3D measurement technology will weave spectacular patterns such as the Olympic torchbearer in the night sky, harmoniously blending with the light and fireworks to showcase the beauty of the synergy between technology and nature.
Stage Light Show - Laser Projection
Laser projection technology will once again be the highlight of the Olympic stage. The panoramic light show will bring characters from world-famous paintings to life, providing the audience of the Paris Olympics with a dual shock of visual and emotional experiences.
Light Show Scene at the 2012 London Olympics
Water Sports Centre - High-Power Laser Cutting
This sole newly built permanent structure, with its steel framework, was created using high-power laser cutting, demonstrating the perfect combination of technology and environmental sustainability.
AI Judges - 3D Laser Sensing Technology
In gymnastics, diving, and other events, AI judges utilize 3D laser sensing technology to capture every subtle movement of the athletes in real-time, ensuring objective and fair scoring.
Reflecting on history, BWT has a deep connection with the Olympics. As early as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the company's laser products successfully supported laser display projects, delivering a stunning visual experience with high precision and brightness. At the torch relay launch ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Chairman Chen Xiaohua, as the 261st torchbearer, elevated this honor to new heights. In the next article, we will continue to explore how BWT's laser products deeply integrate with the Olympic spirit, jointly writing a new chapter in the synergy of technology and industrial civilization.
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