Lab relocates to Cambridge

The laboratory has been located in Germany for the past 18 years, where it has achieved a reputation as a centre of excellence under the guidance of Professor Dr Uwe Krönert. Its main focus has been the development of Xenon and Krypton Arc and Flash lamps, using sophisticated measurement techniques to acquire greater understanding of flash lamp technology and to provide Heraeus customers with a capability to assess the quality, performance improvements and suitability of flash lamps for different applications. Historically the main application focus was flash lamps for Solid State Laser pumping and Intense Pulse Light. However, more recently, the lab’s activities have been directed increasingly towards new applications of Xenon flash technology in the industrial sector.

 As Jeremy Woffendin, technical director of Heraus Noblelight, explains: "Flash lamps, which deliver targeted high power radiation, from UV to infrared, in milliseconds, are now used in areas as diverse as printed electronics, the annealing of silicon wafers, Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP), ink curing and drying, composites engineering and other rapid photonic processes. Heraeus, is very active in these areas, as it implements its strategy to move from a component supplier to a solutions provider. The relocation of the lab to the Cambridge manufacturing plant will greatly assist in the realisation of this strategic vision.”

 The newly named "Photonics Application Centre”, headed up by Applications Manager, Martin Brown, assisted by project engineer, John Gregory, bringing expertise from the Printed Electronics Industry, is fully equipped to offer a full Xenon Flash Photonics service. It offers customers capabilities ranging from blue sky radical ideas testing, through trials and prototype manufacturing to full equipment design and manufacturing.

 Utilising the Applications Centre facilities in conjunction with sophisticated ray tracing technology, it is possible to model and then calibrate specific systems to give the required homogeneity with the most efficient use of flashlamps, reflector and electrical power.