Altechna

LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA is in full swing, and our team is ready to meet you! Visit us at booth N5.5110 to explore high-precision optics and optomechanical assemblies designed for the world's most powerful lasers. 📍 We’re here today and tomorrow - see you in Shanghai!

Altechna has been selected to participate in the TALOS-TWO project, a €25 million European Defence Fund initiative to develop Europe's first sovereign 100 kW-class laser weapon systems by 2030! 🪖 Let’s put things into perspective. 10 kW of laser power is comparable to an electric car’s output. How about a 100 kW laser? That’s enough energy to power ten households. However, instead of lighting up homes, it will deliver pinpoint precision for military and defense applications. TALOS-TWO continues the original TALOS project (2019-2023), which laid the theoretical foundation and introduced innovative laser technologies. Now, it moves on to the practical applications of these technologies. 🔵 It aims to scale up laser power to 100 kW levels;  🔵 It will introduce 3D danger zone visualization for better targeting;  🔵  It will be demonstrated and tested on real-world military platforms. To achieve these results, Altechna will work with other project partners, such as CILAS, Leonardo, and Rheinmetall. High-energy lasers rely on advanced optical components, and that’s our expertise. We’ll contribute by providing top-notch optics, and ensure that laser systems operate with maximum efficiency, stability, and durability under extreme conditions. “Ongoing conflicts at Europe's borders and increasing security challenges made Europe understand that no single country can stand alone in ensuring its defense. Therefore, the continent has taken a decisive step to strengthen its security as a united front and move away from fragmented national efforts. TALOS-TWO is proof of that,” shared Antanas Laurutis, CEO of Altechna. 🚀 If you want to read more about it, check out the article at The Defense Post. The link is in the comments!

3 reasons why manufacturers are shifting to fiber laser technology–and how we’re contributing to this 🧑🏼🏭 Growing demand for better efficiency and precision in manufacturing is speeding up the adoption of fiber lasers. This shift is driven by 3 key factors: efficiency, precision, and thermal management. 1️⃣ Higher efficiency, lower costs 💡. Modern fiber lasers have an energy conversion efficiency of over 40%. Traditional lasers reach 25-30%. A 4kW CO₂ laser will consume around 50-60kW of power, whereas a 2 or 3kW fiber laser consumes up to 5 times less. [1] Despite that, achieving these efficiency gains comes with challenges, one of the biggest being laser resistance. Since fiber lasers require mounted optical components that optimize performance and ensure stable operation, they need coatings even more resistant than the fiber gain material itself. Optical components are used at almost every stage in solid-state lasers, while in fiber lasers, they mainly serve output and beam delivery functions. A critical component in high-power fiber lasers is the end cap, which must handle extreme power fluences while maintaining beam quality. Since its role is to reduce power density initially, we need to look for resistance-increasing capabilities. [2] For example, Altechna uses high-end coating technologies to produce optical components with exceptionally low absorption levels–some achieving less than 1 ppm. These low-loss components are crucial for minimizing internal heating, thereby enhancing laser damage resistance and stability in high-power CW laser systems. 2️⃣ Sharper precision, faster results ✨. Fiber lasers can now focus on areas of 20 microns (imagine it as tiny as a grain of sand). It makes them up to 30% faster and much more accurate when cutting. Some of the industries benefiting from this are electronics and aerospace, where every detail has to be perfect. What are the roles of the low-absorption components we produce here? They help with sharper precision and ensure stable laser fibers. 3️⃣ Cold optics for enhanced performance ❄️. High-power lasers can get very hot, which affects their performance. But new cooling methods–like using cryogenic cooling and special heat-absorbing materials–also help reduce heat-related issues. However, internal heating can be eliminated by using low-loss optical components. The role of low-absorption components is also visible here–they prevent overheating and thermal lens formation. As custom solution providers, we always aim to find what’s best for each specific use case. Where do you see fiber lasers making the biggest impact next? Sources: [1] https://lnkd.in/dWaxjP8S  [2] https://lnkd.in/eRGATSgW

High-energy lasers are powerful, focused beams of light that can cut, weld, communicate, or even neutralize threats. Check out the slides below to find out: Why fiber lasers are gaining traction;  The industries they’re powering; The different types of lasers leading innovation; Which areas do you think these lasers will excel the most?

Last month, our Coating Engineer, Paulius M., took Altechna on an exciting journey across the US, connecting with leaders in photonics, defense, and space exploration while showcasing our expertise in high-power CW laser optics. At #ArizonaPhotonicsDays, Paulius presented “From Fundamentals to Mastery: Development of High-Power CW Laser Optics,” highlighting Altechna’s work in high-power CW coatings - one of our core specialties. He discussed the growing demand for CW laser applications and the need for coatings that can handle high power, while preventing heating and resisting laser damage, sharing how Altechna evolved from understanding the basics to mastering high-performance solutions. One of the trip’s highlights was visiting the University of Arizona Mirror Lab, where Paulius got an inside look at how the massive 8.4-meter asymmetric mirrors for the Giant Magellan Telescope are crafted - a true blend of scale and precision. The journey continued with the Lithuanian Laser Association's business mission to the @Defence Innovation Unit in San Francisco, where Paulius explored future collaboration opportunities in next-generation defense technologies. To wrap it all up, he visited the NASA Ames Research Center, toured the materials testing lab - where materials are pushed to their limits for re-entry into Earth’s or Mars’ atmosphere - met with NASA scientists, and checked out their iconic wind tunnels. We’re proud to have Paulius representing Altechna on the global stage, sharing our journey in high-power CW laser optics, and bringing back knowledge, connections, and exciting possibilities for the future. 🚀

A new piece just dropped in Digital Journal, where we shared our expertise on smart city technologies and why Europe is leading the way–while North American cities continue to fall behind. Did you know that one of the key drivers of smart city innovations is photonics? The science of light powers everything from traffic management and environmental monitoring to security systems and autonomous driving. European cities have been quicker in integrating some of these technologies, making them more efficient, sustainable, and human-centric. The EU’s competitive edge has been outlined in the latest World Economic Forum white paper “Europe in the Intelligent Age: From Ideas to Action.” However, the U.S. still has major opportunities to catch up, especially in mobility. 🚙 With advancements in LiDAR-powered autonomous driving and environmental mapping technologies, American cities could regain their competitive edge–but adoption needs to happen faster. 📖 Read the full article by clicking on the link in the comments!

Strengthening partnerships and exploring cutting-edge innovations! This week, our team had an incredible experience in Israel, engaging with some of the brightest minds in electro-optics. A big thank you to Rosh Electroptics Ltd. for hosting us and facilitating valuable discussions with industry leaders.   We’re excited to be back in Israel for #Oasis2025 in March! See you there! 👏

Working in custom laser systems means navigating industries from aerospace to healthcare – but one of the most exciting right now? Automotive. With EV growth skyrocketing, photonics is defining everything from battery manufacturing to LiDAR-powered autonomous driving–boosting performance, efficiency, and safety. Fun fact: LiDAR works like a flashlight 🔦 in a dark room–sending rapid laser pulses to map surroundings in 3D, creating a "digital vision" for self-driving cars. Let’s look at the most important benefits lasers offer for the EV market in more detail: 1️⃣ Better batteries, faster charging 🔋. Laser structuring of lithium-ion electrodes creates microchannels that improve electrolyte wetting and ion diffusion. This process boosts charge and discharge rates, with studies revealing a 75% efficiency increase! [1] 2️⃣ Advancing autonomous driving with LiDAR 🚦Solid-state LiDAR, made possible by photonics, is more compact, reliable, and cost-effective than traditional systems. As demand rises, the solid-state LiDAR market is projected to grow from $1.41B in 2023 to $18.38B by 2032. [2] 3️⃣ Cutting costs with photonic integrated circuits (PICs) 💡LiDAR prices are dropping as major foundries ramp up production of PICs. As a result, the technology is more accessible for mass-market EVs. This shift should also speed up the adoption of LiDAR-equipped vehicles. [3] 🚀 As the EV sector grows, photonics will continue to shape its future, improving performance, safety, and sustainability. Meanwhile, Altechna will continue to develop the highest-end LiDAR systems for its clients worldwide. How do you see laser technology transforming e-mobility in the next few years? [1] https://lnkd.in/dqKXQb7y [2] https://lnkd.in/dKccYgGV [3] https://lnkd.in/dfdzMKcd

The Altechna team had a productive and energizing time at Photonics West 2025 in San Francisco. With 60+ meetings with customers and potential partners, as well as many great conversations at our booth, it was a fantastic way to kick off the year, discuss laser optics, and strengthen industry connections. A huge thank you to SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics for the amazing reception, flawless organization, and great entertainment - your efforts made this event truly outstanding. Beyond business, we also got a glimpse into the future with a driverless taxi ride 🚕, enjoyed meeting some seals 🦭 by the bay, and had great team-building dinners with colleagues. Looking forward to next year’s #PhotonicsWest and to attending upcoming events in Japan and Taiwan! #PhotonicsWest2025 #LaserOptics

Imagine a high-speed fiber optic highway where delicate laser pointers (quantum signals) and powerful industrial lasers (classical signals) share the same path. Normally, the industrial lasers would drown out the pointers’ faint glow, making their signal unreadable. However, the researchers devised a method to create precise spectral filters and timing synchronization, allowing the faint laser pointers to shine through undisturbed, even amidst the industrial laser’s blinding intensity. Who made it possible? 🔍 An expert team in quantum communication, led by Prem Kumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northwestern University, made the discovery. The team’s findings were recently published in the journal Optica. Why does this discovery matter? 🚀 1️⃣ Think about seamless integration: quantum technologies can now coexist with classical communication in shared fiber optics. 2️⃣ Scaling quantum networks moves closer to reality: the current experiment showcased instant and secure information transfer over distances of up to 30.2 kilometers, even while the same fiber carried 400 Gbps of classical data traffic. This suggests the potential for extending quantum networks over hundreds of kilometers in future implementations. 3️⃣ Building infrastructure for tomorrow: it proved that there’s no need for new fiber optic installations—quantum communication uses what’s already there. At Altechna, we’re glad to see academia pushing quantum tech forward by implementing it with current technologies. Read more about this development at: https://lnkd.in/dJ8AfBuz