Global Excellence Awards 2018

Page 6 www.lux-review.com LUX 2018 Global Excellence Awards require on-going and regular replacement due to intense energy and heat inherent in the laser process. The requirement for on-going maintenance of lasers created a serious restriction in the adoption of lasers in their initial years of introduction post 1960. This was due primarily to the premiums charged by the system’s manufacturers for these critical consumables/key components. This limited the growth in their use. Foreseeing a growth in the consumption of lasers, Tony Koszykowski founded LaserSOS over 30 years ago just outside of Cambridge, UK. His involvement with lasers came through the sales of high-tech thick film inks used to print circuits. Solid state lasers were used to “trim” these circuits to the correct electrical specification. Tony recognised the problems end-users were having with the availability and cost of laser consumables and considered how he could address and support a growing global market. Since inception LaserSOS has disrupted the market status quo by combining an innovative marketing approach with the introduction of a comprehensive range of consumable laser products from new sources of supply. In the absence of the internet, which is generally accepted to have become “main stream” circa 2000, Tony was faced with the challenge of communicating his laser support Recognised as one of the top 10 technical inventions of the twentieth century, lasers are generally recognised to have been invented by Maiman in May 1960. Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Many people relate lasers to “James Bond” type applications but today lasers are used in almost all manufacturing and a significant number of medical applications across the globe. In essence, not only do laser systems provide a cutting, marking and rejuvenating capability on everything from diamonds to skin but manages this without direct physical contact. There are a wide range of lasers types ranging from CO2, excimer, fibre and solid state in manufacturing, marking, medical and military applications. In essence, lasers use a relatively simple concept to deliver their “capability” but in turn require significant technology to safely manage the use of this incredibly powerful and flexible tool and on-going replacement of a wide range of consumable components. Over the past 40 years the use of lasers has grown exponentially. However, in the initial years of introduction their market share of processing, cutting and marking etc was limited by the relatively expensive cost of both the equipment and consumable components. Lasers use a combination of key components such as crystals, mirrors, filters, head blocks, and lamps. These “consumables” items Drawing on over three decades worth of expertise, Laser S.O.S. Group provides innovative laser solutions to clients across a vast array of industries for a variety of applications. To celebrate the firm’s win in our 2018 LUX Global Excellence Awards we offer a fascinating history of the group and how it came to be one of the top laser providers in the world. Laser S.O.S Ltd Best Laser Spares Supplier 2018 services to multi language clients across the globe using a wide range of laser systems in an effective and clear manner. Addressing the customers using these relatively complex and diverse systems, was a major challenge. His solution was to adopt a “picture tells a thousand words” approach. Tony developed clear and simple diagrams that illustrated all the key consumable parts for a broad range of solid-state laser systems and combined them into a single publication that did not require significant technical or language skills to understand and utilise. This A4 document, easily sent around the world by post allowed end users to easily identify which parts they required, their price and availability. This innovative approach to supplying parts to a high-tech solution was revolutionary for laser users who had historically relied on limited and relatively costly supplies from monopoly system manufacturers. The end result of this initiative has been a significant reduction in the cost of laser consumables, a major expansion in their availability across the globe and a substantial acceleration in the overall use of lasers. As the business developed LasesSOS began manufacturing a growing number of key components, sourcing other items from recognised suppliers across the globe. Starting out in the areas of medical & scientific research, it has expanded and