Laser Institute of America awards Professor Eckhard Beyer

Press release (Nr. IX) /

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) awards the highest prize in the field of laser technology, the Arthur L. Schawlow Award, to Professor Eckhard Beyer, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology and of the Institute of Surface and Manufacturing Technology. The Schawlow Award recognizes individuals who have made distinguished contributions to laser applications in science, industry or education. Prof. Arthur L. Schawlow, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the developments of laser spectroscopy in 1981, is the eponym of this award.

Executive Director Prof. Dr. Eckhard Beyer
© Fraunhofer IWS Dresden
Executive Director Prof. Dr. Eckhard Beyer
Prof. Bullinger, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, talking with Prof. Beyer and Dr. Leson, both Fraunhofer IWS Dresden
© Fraunhofer IWS Dresden
Prof. Bullinger, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, talking with Prof. Beyer and Dr. Leson, both Fraunhofer IWS Dresden
Large laser welding system in the technology hall of the IWS
© Fraunhofer IWS Dresden
Large laser welding system in the technology hall of the IWS

After his studies and PhD at the University of Darmstadt he was employed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, Aachen for 12 years. Here he developed the technique of the rotating hollow needle, which is applied for the determination of laser beam characteristics. He holds numerous, distinguished patents, dealing with different possibilities of the intelligent process control during laser welding and cutting. In 1994, Prof. Beyer presented the first laser hybrid process for deep penetration welding. Up to now, he is regarded as a distinguished expert in his field.

In 1997, Prof Beyer became the Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology, Dresden. Under his guidance the institute has developed to an internationally famous and renowned research organization in the field of laser- and surface technologies. Special emphasis should be given to the numerous laser technologies and components, which could successfully be advanced into industrial applications, e.g. laser welding of automotive drive units, remote cutting of airbags and metal foils as well as laser hardening and build-up welding.

Additionally to his tasks at the Fraunhofer institute, Prof. Beyer became the director of the Institute for Surface and Manufacturing Technology at the University of Technology Dresden, in 2003. Thus it is possible to introduce promptly latest scientific results into education. With internships and studies the students can directly be integrated into the working process of the IWS.

Prof. Beyer can refer to more than 20 years of professional research work and teaching. He served as president of the Laser Institute of America and he organized and chaired numerous international conferences in the field of laser technology and its applications. As the chairman of the VOP he coordinates the activities of 6 Fraunhofer institutes, working on the field of laser and surface technology.

The prize, which has been annually awarded since 1982, comes to Germany now for the third time. Prof. Theodor W. Hänsch (2000) and Prof. Helmut Hügel (2004) were the previous German award winners. The award will be presented to Prof. Beyer at LIA`s International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) in Temecula, CA, USA, on October, 22, 2008.

Please find further information on LIA or the Schawlow Award