JK Lasers launches 2kW Fiber Laser

RUGBY, England, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- JK Lasers, a subsidiary of GSI Group Inc. and a leading supplier of fiber lasers, Nd:YAG lasers, Q-Switched lasers, gas lasers, and associated process tools, announced today the launch of a two kilowatt (kW) fiber laser.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120305/NE64445LOGO)

The new JK2000FL offers excellent beam quality and high processing powers, presenting manufacturers with a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional laser sources.  The JK2000FL can be used with different diameter processing fibers from 100 microns to 300 microns for cutting and welding sheet metal. The JK2000FL can cut up to 15mm thick low carbon steel (LCS), 6mm aluminum alloys and 10mm stainless steel (304SS).  It can also weld up to 8mm LCS and 304SS.

The JK2000FL delivers a stable output power from switch on, a consistent focused spot size and beam profile over the complete power range. It is also fitted with JK Lasers' detachable 'plug in, pre-aligned' (PIPA) beam delivery fibers, which incorporates patented back reflection protection to protect the laser from damage when processing highly reflective materials such as aluminum, copper, brass and titanium.

Compared to Nd:YAG lasers, the JK2000FL is up to ten times more energy efficient, offering manufacturers substantial savings in terms of operational costs. Further savings are realized through the use of laser diode pumping at high conversion rates, delivering wall-plug efficiencies of over 25%. With a mean time to failure (MTTF) of over 300,000 hours, the diode laser pump source used in the JK2000FL enables extended system lifetimes.

The JK2000FL retains key benefits from JK Lasers' successful lower power models, including excellent beam quality, user-friendly software, fast modulation and pulse shaping. It can be fitted with JK Lasers' modular range of bespoke process tools for optimal performance and can incorporate an optional timeshare unit that can simultaneously connect up to four separate workstations. With a compact footprint, the JK2000FL can be easily integrated into most production environments.

For more information about JK Lasers and the JK2000FL, call +44 (0) 1788 517800, email [email protected] or visit www.jklasers.com.

About the Companies

GSI Group Inc. supplies laser-based solutions, precision motion control devices, optical controls, and associated precision technologies, and semiconductor systems to global industrial, electronics, medical, and scientific markets. GSI Group Inc.'s common shares are quoted on NASDAQ (GSIG).

JK Lasers is a subsidiary of GSI Group Inc. and a leading supplier of fiber lasers, Nd:YAG laser solutions, Q-Switched Lasers, Gas Lasers, and associated process tools.  The company is based in Rugby, U.K. and has been in business for more than 30 years.  

More information about JK Lasers' fiber laser range is available on the company's website at www.jklasers.com.  For additional information, please contact JK Lasers, Sales at +44-(0)1788-517800 or [email protected].

Safe Harbor and Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this news release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, and are generally identified by words such as "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," and other similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could affect future results and cause actual results and events to differ materially from historical and expected results and those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on our customers' businesses and level of business activity; our significant dependence upon our customers' capital expenditures, which are subject to cyclical market fluctuations; our dependence upon our ability to respond to fluctuations in product demand; our ability to continually innovate; delays in our delivery of new products; our reliance upon third party distribution channels subject to credit, business concentration and business failure risks beyond our control; fluctuations in our quarterly results, and our failure to meet or exceed the expectations of securities analysts or investors; customer order timing and other similar factors beyond our control; changes in interest rates, credit ratings or foreign currency exchange rates; risk associated with our operations in foreign countries;            our increased use of outsourcing in foreign countries; our failure to comply with local import and export regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate; our history of operating losses and our ability to sustain our profitability; our exposure to the credit risk of some of our customers and in weakened markets; violations of our intellectual property rights and our ability to protect our intellectual property against infringement by third parties; risk of losing our competitive advantage; our ability to make acquisitions or divestitures that provide business benefits; our failure to successfully integrate future acquisitions into our business; our ability to retain key personnel; our restructuring and realignment activities and disruptions to our operations as a result of consolidation of our operations; product defects or problems integrating our products with other vendors' products; disruptions in the supply of or defects in raw materials, certain key components or other goods from our suppliers; production difficulties and product delivery delays or disruptions; changes in governmental regulation of our business or products; disruption in our information technology systems or our failure to implement new systems and software successfully; our failure to realize the full value of our intangible assets; any requirement to make additional tax payments and/or recalculate certain of our tax attributes depending on the resolution of the complaint we filed against the U.S. government; our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes; fluctuations in our effective tax rates and audit of our estimates of tax liabilities; being subject to U.S. federal income taxation even though we are a non-U.S. corporation; being subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax for U.S. federal income tax purposes; any need for additional capital to adequately respond to business challenges or opportunities and repay or refinance our existing indebtedness, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; volatility in the market for our common shares; our dependence on significant cash flow to service our indebtedness and fund our operations; our ability to access cash and other assets of our subsidiaries; the influence over our business of several significant shareholders; provisions of our articles of incorporation may delay or prevent a change in control; our significant existing indebtedness and restrictions in our new senior secured credit agreement that may limit our ability to engage in certain activities; our intention not to pay dividends in the near future; and our failure to maintain appropriate internal controls in the future.

Other important risk factors that could affect the outcome of the events set forth in these statements and that could affect the Company's operating results and financial condition are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC made prior to or after the date hereof. Such statements are based on the Company's management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company's management. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document except as required by law.

SOURCE GSI Group Inc.