Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.What do data centers, additive manufacturing, surface texturing, welding, and clean parts have in common? Lasers. At the Industrial Laser Conference at IMTS 2026, 11 sessions will reveal just how far industrial laser technology has come – and where it could take manufacturing next. Presented by the Laser Institute of America (LIA), the full-day conference on Wednesday, Sept. 16, brings together experts working with laser technologies across industries and applications. Attendees can explore everything from laser welding and measurement to cleaning, texturing, additive manufacturing, and emerging applications. Wait, Lasers Can Do That? For manufacturers accustomed to thinking of lasers primarily for cutting or marking, the 11-session lineup offers a much bigger picture. Laser welding for data centers? There’s a session on it. Pierson Cheng from Trumpf (IMTS booth #135010) kicks off the conference with Laser Welding Opportunities for Data Centers. Machining materials too hard or geometries too complex for conventional methods? Andrew Honegger of United Machining Solutions (IMTS booth #236802) presents Where Conventional Processes Stop: Leveraging Femtosecond Laser Technology for Hard Materials and Precision Shallow Features. What if AI could see inside the melt pool? Xavier Jauregui, chief operating officer at Xiris Automation Inc., explores how AI and thermal imaging can reveal what’s happening during laser welding and additive manufacturing to improve quality and consistency in Seeing the Melt Pool. Want to better understand the science behind measuring an industrial laser? John McCauley of MKS Ophir Instruments breaks it down in Simplifying the Science: Practical Industrial Laser Measurement. Trying to improve a laser welding process? Geoff Shannon of Laser WeldingU shares insights in The Blueprint for Success in Laser Welding. Other sessions explore laser texturing, performance monitoring, welding optimization, and more – giving attendees a concentrated look at how manufacturers are putting lasers to work today and what could be possible next. Get 11 Sessions – and Six Days of IMTS The Industrial Laser Conference at IMTS 2026 takes place Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in West Building, Room W190-B. Register here.Advance registration is $365, with the onsite rate increasing to $445 effective Sept. 1. Registration includes all 11 sessions, lunch and snacks, the 2026 Conference Guide with presentation and speaker information, and access to all four IMTS exhibit halls for all six days of the show. Your Laser Exploration Continues And the learning doesn’t end when the conference does. Nearly 500 of IMTS’ 1,800-plus exhibitors offer laser-related solutions, giving attendees plenty of opportunities to take what they learn into the exhibit halls, talk with suppliers, and see technologies in action. Whether you already use lasers in production or are wondering where they could fit into your operation, the conference – and the IMTS show floor – invite you to explore what’s possible. What could a laser do for your manufacturing operation? Come to IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show and find out. Further Reading: 16 IMTS Technology Hub Talks To Add to Your Show PlannerChicago Restaurants To Discover During IMTS 202611 Ways to Jump In, Connect, and Experience More at IMTS 2026
From data centers and welding to cleaning, texturing, and additive manufacturing, discover what industrial lasers can do in 11 expert-led sessions at IMTS 2026.
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