SemiNex begins making laser engines on new production line

SemiNex Corp of Peabody, MA, USA (which was founded in 2003 and designs and makes indium phosphide (InP)-based high-power infrared diode lasers for military, medical and industrial applications) has begun manufacturing its laser engines on a newly implemented assembly line.

This follows the acquisition of a suite adjoining the firm’s headquarters, doubling production area and increasing office space for engineers and process technicians. The new cleanroom facilities have been designed to meet ISO Class 7 standards and ESD best practices, and are fully outfitted with upgraded test stations and equipment.

Over the past couple of years SemiNex engineers have optimized its trial production processes to reduce cost, improve performance and increase capacity. Now with production in full operation, SemiNex says it will continue to monitor and improve key performance metrics such as cycle time, on-time delivery, yield and throughput - steps that will be crucial to transferring the process to contract manufacturing (a technique that SemiNex typically uses to stay lean).

“The new production line uses custom fixtures to automate critical steps and requires minimal input from a technician,” says mechanical engineer & project lead Matt Hamerstrom. “We’ve reduced assembly time 10-fold from the old design, and we were able to halve the cost while maintaining optimal performance.”

While there has been considerable interest in home laser treatments, few companies have been able to produce laser devices at a price and safety standard that appeals to consumers, claims the firm. Every component of the new production line - from the custom fixtures to the software on the final test station - has been engineered to meet these requirements for the consumer beauty market, it adds.

“It’s been invaluable to have the insider knowledge and experience SemiNex brings to the production process,” comments Kayla Govoni, spokesperson for NIRA (a manufacturer of handheld home skincare laser devices). “We’re expecting 2019 to be the year we really start seeing lasers for aesthetic use inside people’s homes.”

See related items:

High-power laser diode maker SemiNex certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant

Tags: Laser diodes

Visit: www.SemiNex.com