Ekspla

Infobox Company
company_name = EKSPLA
company_
company_type = Joint stock company
foundation = 1983 in Vilnius,
flagicon|Lithuania Lithuania
location = Vilnius,flagicon|Lithuania Lithuania
key_people = CEO Kestutis Jasiunas
industry = Scientific lasers
High-technology
products = Solid-state lasers
Optical parametric oscillators
Optical parametric generators
Opto-electonic components
Optical components
Nonlinear optics crystals

services = Research and Development
num_employees = 130 (2007)
homepage = [http://www.ekspla.com/ www.ekspla.com]

EKSPLA is a laser manufacturing company based in Lithuania. EKSPLA is known for their lasers and laser systems as well as other photonics components. The company is supplying their products and solutions for scientific applications. Currently company is changing its focus from scientific research market to industrial market.

History

All Lithuanian laser technology companies trace their roots to Vilnius University and the Institute of Physics. [ [http://www.zef.lt/zef/index.php?id=81 Laser technologies in Lithuania (The Forum of Knowledge Economy website)] ] Members of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences and of the Institute of Physics organised an experimental workshop and established the EKSMA company in 1983. It represented the scientific instrumentation of the former Soviet Union.

In 1992, an EKSMA laser design and manufacturing spin-off named EKSPLA started operating as a separate legal entity. Gradual development of the company can be illustrated by its customer base expansion to Japan in 1993 and USA in 1996. Today it covers all the world.

The first EKSPLA commercial picosecond diode-pumped laser was developed in 2002. Currently (2007) the company supplies more than 20 types of diode-pumped solid-state lasers.

In 2004, EKSMA became a holding company through acquisition of 99.61% shares of EKSPLA. The shareholders agreed to consolidate all laser and photonics related businesses of both companies into EKSPLA, and two divisions were established: Laser & Laser Systems and Photonics Components. Although company operates under the EKSPLA name, both EKSPLA and EKSMA trademarks are used for laser and components businesses.

Effective from 1st July 2008, all components business activities (covering optical components, laser & nonlinear crystals, positioning mechanics, mounts and optical tables) were moved from EKSPLA to an Optolita company with the brand name of and doing business as EKSMA OPTICS. [http://www.ekspla.com/en/main/news?id=23661 EKSPLA restructured ] ]

Awards

In 2005 EKSPLA was awarded as the knowledge economy company of the year. The award was given as an acknowledgement of company’s constant investments and achievements in development and marketing of knowledge-based products, innovative solutions, cooperation with research institutions, and support to the knowledge-based economy development projects. [ [http://nominacijos.zef.lt/istorija.html Knowledge Economy Company Awards history (in Lithuanian)] ]

In 2006 EKSPLA was announced the Innovative Company of the year. This prize came in recognision of company’s activities creating new products and implementing new solutions and innovations at company level. [ [http://www.inovacijuprizas.lt/index.php?195750669 Innovation Awards] ]

In 2007 EKSPLA CEO Kestutis Jasiunas, together with other scientists and entrepreneurs (dr. Romualdas Danielius, Rimantas Kraujalis and prof. habil. dr. Algis Petras Piskarskas), received the Partnership Award of the National Advancement Awards. This was an acknowledgement of major contribution to Lithuania laser science and industry consolidation. [ [http://www.npp.lt/index.php/pageid/117 National Advancement Awards 2007 (in Lithuanian)] ]

Products

EKSPLA has 8 product lines: laser and laser systems, laser micromachining, laser spectroscopy, laser components and spare parts, opto-electronic components, opto-mechanical components, nonlinear and laser crystals and optical components. [ [http://www.ekspla.com/en/main/products EKSPLA products] ] The company manufactures and supplies photonic products and services for OEM and R&D applications.

Lasers and laser systems

Few years ago, the company was manufacturing only flash-lamp pumped lasers. But as the diode pumping results in better overall efficiency and beam quality, a decision was made to replace them with diode-pumped lasers. Currently EKSPLA laser product line is mainly comprised of diode-pumped lasers.

If classified by pulse duration, the company manufactures nanosecond and picosecond lasers. [ [http://www.rp-photonics.com/encyclopedia.html Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology] ] Most common EKSPLA lasers applications:

* Research and Development
* Spectroscopy
* and dye laser pumping
* OPG/OPA, OPO pumping
* Plasma studies
* LIDAR
* Photobiology, photochemistry
* Micromachining
* Marking
* Engraving
* Ablation
* Other applications

Laser micromachining

In 2007 EKSPLA developed Master Series laser marking systems for material processing. A diode-pumped laser integrated in the system and enables higher productivity. This product line has been designed with industrial applications in mind.

Laser marking systems can be used to perform various tasks: to mark serial numbers, barcodes for identification, small „invisible“ signs for trademark protection or even to scribe semiconductors or plastics. Laser marking systems are suitable for creation of 2D and 3D patterns inside glass.

Crystals

"(under the brand name Eksma Optics as of recent)"

The crystal products line comprises:
*Nonlinear optics crystals. Types are: LBO, BBO, KTP, KDP, DKDP, LiIO₃, ultrathin crystals for femtosecond applications, infrared nonlinear crystals. These crystals are used in wide range of optical applications: harmonic generation (SHG, THG, SFG), optical parametric generation and amplification (OPG, OPA), optical parametric oscillators (OPO) of both Type 1 and Type 2 phase matching, etc.
*Laser crystals. Types are: , Nd:KGW, Yb:KGW, Yb:KYW, Ti:Sapphire. The application depends on crystal type. They are used in laser rangefinding as ultrashort pulse amplifiers, and as the material for high power thin disk lasers.
*Crystals for stimulated Raman scattering. These crystals can be of, for example, Ba(NO₃)₂ or undoped potassium gadolinium tungstate KGd(WO₄)₂ or KGW crystalline material. Applicable for frequency conversion in lasers to extend their tuning range.

Optical components

"(under the brand name Eksma Optics as of recent)"

The list of optical components includes:

* Mirrors
*Lenses
* Windows
*Prisms
*Polarising optics
*UV and IR optics

Opto-electronic components

"(under the brand name Eksma Optics as of recent)"

The following opto-electronic components are produced:
*Pockels cells. The material for Pockels cells are BBO and KD*P nonlinear crystals. Pockels cells are used in DPSS Q-switching lasers and are the basic components of electro-optic modulators. Pockels cells applications: high repetition rate regenerative amplifier control, beam chopper, cavity dumping.
*Drivers for Pockels cells. These have been designed to enable Q-switching of nanosecond lasers without use of phase retardation plate. High voltage applied to the Pockels cell inhibits oscillation. At a certain time HV is switched to ground thus allowing the laser to radiate.
*Crystal Ovens. Ovens accommodate temperature-sensitive nonlinear crystals. They are used for precise temperature stabilization of laser harmonic crystals of various sizes, and for heating of both bulk and thin periodically poled crystals.

Partnership

Ekspla has a successful track record of international collaboration in the frames of NATO and EUREKA programs. In 2002 Ekspla was appointed the first Lithuania-based coordinator of a [http://cordis.europa.eu/fp5/ European Union FP5] project.

The company participates in a number of research projects of Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation, with research groups from the Institute of Physics and Laser Research Centre at Vilnius University.

EKSPLA is closely collaborating with other Lithuanian enterprises in photonics field: Standa, Optida, Light Conversion. In 2005-2007 these four companies carried out a successfully completed research and technological development project “Lasers for microprocessing and diagnostics” partially financed from EU Structural Funds. The purpose of the project was to develop a new type of lasers meeting the requirements for industrial applications. Light Conversion and EKSPLA did the research work for development of high repetition rate, short pulse, high medium power diode-pumped lasers and investigated generation of harmonics, tunable optical parametric radiation. Such sources of radiation are supposed to be used in microprocessing. [ [http://www.esparama.lt/en/bpd/sf_projects/successful_projects/?id=7500 Project “Lasers for microprocessing and diagnostics” in figures] ]

The company sells its products directly or through distributors. Distributors are found in Australia, China, Germany, Great Britain, France, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechenstein, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, USA. [ [http://www.ekspla.com/en/main/about/contacts/distributors EKSPLA distributors] ]

References