Powerlase hits the market place
by Tanya Reed

IMPERIAL College spin-out company, Powerlase, moved into new premises last month at the appropriately named headquarters, Imperial House, in Crawley.

Focusing on the development of laser-based tools for solving problems in generating very short wavelength energy, the company was founded by three members of staff in chemistry — Dr Alan Taylor, Dr David Klug and Dr Ian Mercer, who is now full-time technical director of Powerlase.

Three years ago, a £1.6m grant under the Joint Infrastructure Fund (JIF) enabled the founders to develop the latest high power laser sources and realise the potential in commercial tools based on research, after developing a business plan with the management school and IC Innovations which introduced Gordon-house Asset Management to identify and raise investment.

“The JIF money provided an infrastructure in the College and allowed technology to be developed to a feasibility level, while Imperial College’s name gave us credibility in the marketplace,” explained Terry Nowell, chief executive officer of Powerlase .

 “We are leaders in producing high energy laser pulses at high average power levels, combining power and punch in the same system. Now we can look forward to applying our lasers in a variety of industrial applications in what appears to be an immature market place for solid state lasers.”

Rector, Sir Richard Sykes opened the company’s premises. “It’s nice to come to ‘Imperial House’; no one can doubt the link between the company and the College,” he said.

“Powerlase is a very good example of a successful College spinout with a strong and credible investor base. We at Imperial are pleased to be involved as shareholders and wish the new company every success.”