Driven by sheet metal processing, system and fibre vendors are combining beams with high reliability, finds Andy Extance 

Matthew Dale finds that new fibre designs are being developed to enable more efficient and higher-power fibre laser systems

Nick Morris reviews the state of the burgeoning fibre laser industry

In recent years fibre lasers have begun to be talked about as a possible viable alternative to semiconductor and gas lasers. Fibre lasers hold a number of attractions. As well as very good beam quality the long, thin design geometry of a fibre laser means that a fibre laser is often smaller than its equivalent-powered semiconductor or gas laser.