|
Precise cutting with Laser Guidance |
|
|
|
|
Positioning -
Processing
|
Technology from Freiburg, Germany.  Kurt Zimmermann plays with the lighteffects of a laser beam
Z-Laser produces laser systems for customers all around the world.
Light had always been fascinating for Kurt Zimmermann, an industrial
engineer. Outside, when the evening sun deeply reddens the French
Vogese mountains; at home, where light is a source for a comfortable
life; or in a club, where colourful light effects heat up the
atmosphere among the clubbers.
Mr Zimmermann’s company Z-LASER now turns over €5 million with these
objects of his admiration. Together with his staff of 55 people he uses
a special form of light. Zimmermann’s company Z-Laser produces laser
projection systems. The Z-Laser team uses the one main advantage of
laser light: laser light is tightly “bundled”. This means that you can
draw precise lines or set clear dots by using special optics. These
lines and dots assist in various production processes for the customers
of the company all over the world.
One example is the textile industry: when fabrics are cut, the laser
draws a thin line, representing a guide along which cutting is done.
This saves time! Producers of medical instruments also trust in
the technology from Freiburg: In computer tomography, where an
exact model of the human body is created, the positioning systems
guarantee that the patient is positioned exactly where they are
supposed to be.
Up to 30,000 laser devices are sent from Z-Laser to customers around
the world each year. Originally, Mr Zimmermann was supposed to follow a
completely different route. After having finished his studies he worked
in his parents’ company – a roller shutter manufacturer. He didn’t stay
there for long - Zimmermann wanted to go his own way. In the Northern
German town Lueneburg he founded his first laser company together with
a friend however they parted and in 1985, back in his hometown, he
brought Z-Laser into being.
Four years later, the company moved to new premises opposite the local
movie theatre. However, these premises also became far too small. So,
in December last year, Z-Laser is now developing and producing lasers
in another building – up the road in Merzhausener Street.
Mr Zimmermann says he has reached a lot of his goals: "I like Freiburg
very much, the city, the atmosphere, I’m a real Bobbele (a person
originally from Freiburg). I am very glad to be able to live and work
here." He greatly values his position of being self-employed: "I could
not imagine doing anything different from this. The reason for
that is probably that I’m from an employer’s family."
He believes that he gained the skills necessary for leading Z-Laser to
where it is now was from during his industrial engineering studies at
Karlsruhe University: "You can achieve there an enormously broad
knowledge – in technical and economic terms ".
In his company he walks on very unconventional ground. There is no
works committee. Instead, there are “Team ghosts” who function as a
connection between management and staff. At the moment they are working
on developing a new concept for wages: on the one hand, Zimmermann
wants to give his staff more share of the business successes, on
the other hand, fixed wage increases will become smaller.
The industrial engineer wants to hold on to their location in Freiburg.
Mr Zimmerman firmly believes that the most important factors for the
success of his company are the qualifications and the numerous new
ideas his staff bring in. He finds most of his staff in the local
region. Zimmermann is very optimistic and not sceptical, and there is a
reason for that: According to his first estimations the turnover of
Z-Laser will increase around 15% this year.
Original in German: Badische Zeitung Newspaper April 2005 – www.badische-zeitung.de
Translated by Nadine Kiechle, Z-LASER
PHOTO: MICHAEL BAMBERGER
For further information, please contact Cutting Edge Lasers on 1300 65 1718.
|
|
|
|
Positioning 
