Laser cleaning machines are generally composed of lasers, beam transmission shaping units, automatic control operating systems, cleaning quality detection and protection units, displacement platforms, etc.

Application area

The research on laser cleaning technology started in the mid-1980s, but it was not until the early 1990s that it truly entered industrial production. It has been well applied in mold cleaning, material surface treatment, large-scale equipment and precision machinery, such as paint and rust removal. In addition, European countries generally retain a large number of historical relics and ancient buildings, and many churches, castles, universities, museums, sculptures, etc. have a history of hundreds or even thousands of years. Europeans attach great importance to the protection and restoration of these "antiques", and have been using laser cleaning technology for cultural relic restoration and decontamination since the mid-1990s.

Current situation at home and abroad

The range of laser cleaning in foreign countries is very wide, from thick rust layers to fine particles on the laser surface can be removed, with nearly 30 years of experience in use. There are also many types of equipment used in laser cleaning experiments, and the wavelength range of the laser used is wide. However, the development of laser cleaning technology is imbalanced, with some achieving industrialization and some still in the laboratory stage. Specifically, in terms of laser mold cleaning, it has developed to a 1000W laser manual cleaning machine; The cleaning of electronic circuits using 248 nm, 3 W, and 20 ns lasers has achieved industrialization; Using 248 nm, 5 W nanosecond ultraviolet light to clean the chip, achieving non excellent results; In the field of photomask, ultraviolet laser has completely replaced traditional chemical cleaning methods; In terms of laser rust removal and laser pollutant removal, it has been applied on a large scale, and experiments precede theory. In addition, experimental verification has begun in the fields of semiconductors, magnetic heads, and insulators.

The research and development of laser cleaning technology and equipment in China started late, basically tracking the development of foreign countries. Although some achievements have been made in a relatively short period of time, there is still a significant gap compared to foreign countries. At present, scientific research institutions engaged in laser cleaning include the Laser Fusion Center of the China Academy of Engineering Physics, the Remanufacturing Center of the Armored Corps Engineering College of the PLA, Harbin University of Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Nankai University, etc. Although there has been a gradual increase in research articles on laser cleaning in the academic community in recent years, and the types and application fields of cleaning materials have gradually expanded, the development of research in various fields is uneven, and many problems have not yet been solved.

Application of Laser Cleaning in Metal Surface Rust Removal

There are many laser enterprises engaged in the development of laser cleaning equipment in China, but due to their relatively new applications, it will take some time to wait for market growth.

Market Prospect

According to market research reports, the value of the global laser cleaning market will reach $589 million in 2018, and this value is expected to reach $724 million by 2023. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2018 and 2023 is 4.22%. It is understood that since 2018, various laser cleaning equipment companies have achieved good growth, with conservatively estimated sales in the first half of the year increasing by over 60% compared to last year. On the one hand, it is because the number of enterprises engaged in laser cleaning equipment is increasing, and various types of machines are emerging one after another, driving prices down; On the other hand, some potential users started purchasing laser cleaning equipment this year after watching and understanding. Overall, the market is in an upward stage and has broad prospects.

However, it should be noted that there are still some shortcomings in China's laser cleaning market. For example, the domestic laser technology and industrialization used for cleaning still lag behind foreign countries; There are many application points for laser cleaning technology, but a mature system has not yet been formed; There are no guiding testing methods, instruments, and industry standards yet. This requires the joint efforts of relevant domestic research institutes, production enterprises, and terminal application units to solve the difficulties in China's laser cleaning industry.

About HGTECH: HGTECH is the pioneer and leader of laser industrial application in China, and the authoritative provider of global laser processing solutions. We have comprehensively arranged laser intelligent machine, measurement and automation production lines, and smart factory construction to provide overall solutions for intelligent manufacturing.