OXFORD, Mass., Dec. 27, 2017 — Fiber laser developer IPG Photo nics Corp. has acquired Laser Depth Dynamics (LDD), a provider of in-process quality mo nitoring and co ntrol solutions for laser-ba sed welding applications.

LDD’s proprietary inline coherent imaging (ICI) technology is the first industrial solution to enable direct measurement of weld penetration depth with high precision and in real time by adding a near-infrared measurement beam to the welding head. ICI technology offers superior accuracy, speed and cost-performance, compared with today’s commonly-used indirect measurement techniques such as destructive sectioning. LDD’s solutions also support advanced mo nitoring features including seam tracking, height following and 3D volume imaging in a single tool. LDD’s flagship imaging systems can be integrated with leading welding head technologies including IPG’s revolutio nary wobble welding heads, which provide unmatched process co nsistency and ultrahigh-power welding heads for deep penetration welding.

“LDD’s weld mo nitoring systems and accessories significantly enhance IPG’s portfolio of industry-leading beam delivery products and laser welding solutions,” said Felix Stukalin, IPG’s senior vice president of North American operations. “LDD’s ability to mo nitor weld quality in real time and ensure process co nsistency is increasingly im portant within automated production environments. We believe this technology, when combined with IPG’s expanding portfolio of welding solutions, will help drive adoption of laser-ba sed welding within the automotive, medical, co nsumer products and aerospace industries.”

LDD has 16 employees, and its operation in Kingston, Ontario, Canada will become IPG’s new center of product development for weld mo nitoring solutions. While intending to expand the market for LDD’s products through IPG’s worldwide sales and support channels, IPG will support and ho nor all existing customer commitments. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.