McLean, VA— Industrial laser shipments for North America and U.S. exports were down approximately 10% to $86 million in the third quarter of 2003 (3Q03) from the same period a year earlier, according to recent research by the Laser Systems Product Group (LSPG) of the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT). Shipments of laser equipment and systems within North America by the 42 companies reporting to LSPG's statistical program totaled $65.4 million in 3Q03, while exports amounted to $20.6 million.

LSPG's report adds that shipments of CO₂ laser systems increased approximately 10%, while Nd:YAG lasers declined about 35% during the study period. The report also found that cutting applications were the largest source of industrial laser activity in 3Q03, accounting for more than 55% of all shipments. Also, nearly 65% of industrial lasers shipped during 3Q03 were CO₂ and nearly 80% of total shipments were configured as laser systems, which are defined as a laser source and a workstation.

LSPG notes that, because the year-to-year percent change in CO₂ and Nd:YAG lasers only reflects contributions of firms participating in the statistical program in 3Q02 and 3Q03, it doesn't include increased shipments by some new program participants in 3Q03. "Although year-on-year shipments continue to decline, quotation activity and customer production levels seem to be signaling a turnaround in the making," says Dave Plourde, LSPG's chairman and Preco Laser Systems' sales VP.