Carl Baasel Lasertechnik GmbH & Co. KG

On October 1st 1975 the two founders, Carl Ferdinand Baasel and Dr. Horst Meier-Berg opened the doors of the first premises of the Carl Baasel Lasertechnik KG at Sandstraße 21, Munich. Their goal was to develop and market lasers and laser systems for material processing. Two others, Ms. Doris Meinhardt and Mr. Rainer Nowak, were involved from the beginning. Four months later the first CO2 laser system for engraving printing rollers was delivered to a customer. This was followed shortly afterwards by innovative ceramics scribing and electronic trimming laser systems. At first, lasers were purchased from Photon Sources (CO2) or Control Laser (Nd:YAG). However, in the years to follow more and more of the beam sources used were developed and built in-house.

In 1980, production and development moved from the Munich underground garage to a freshly-renovated, former printing works in Kempfenhausen near lake Starnberg. In 1984, the new, inviting, glass and wood building at Petersbrunnerstraße 1b, Starnberg was occupied, and, having undergone several additions, today remains the headquarters of Carl Baasel Lasertechnik GmbH.

In 1990, BLT commenced their medical activities, expanding them 3 years later through the acquisition of the medical department of Telemit. In the course of global expansion, 9 subsidiaries were founded world-wide. The best-known are Wegmann-Baasel, PMB Elektronik and A-B Lasers in the USA.

From 1992 to 2000, the majority holding in Baasel Lasertech belonged to Krauss Maffei, and thus to the Mannesmann Group. Technological highlights in the history of Baasel Lasertech include the following "World's Firsts":

• First photo-electrically controlled laser engraving machine (1976)
• First perforation laser for cigarette-filter-tip paper (1981)
• First laser marker with 16 bit processor (1982)
• First quartz resonator scriber with q-switched CO2 laser (1986)
• First fast-flow CO2 laser with semiconductor power supply (1986)
• First RF-excited, fast-flow CO2 laser with pulse frequencies up to 20 kHz (1990)
• First laser lithotripter for urinary and bile duct, with integrated stone/tissue recognition (1990)
• First laser marker with double head (1992) First all-in-one manual spot welding laser (1993)
• First pulsed laser for fine cutting, with pulse frequencies up to 4000 Hz (1995)
• First dermatological Er:YAG laser with thermal function (1996)
• First laser marker with asynchronous double head (1997)
• First compact laser marker with external PC (1997)
• First teleservice for laser markers (1998)
• First plastic-foil perforator (1999)

Over 7000 lasers and laser systems have been successfully installed at customer sites. Baasel Lasertech is active in all important markets and is one of the market leaders in the areas of marking, welding, cutting, structuring and perforating with lasers. In 1999, the 370 employees in the Baasel Group world-wide achieved a total turnover of more than DM 120 million.

In May 2000 Rofin Sinar aquired a mojority of Baasel Lasertech. In the process of worldwide expansion Baasel Lasertech is now focussing on ist main responsibility of Laser Micro Technology. All necessary key competences like research & development, application, sales, production, customized solutions and service were further enforced.

In the beginning of October 2000 the 25th anniversary was celebrated by a range of jubilee talks and a boat party on lake Starnberg.