Skylark Lasers has appointed Dr. Ben Szutor as its new chief executive.
The Edinburgh-based photonics company specialises in the design and manufacture of single-frequency DPSS lasers.
Its new boss has been tasked with leading a global roll-out of its technology, scaling-up product ranges based on monolithic compact DPSS lasers that deliver increased lifetime and enhanced performance over a range of wavelengths.
The plan is to increase the current workforce of 30 people up to more than 50 during the next 18 months.
The lasers have multiple applications across manufacturing and research, with around 95% produced for export. The company has also begun exploring applications within the field of quantum sensing.
Skylark’s client list includes equipment manufacturers and research and academic institutions like the University of New Mexico, KAUST, Linköping University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Szutor has been recognised for his contributions to laser research into and the commercialisation of quantum technology, having previously co-authored academic research papers on the topic of narrow linewidth solid-state lasers.
He previously worked at UniKLasers for three years, joining through the engineering doctorate programme and rising to become a technology manager. He has a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Edinburgh and an Engineering Doctorate in Applied Photonics from Heriot-Watt University.
Szutor said: “It’s an exciting time for the photonics industry and I’m ready to lead Skylark Lasers in its global expansion and pursuit of enhancing the technical capabilities of the country.
“Innovation is at my core and it’s something we’re continuing to put at the heart of Skylark too,“ he continued, adding: “The applications for precision lasers with longer lifespans and greater performance are growing, and playing a leading role in their commercialisation and is an exciting prospect.
“There are currently a large number of old, large, and costly gas lasers that require replacing in the coming years - Skylark’s aim is to take the leading role in the UK by delivering innovative technologies within some of the most demanding laser applications including spectroscopy, metrology, and new-generation quantum sensing.”
Established in 2013, the company's proprietary BRaMMS Technology platform delivers some of the highest output powers in the market.
It has partnered in innovation projects, grant-funded work, knowledge transfer agreements and accelerator programmes with Fraunhofer CAP in Glasgow, Heriot Watt University, Glasgow University, Birmingham University and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics.
The lasers are designed for a range of applications, including Raman spectroscopy, Brillouin scattering, holography, metrology, flow cytometry, microscopy and quantum technology.
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