LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
AbOUT LPKF
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG (LPKF) is a German-based equipment manufacturer supplying equipment to the electronics industry. LPKF focuses mainly on PCB prototyping and micromachining solutions for SMT stencils; the company also delivers laser plastic welding systems, precision drives as well as laser structuring systems for thin film solar cells. The company, founded in 1976, is headquartered in Garbsen, Germany and has operations the United States, Slovenia, Hong Kong, China and France. LPKF is publicly traded at the Frankfurt STOCK Exchange (XETRA: LPK.DE).
Origin of the Name
LPKF stands for "Leiterplatten Kopier Fräsen" translated "circuit board copy milling". Created from the original LPKF machines. These manual machines used a pointer to follow a sketch, the milling head would move in the same direction and a footswitch was responsible for the up and down movement of the milling head.
Corporate History
Established in Garbsen, Germany in 1976, LPKF made itself a name with their unorthodox procedures during the prototype in-house manufacturing of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). The CAD steered milling technology was established as efficient and pollution free alternative to etching. At that time a revolution – today an often proven standard.
Since LPKF's establishment in 1976 there are customers on every continent; making LPKF an internationally operated company.
LPKF covers the complete operational sequence of in-house prototyping. The early 1990's were crucial in extending services offered; with the development from laser systems to direction disk production. Today LPKF is one of the world market leaders for "in-house rapid PCB prototyping" and "StencilLaser" systems.
1976 - Establishment of LPKF CAD/CAM System GmbH in Hanover, Germany. Introduction and production of the first prototyping system: LPKF 39.
1984 – LPKF USA Branch is established.
1989 - LPKF develops a procedure for laser based printed circuit board structuring.
1991 - LPKF Motion & Control GmbH is created.
1993 - Introduction of the first StencilLaser.
1994 - LPKF Laser & Elektronika Slovenia established as a new production location.
1998 - LPKF Lasers & Electronics AG is listed on the Stock Exchange (XETRA: LPKF.DE).
2000 - LPKF Tianjin CO. Ltd. established in China. LPKF joins with Laserquipment, to produce and distribute Laser Plastic Welding equipment.
2001 - LPKF introduces MicroLine laser systems printed circuit boards.
2006 - The LPKF-LDS process is used in the series production of 3-dimensional Molded Interconnect Devices (MIDs).
2007 - LPKF SolarQuipment GmbH develops and produces laser systems for the structuring of thin film solar cells.
External links
de:LPKF Laser & Electronics AG