More than three decades ago, a group of passionate pioneers with a shared vision laid the first foundations of what would become a transformative journey for the industrial laser landscape in France. In 1985, the statutes of the Club Laser de Puissance were filed, marking the birth of a unique association: a true crossroads of exchange, expertise, and innovation dedicated to laser technologies.
As early as 1986, the desire to foster connections led to the publication of the very first Bulletin de liaison, the ancestor of today’s Newslaser. This simple initiative already reflected the strength of a community driven by the same ambition: to develop and promote laser processes in industry.
But like any journey, CLP’s story has seen its transformations. In 2005, with the end of public subsidies, the Club Laser de Puissance had to reinvent itself. Becoming independent and self-financed, it also changed its name to Club Laser et Procédés. This symbolic evolution reflected an expansion of its scope, now embracing low- and medium-power laser technologies.
This new era was marked by a flagship event: the Journées Nationales des Procédés Laser pour l’Industrie (JNPLI), which officially took that name in 2009. The event quickly became the beating heart of the community, a key moment for exchanges between experts, industry leaders, and researchers. In 2010, under the presidency of John Lopez, the Club reached a major milestone: for the first time, more than 110 participants attended—clear proof of the sector’s vitality.
In 2016, JNPLI expanded beyond France for the first time, held in Liège, Belgium, and adopted a dual-session format, further intensifying knowledge-sharing. Then, in 2019, CLP underwent another transformation: a modernized visual identity, a feature-rich website for its members, and, above all, a merger with the Espace Laser trade fair. This union gave birth to Procédés Laser pour l’Industrie (PLI), a unique event combining an exhibition area and a conference program, increasingly international and ambitious.
In 2020, IREPA LASER ended its involvement in organizing the PLI Exhibition, marking the conclusion of a fruitful collaboration. Nevertheless, the Club Laser et Procédés has fully carried on its mission, continuing to organize the PLI Conferences independently.
The 2024 edition confirmed this momentum with record attendance in Bordeaux: 183 participants gathered around the conferences, demonstrating the growing interest in laser applications in industry.
Today, the Club Laser et Procédés is much more than an association. It is an engaged community, a network of complementary experts, and a key player in supporting industrial innovation in the era of laser technologies.
As John Lopez, President of CLP, reminds us:
"Over the years, I have realized the necessity and the complementarity of this network of experts at the national level. Let’s build the future together…"
The story continues—and it is written with you.
