For nearly 40 years, the Club Laser et Procédés (CLP) has been bringing together key players in the laser sector while highlighting the women and men who drive it forward. Through this series of interviews, we invite you to meet the members of the CLP Board of Directors, learn about their career paths, and hear their vision for laser technologies.
Today, we give the floor to Julien Granier, Technical Manager at MANUTECH USD. With a scientific background rooted in photonics, he shares his commitment to the CLP, his motivations, and his perspective on the challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of the laser industry in France.
What has been your career path and your first encounter with laser technology?
“I discovered lasers back in high school in the late 1990s. Optics—and more specifically photonics—has something truly fascinating about it! I still remember my holography lab work, where we created a 3D image from an object illuminated by a laser and recorded on a photographic plate. Since 2003, I have been working with femtosecond lasers for industrial applications.”
What motivated you to get involved in the CLP Board of Directors?
“The desire to play an active role within a network of experts in our field, to share our know-how with peers (notably through the organization of the PLI Conferences). And, given our status as an Economic Interest Group (GIE), to foster collaboration between industrial and academic players.”
What are your ambitions for the development of the CLP and the laser sector in France?
“To improve exchanges between research and industry, strengthen synergies between scientists and manufacturers, and help both areas move forward. To ensure that laser technology—especially ultrafast lasers—plays a role in today’s major transitions (Industry 4.0, environment, energy…).”
Why would you recommend a company to join the CLP?
“The CLP is a dynamic, proactive association, organizing annual conference days—the PLI Conferences—that allow participants to become familiar with laser technology while encouraging exchanges between members. The CLP also has a strong presence at the Micronora trade show, acting as an ambassador for laser technology in France and facilitating access to this event for its members. For the wealth of interactions and opportunities it provides, I strongly recommend that companies join the CLP.”
In your opinion, what are the future directions for the development of laser technology?
“Improving performance and reducing costs could be one development path, particularly with the integration of artificial intelligence. Looking at our activities at MANUTECH USD, I would highlight two key areas: the fiberization of high-energy ultrafast laser sources, and mastering parallel processing (multi-beam, beam shaping…) to make our technology even more ‘industrializable.’”
Through his testimony, Julien Granier highlights a central challenge for the future of lasers in France: making this technology more accessible and better understood by industries that have not yet embraced it.
His involvement in the Board of Directors perfectly reflects the mission of the CLP: to unite expertise, strengthen synergies between research and industry, and promote the potential of laser processes across a wide range of sectors.
Many thanks to Julien Granier for this contribution, which underlines the essential role of the CLP as a catalyst for innovation and a key partner in supporting industrial and ecological transition.
