ICALEO General Chair
Dr. Markus Kogel-Hollacher
Dr. Markus Kogel-Hollacher
About Dr. Markus Kogel-Hollacher
Dr. Markus Kogel-Hollacher started his work in the laser industry in 1994 at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (Aachen). After graduating from RWTH Aachen University in 1996, he continued his work at Precitec in Germany. This work has been extensively discussed in several journals and presented at various conferences. In 2008 he obtained his Ph.D. at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. In collaboration with RTD stakeholders and end users, he works to continuously increase the reliability and use of process monitoring and control devices in laser materials processing. Dr. Kogel-Hollacher is a Fellow of LIA.
As the host of a major event steeped in tradition, you want to offer all your guests something special.
It is both a privilege and an honor to serve as Congress General Chair for the 45th ICALEO conference—a gathering yet always at the forefront of progress. Alongside the exceptional LIA team, I am dedicated to making this year’s event not just memorable, but transformative: a place where ideas converge, boundaries are pushed, and the future of laser technology is written.
This year, we meet for the first time in Denver, Colorado. Throughout the week, we will look closely at the innovations shaping our field today. These include laser beam interaction with materials, new beam sources, advanced methods of beam shaping, process control, and of course the increasing use of AI to understand and improve complex processes.
These developments are not only interesting from a scientific point of view. They are influencing real progress in industry, laboratories, and research institutes around the world. This is something I value very much about our community. When we share our knowledge openly and discuss our ideas honestly, we make real steps forward together.
I would like to extend a warm invitation to everyone joining us, especially those attending for the first time and the many students who bring fresh ideas and energy. ICALEO has always been a place where new perspectives are welcome. Many people have found mentors, collaborators, or new directions in their work here. I encourage you to participate fully, to ask questions, and to engage with the people around you. You will meet colleagues who are genuinely interested in your ideas.
The entire team, the track chairs, the advisory board, the wonderful staff at LIA, and I promise you that we will put all our energy and experience into organizing an ICALEO that you won't want to miss. We firmly believe that you will leave Denver with new knowledge, new contacts, and new energy for the future.
We look forward to seeing you there!
ICALEO Advance Program
We're excited to announce that an early look at the program for the highly anticipated 45th annual ICALEO® is now available! Find a welcome message from our General Chair Markus Kogel-Hollacher, learn about the conference highlights, and so much more! It will be continuously updated with new information as it becomes available.
Last updated: 06/30/2026
Laser Materials Macroprocessing
Dr. Christian Hagenlocher
Dr. Christian Hagenlocher
About Dr. Christian Hagenlocher
Dr. Christian Hagenlocher possesses nearly a decade of experience in unconventional advanced manufacturing methods with an applied direction. He is heading the department for process fundamentals in laser material processing at the Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge at the University of Stuttgart (Germany) since 2023. After completing his doctorate in the field of laser beam welding in 2020 he worked as a research fellow at the Centre for Additive Manufacturing at RMIT in Melbourne until 2022. His focus includes innovations in almost all kind of laser material processing with cw and ultrafast laser sources. Noteworthy contributions also include analytical criteria for predicting and adjusting grain structures in laser welds, and insights into heat accumulation effects in additive manufacturing.
Sarah Seffer
Sarah Seffer
About Sarah Seffer
Dr.-Ing. Sarah Seffer studied mechanical engineering at Leibniz University Hannover. Since 2013, she has been working in the Joining and Cutting of Metals group within the Multi-scale Production department at Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. She has been Head of the Joining and Cutting of Metals group since 2018. Her main research focus is the joining of similar and dissimilar materials.
The Laser Materials Macroprocessing (MACRO) track comprises some of the most productive laser processing applications. Although these applications have been broadly adopted, researchers and industry are persistently innovating to provide new techniques and novel technologies to advance macro materials processing. While welding currently dominates its industrial applications, this track welcomes contributions on experimental work and modelling across all manufacturing processes based on cw-lasers, e.g. cutting, surface and heat treatment as well as welding. The track involves contributions on emerging key trends like beam shaping, artificial intelligence, high power laser sources, as well as monitoring and control technologies.
Laser Materials Microprocessing
Dr. Laura Gemini
Dr. Laura Gemini
About Dr. Laura Gemini
Dr. Laura Gemini is a laser processing specialist at ALPhANOV, the French technology center for optics and lasers in Talence, France. She serves as Deputy Head of the Laser Processing Department and has 15+ years of experience in the field of photonics, with a particular focus on ultrafast laser processing and nanoscale laser manufacturing. Her research focuses on the development of laser techniques for advanced manufacturing and materials processing. Dr. Gemini has authored numerous scientific publications and actively contributes to collaborative research projects that bridge academic research and industrial innovation in photonics.
Jared Speltz
Jared Speltz
About Jared Speltz
Jared Speltz is the Team Lead for the Development of Innovative Applications for Laser Systems (DIALS) at the University of Dayton Research Institute, with over 15 years of laser applications experience. His work centers on ultrashort‑pulsed laser applications, with expertise in hollow‑core fiber coupling, in‑situ sensing, and closed‑loop feedback for precision micromachining. Jared leads multidisciplinary efforts to transition novel laboratory capabilities into production‑ready solutions. As Track Chair, he brings a strong record of applied research, system integration, and collaboration with aerospace, medical, and advanced manufacturing partners. He is dedicated to expanding the capabilities and industrial adoption of advanced laser micromachining, and has led the development of Composite Laser Ablative for Surface Preparation (CLASP), one of the 1st hollow core-fiber coupled femtosecond systems deployed into an aerospace manufacturing facility.
The Laser Microprocessing track focuses on how lasers are used to tailor materials at the microscale in electronics, energy, sensing, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing. Sessions will cover topics such as surface functionalization, high-precision drilling, micro-welding of dissimilar materials, high-throughput processing, and sustainable manufacturing. Many topics will also discuss methods enhancing the laser micro-processing through advancements such-as: machine-learning, beam shaping, beam delivery, and pulse manipulation. With contributions from both research and industry, the track offers a unique update on the state of the art in precision laser processing.
Laser Additive Manufacturing
Barbara Previtali
Barbara Previtali
About Barbara Previtali
Barbara Previtali is a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy, where she is Head of the SITEC research group and laboratory dedicated to laser applications. Her activities focus on advanced manufacturing technologies, with strong involvement in industrial collaboration and technology transfer. She is co-author of several patents and works extensively with companies on applied research and innovation projects.
She is a member of the jury for the Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis and the board of stakeholders of Photonics21. She also serves as editor for the international journals Journal of Laser Applications and Optics & Laser Technology.
Dr. John Middendorf
Dr. John Middendorf
About Dr. John Middendorf
Dr. John Middendorf, Director of Additive Manufacturing – Dr. Middendorf has been developing his own Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) machines since July 2014 and currently leads the additive manufacturing division at the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence at The Ohio State University. John was the technical leader behind the development of the Open Additive (OA) brand, selling the PANDA LPBF machines and AMSENSE sensor suite, and in his past has develop several other innovations such as Selective Laser Ablation & Melting (SLAM) and Graded Alloy Processing (GAP).
The Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) track features research in all aspects of laser based additive manufacturing technologies and applications. Topics for this year’s conference reflect the diversity of the field, exploring emerging methods, equipment, materials, and system configurations across the spectrum of laser additive. From before a build begins, to post-process, and everything in between, presentations will approach the challenges of laser additive from all angles. Are more lasers always better? I think we all know the answer, but lasers are only part of the equation, and additive manufacturing has plenty of variables. Join us throughout the conference to meet leaders in the field, exchange ideas, and learn about the latest solutions in the world of Laser Additive Manufacturing!