Case study: Laser Optical Engineering

Laser Optical Engineering Ltd, based at Loughborough Innovation Centre, is reaping increasing success both at home and abroad from its innovative products. A busy year in both product and market development has brought major accolades such as the adoption of the company's Cobra system by the RNLI for testing all their boat hulls for defects. This system uses laser technology to establish the structural integrity of composite materials.

Also attracting significant nationwide interest is the company's development of the VOM-10 Vehicle Occupancy Monitor. Its unique technology automatically detects the number of people in a moving vehicle, creating a system which is complementary to the government's implementation of multiple-occupancy vehicle traffic lanes.

Sales engineer Chris Horsnell described the product as leading the field in this type of technology. "Notably, the VOM-10 cannot be 'deceived' by dummies or other 'simulated' passengers, giving altogether more accurate statistics than has previously been possible," he said. The system, which can also be used to help monitor city centre parking by single occupancy vehicles, is aimed at reducing pollution and congestion by encouraging people to reduce the number of trips they take by planning ahead.

The company's reputation for innovation was highlighted in November 2004 when it received the Excellency in Holography award from the International Hologram Manufacturers Association at its annual holographic industry conference in Prague.

Laser Optical Engineering's winning anti-counterfeiting Holomarque security system allows covert, serialised, machine-readable marks to be embedded directly into packaging or into products themselves.

Launched in 1996, the company now has 10 members of staff. "We moved to the Loughborough Innovation Centre in 2002 and have found it extremely useful being on the site of The University of Loughborough." Chris commented.

Laser Optical Engineering website >>

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