Exclusive interview with Dr. Thomas Fehn: When AI meets laser, what "invisible" arrangements is TRUMPF making?
Currently, the global laser industry is undergoing a profound transformation from "power competition" to "value cultivation". The downstream industry's demand for laser equipment is no longer limited to general processing capabilities, but is increasingly focused on solving specific process bottlenecks and improving yield and flexibility levels. At the same time, the explosive growth in new energy, consumer electronics, artificial intelligence and other fields has also opened up unprecedented application scenarios for laser technology.
Against this background, during the 2026 Munich Shanghai Optical Expo, Vico.com Laser was honored to invite Dr. Thomas Fehn, Chief Marketing Officer of TRUMPF, to have an in-depth conversation around hot topics such as industry trends, corporate strategies, AI integration and localization layout. The following is the transcript of the interview.
Weike.com·Laser: We have noticed a trend - the demand for laser equipment in downstream industries is shifting from general processing capabilities to solving specific process bottlenecks. In your opinion, what are the core drivers behind this trend shift?
Thomas Fehn: That's a great question and one that's at the heart of the changes we're seeing in the industry. The main shift you highlight here is that the products themselves are becoming more "industrial". The products we promote must be of excellent quality, stable and reliable, and support large-scale expansion.
The bottom line is that we are using these products to solve application needs and our customers' problems and challenges. For example, we can now use lasers to weld different metals together - brass, copper, stainless steel, aluminum. These materials can be firmly connected and used in consumer electronics, new energy, battery energy storage and other fields.
This is a sign that the industry is maturing: from a research- and university-driven industry to one that is truly mature and capable of solving real-world applications and customer problems.
Weike.com Laser: So based on this change, what are TRUMPF's current core strategic initiatives in the laser field? How do you see the future development direction of the laser industry?
Thomas Fehn: Our strategy is very clear: we don't just provide lasers, we provide full-process solutions, covering light sources, beam processing, optical systems and software.
First of all, consumer electronics is and will be a major part of our revenue and the cornerstone of future development in China, the United States and Europe. Everyone is using smartphones and the electronic devices at home are getting smarter, and TRUMPF's products are supporting these trends.
Second, the battery business. Batteries are the gold and fuel of the future of industry, and electricity will replace natural gas and oil as the new core energy source. TRUMPF is the main partner for all battery manufacturing companies in China – regardless of size,
whether traditional giants or innovative companies. Our lasers and applications are targeting the hottest, latest innovations while also increasing the throughput of existing products. From foil manufacturing to cell manufacturing to module assembly, we provide ideal laser solutions covering every aspect of battery manufacturing. We provide not only lasers, but also the most advanced beam shaping technology. If you want a stable process, beam shaping, optical systems, light sources and software must work together.
