Whether in the automotive industry, medical technology, or electronics manufacturing—the demands on high-quality plastic joints are constantly increasing. There is a need for joining processes that are not only cost-effective but also reliable and capable of meeting quality standards. The SKZ Plastics Center is therefore organizing the two-day seminar “Laser Welding of Plastics” in collaboration with Evosys Laser GmbH and other expert speakers. Participants will gain a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of the process, material requirements, as well as current technological developments and practical experience.

The seminar “Laser Welding of Plastics,” led by Dipl. Ing. Christian Ebenhöh of Evosys Laser GmbH, will take place from October 28 to October 29, 2026, at the SKZ headquarters in Würzburg. (Photo: Evosys Laser GmbH)

New Focus Areas for Industrial Practice

This year, the event has been specifically expanded and is now even more closely aligned with the requirements of industrial practice. In addition to the proven technical fundamentals, economic aspects of laser welding are taking center stage for the first time. Participants will gain a systematic overview of the technology’s cost and benefit potential and learn how to thoroughly evaluate the process in comparison to alternative joining technologies.

In addition, the seminar covers the failure analysis of plastic welds. Methods for root cause analysis are presented using case studies. These help companies identify process variations and sustainably improve component quality. Furthermore, modern optical inspection systems will be showcased in a live demonstration, highlighting their potential for industrial quality assurance.

“Many companies are aware of the advantages of laser welding but are not yet fully exploiting the technology’s potential. With the new seminar content, we demonstrate how material, component design, and process parameters can be optimally coordinated to achieve robust and cost-effective plastic joints,” explains Dipl. Ing. Christian Ebenhöh, seminar leader and Key Account Manager at Evosys Laser GmbH.

From Materials to Process Control
The seminar covers the fundamentals of laser welding of thermoplastics. It also examines the most important influencing factors along the process chain. Topics include laser beam sources for plastic welding, the physical fundamentals of laser transmission welding, and colorants and additives for laser transmission welding.

Furthermore, participants will gain an overview of different process variants, their specific areas of application, and their advantages and disadvantages. The selection of suitable processes will be explained using practical application examples. In addition, current developments, specialized processes, and aspects of laser safety will be presented.

Thinking About Quality from the Start
Another focus is on component design tailored to manufacturing and quality assurance. The course covers the key factors influencing the welding process, as well as options for process monitoring and material characterization. The goal is to clarify the relationships between component design, material selection, and process control, thereby laying the groundwork for stable mass-production processes.

“Our goal is to make the entire laser welding process chain—from the fundamentals of materials science through the selection of suitable process parameters to quality assurance—understandable and tangible. The combination of technical presentations, application examples, and hands-on demonstrations provides the ideal foundation for this,” says Dr. Christian Balzer, Senior Scientist for Thermal Joining at SKZ.

Hands-On Demonstrations and Laboratory Insights
The seminar combines theoretical instruction with practical elements. A demonstration of a laser welding system provides a direct impression of the process in industrial use. In addition, optical inspection systems will be presented, and participants will gain insights into modern methods of materials testing and damage analysis during a laboratory tour.

Further information on the course “Laser Welding of Plastics”