Ultra-fast laser processing : a high-performance technological opportunity
Based on ultra-fast laser machining technologies, designed to machine, cut, drill, mask, or engrave surfaces with exceptional precision and without altering the material, LISTEK unlocks new surface performance capabilities for industrial components.
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Laser expertise driving industrial performance
LISTEK® combines ultra-fast laser manufacturing and surface engineering solutions. Leveraging cutting-edge laser technology, it delivers unparalleled machining precision while enhancing the physical and chemical properties of virtually any surface. LISTEK® paves the way for new levels of performance across industrial components and applications.
Key Benefits:
- Micron-level precision
- Preservation of material integrity
- Industrial-grade repeatability
- Compatibility with a wide range of materials
- Creation of new surface functionalities
Complete industrial solution
Technical features of our ultra-fast laser processes:
- Suitable for all materials, from the hardest to the most fragile
- Extreme precision
- Excellent thermal control
- No pre- or post-processing required
- High repeatability
- Compatibility with a wide range of surface geometries: flat 2D and complex 3D
- Suitable for all part sizes, from µm² to m²
- Burr-free material removal with no thermal impact
Operational benefits of our ultra-fast laser technologies:
- Accelerated productivity
- Cost optimization
- Enhanced final product performance through improved material properties
- Environmentally responsible process with a low carbon footprint: low energy consumption, contact-free technology, and no additives or consumables
How does HEF connect research and industry?
HEF is inherently connected to the world of knowledge. The women and men of HEF act as a bridge between science and research on one side, and industry on the other. Through this unique position, HEF transforms scientific discoveries into concrete industrial solutions, enabling innovative technologies to move from the laboratory to real-world applications. By combining research expertise, technological innovation, and industrial know-how, HEF drives progress and creates value for its customers across a wide range of industries.
HEF Capabilities
LISTEK® Range
LISTEK® (Laser Induced Surface Technologies) is HEF’s range of industrial-scale ultra-fast laser services. It brings together two complementary families of solutions designed to transform surfaces with the precision and versatility of laser technology.
- LISTEK® BEAM: precision laser micromachining solutions for cutting, drilling, engraving, and surface structuring. This clean, contact-free process delivers exceptional accuracy, high repeatability, and minimal thermal impact.
- LISTEK® FSE: tailor-made Functional Surface Engineering solutions that create specific surface functionalities without adding material or applying coatings. These engineered surfaces can deliver enhanced wettability, adhesion, optical absorption, or tribological performance.
LISTEK® relies on the TSD-FS600L production platform operated in-house by HEF, ensuring industrial-grade quality and scalability. It can also be combined with CERTESS®, HEF’s PVD-PECVD coating range, to provide fully integrated surface engineering solutions from laser processing to advanced coatings.
What does LISTEK® BEAM enable in laser micromachining?
LISTEK® BEAM encompasses ultra-fast laser operations designed for the localized removal of material, as well as precision cutting, drilling, masking, and engraving of surfaces with high dimensional accuracy and minimal thermal impact.
Technical benefits:
- Dimensional accuracy of ±2 µm, with a 100 µm pitch capability
- Draft angles starting from 8° for advanced micro-structured features
- Processing speeds of up to 1 m/s on HEF production platforms
- Clean edges, free from burrs, delamination, and microcracks
- Contact-free process requiring no consumables
- Compatible with both flat 2D surfaces and complex 3D geometries
Capabilities by Process
- CUT, DRILL & ETCH: laser cutting, drilling, and engraving of metals, textiles, ceramics, plastics, and organic substrates. Suitable for material thicknesses of up to 1 mm and component sizes of up to 600 × 800 mm².
- GLASS Process: precision laser cutting of glass, sapphire, quartz, and tempered glass. Suitable for material thicknesses of up to 10 mm and component sizes of up to 300 × 300 mm².
Industrial applications
- Pad printing plates and printing clichés
- Medical diagnostic devices for blood analysis and medical micro-diffusers
- Bipolar plate gaskets for fuel cells
- Plastic injection molds and fluid flow channels
- Wafer carriers, electronic assembly components, enclosure shielding, and display filters
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems
LISTEK® FSE: Transform the Properties of Your Surfaces with an Ultra-Fast Laser
LISTEK® FSE (Functional Surface Engineering) is HEF’s custom solution for modifying the physical and chemical properties of a surface without adding material or applying a coating.
The process generates specific functional behaviors directly within the material:
- Surfaces that absorb up to 97% of light
- Wettability transition (from hydrophobic to hydrophilic)
- Localized micro- and nano-roughness
- Functional textures inspired by bioengineering
This technology is inspired by biomimicry: for example, we replicate shark skin to improve hydrodynamics, the lotus leaf to create water-repellent surfaces, and gecko feet to enhance adhesion.
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