WATT Laser has completed a £433,000 project to expand its business within the Clyde Gateway Tradepark in Glasgow, with £128,000 grant support from Scottish Enterprise.
The company moved into the new, larger premises in September 2023, bringing improved productivity, greater operational efficiency, increased innovation capacity and the creation of three new full-time jobs as well as safeguarding eight existing posts.
Watt Laser develops, designs and manufactures cutting-edge laser processes, systems and software – with much of its time dedicated to research and development. The company is able to design and develop bespoke laser solutions for customers in a wide range of industries including electronics, automotive, healthcare and aerospace.
The company’s unique processes offer increased accuracy, cost savings and waste reductions; creating energy efficiencies and reducing the need for the use of polluting chemicals and gasses. It recently developed its first system for quality control, which it showcased at global electronics trade fair Productronica in Munich in November 2023, attended with support from Scottish Enterprise.
Declan Brannagan, Lead Engineer at Watt Laser, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for Watt Laser. The opportunities to utilise laser processing to enhance existing processes and develop new technology are endless. Watt Laser’s rapid growth into a dynamic and innovative team ensures we are ready to provide these cutting-edge laser processes. Scottish Enterprise has assisted greatly in helping Watt Laser to expand at the rate required to tackle new challenges and put Scotland on the map as a hub of clean laser processing technology.”
Scottish Enterprise’s Head of High Growth Services, Leah Pape, said: “We know that the key to unlocking Scotland’s true productivity potential starts with capital investment in our future-focused industries, and Watt Laser is a fantastic example of this. Having worked with the company since its early days, it’s wonderful to see it growing at pace, continually innovating in an area of fast-paced technological change and creating high quality jobs that will benefit the wider economy.
“Companies like Watt Laser demonstrate how, over time, our new approach can unlock thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds of global growth opportunities to deliver a more successful, greener and fairer economy.”
Scottish Enterprise support for Watt Laser has also included SMART and R&D grants to aid the development of its novel technology, as well as specialist advice in the areas of financial readiness, intellectual property, workplace innovation, international markets and manufacturing excellence.
