Skylark Lasers appoints new CEO to guide its expansion of unique technology

Skylark Lasers, the agile photonics company that specialises in the design and manufacture of ultra-reliable, high-performance, single-frequency DPSS lasers, has appointed a new CEO, to lead the business and guide its long-term growth vision.

Dr. Ben Szutor (pictured above) has been appointed as company CEO and will lead the business in the global roll-out of its unique technology and precision lasers. His focus will be to scale up its product ranges based on Skylark’s monolithic compact DPSS (C-DPSS) laser technology that delivers a ready-to-operate laser solution, with increased lifetime and enhanced performance over a wide range of wavelengths.

The company’s world-leading laser products are manufactured at its Edinburgh HQ by a skilled workforce of 30 people. The ambition is to drive this to over 50 during the next 18 months. The lasers have multiple applications across manufacturing and research with around 95 per cent produced for export.

The company’s client list includes research institutions and organisations such as world-leading equipment manufacturers and academic institutions, University of New Mexico, KAUST, Linköping University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. At the forefront of its sector, Skylark Lasers has begun exploring applications within the field of quantum sensing.

The leading lasers business is looking to expand its customer base to a broader range of industrial users, with the introduction of further OEM integrations. 

Ben was previously awarded ‘2021 Rising Star’ by Laser Focus World, the laser industry’s key trade publication, one of the laser engineering industry’s most coveted accolades. He was recognised for his key contributions to research into and the commercialisation of quantum technology. Ben has previously co-authored academic research papers on the topic of narrow linewidth solid-state lasers within the quantum technology theme.

He previously worked at UniKLasers for three years, joining through the Engineering Doctorate programme and rising to an experienced technology manager. Ben has a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Edinburgh and an Engineering Doctorate in Applied Photonics from Heriot-Watt University.

The firm designs, develops, and manufactures all of its products within Edinburgh and the UK, shipping them to the USA, Japan, the EU, and the rest of the world. Skylark Lasers’ main focus is the development of compact and robust laser systems to address some of the most challenging application areas including ultraviolet lithography, high-precision metrology, and quantum sensing.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Ben Szutor said: “It’s an exciting time for the photonics industry and I’m ready to lead Skylark Lasers in its global expansion and pursuit of enhancing the technical capabilities of the country. Innovation is at my core and it’s something we’re continuing to put at the heart of Skylark too. The applications for precision lasers with a longer lifespan and greater performance are growing, and playing a leading role in their commercialisation and is an exciting prospect.

There are currently a large number of old, large, and costly gas lasers that require replacing in the coming years. Skylark’s aim is to take the leading role in the UK by delivering innovative technologies within some of the most demanding laser applications including spectroscopy, metrology, and new-generation quantum sensing.”