Rosace: when laser machining elevates art to the micron
A work inspired by Strasbourg Cathedral, between light and high precision
Featured in Point Éco Alsace magazine (January-February 2026), the ‘Rosace’ spectacularly illustrates IREPA LASER's expertise in micromachining by laser machining. This 1.20 m diameter stainless steel replica of the famous stained-glass window of Strasbourg Cathedral was produced using ultra-short pulse lasers capable of sculpting material at micron scale, without adding any material.
Laser machining: creating optical properties by controlling roughness
By finely controlling surface roughness, IREPA LASER's R&D teams have generated novel optical effects: shifting reflections, deep blacks and luminous contrasts. Light becomes both the machining tool and the revealer of the pattern, echoing the aesthetics of a stained-glass window and demonstrating the potential of laser micromachining for surface functionalisation (wettability, friction, adhesion, aesthetics).
When industrial technology meets artistic creation
Beyond its applications in aeronautics, energy, e-mobility and defence, laser machining here reveals a strong artistic dimension. The ‘Rosace’ symbolises the link between heritage, innovation and science, and highlights the technological excellence of IREPA LASER, a member of the Institut Carnot MICA.
