The foundation of ERLAS was laid by the establishment of an application lab for laser technology at the Erlangen-Nuremberg University by the Bavarian ministry of economics in 1987. The purpose of this newly-founded institution was to transfer the comprehensive know-how acquired on laser-assisted manufacturing technologies, such as laser beam cutting, welding and hardening, to industrial production. Under direction of Dr. Peter Hoffmann it was transformed into a non-profit-making research company BLZ Bayerisches Laserzentrum gGmbH in 1992 of which he was the managing director until 1998. Eventually these process and system technologies, which have been refined with a focus on technical and economic benefits, formed the basis for the foundation of a profit-oriented company in 1998, the ERLAS – Erlanger Lasertechnik GmbH.