Schwäbische Post 22 August 1987

Aalen- Unterkochen (ze-). Da fliegt mir doch das Blech weg – I am in a state of complete and utter amazement. The Berlin-based group “Spliff” who coined this phrase must have invented it in a disco. Inside, everything can put you into a state of awe: Enthralling music, sweaty, dancing people, twitching lights. Often, laser is part of these nightly spectacles of light. Globally, there are only a handful of suppliers. One obviously has its seat in Silicon Valley in California, another in the German Kocher Valley. The company “LOBO electronic” from Unterkochen, a true Ostalb success story, has lefts its mark on the international market. SchwäPo has visited the global company, which in fact is a small Swabian enterprise.
At first glance, the premises in Unterkochen appear unassuming. However, behind the everyday facade lurks a successful high tech company. Recently, LOBO’s managing director Lothar Bopp received first prize for the best technological new development at the most important disco trade show in Rimini. Bopp sells his laser shows and computers for an average price of DM 150,000 per unit in Germany and abroad. What is the secret of the success of the young entrepreneur?
The history of the laser company with yuppie flair started with an anecdote. Four years ago, Lothar Bopp saw English laser shows at a fair that did not seem to be truly elaborate to him. Without further ado, the young expert, who had already been dealing in entertainment electronics for some time, bought such laser systems.
Three years instead of two months
When examining them more closely, his suspicions were confirmed: He could do better. And so he did. However: The planned two months of development turned into three years.
Construction and experimentation as well as a lot of adrenalin were required before LOBO succeeded. Ultimately, the efforts resulted in the company developing its own computer for the fully computer-controlled laser shows. Today, LOBO’s technology is so advanced that any disc jockey can operate the elaborate electronics with only a few steps.
Pure technology
How does such a disco laser work? Put extremely simply, computer-controlled mirrors break down the laser beam into its spectral lines. With this, various colors can be created. With the mirrors, different positions within a room can also be targeted. At the core of the system is a scanner, able to draw all kinds of figures. This scanner targets 1000 points inside the room, 25 times per second. Obviously, a laser manufacturer needs extremely precise devices for these processes.
LOBO is supplied by precision engineering companies from all over East Wurttemberg; in total, the company from Unterkochen has business relations with 50 other enterprises. Lasers and parts of the scanner come from the US. “That’s the way it is in the laser industry,” Lothar Bopp says, “you have to gather your parts from all over the world.”
LOBO itself doesn’t have a big staff: six full-time employees along with twice as many temporary workers. Normally, the company owner does not have an eight hour work day. 14 to 16 hours daily are not uncommon. The devices have a certain fascination, according to Bopp. Perhaps he has some kind of hereditary inclination – his father builds models? “Maybe yes. But there is still a big difference between tinkering and producing.”
But the company boss certainly prefers to let his devices speak for themselves. Anyone who has ever been to a true discotheque knows what to expect. Fans and tunnels of laser light are some of the more simple programs on LOBO’s laser computer. Projected figures are the real deal. Speedily, an entire family of Walt Disney characters marches through the room. There are no limits to the imagination of the operator on site at the disco for his own ideas.
“It isn’t dangerous at all,” Lothar Bopp says. While a focused laser beam can certainly cut through your hand, the light spectacle is harmless when divided into many small beams. After all, the technical inspection authorities have to approve each new system after its installation.
Laser: good electricity clients
Power plants are happy when a disco laser is at work. With a regular performance of 30 to 50 kW, the actual output is only about five to ten Watts. The remaining energy is dissipated – into the cooling water.