Kortrijk, Belgium, 25 June 2015 – Barco, global leader in digital cinema technology, is proud to announce that Jan Daem, long-time board member at the Laser Illuminated Projector Association (LIPA), has been unanimously elected as chairman of the board.
“As the global leader in laser projection, we are very proud our colleague Jan Daem has been elected as chairman of LIPA,” comments Wim Buyens, Vice President Entertainment at Barco. “Jan made a substantial contribution to LIPA and to the simplification of global laser regulation for performance projection.”
A proven expert in a critical new field
“After years of development, we’re excited that laser projection is finally here,” continues Stijn Henderickx, Vice President Digital Cinema at Barco. “However, to accelerate the global adoption of laser projection, the industry needs to continue to support LIPA and its work to smooth the way for laser in cinema and other applications. Jan Daem will continue this important task as LIPA’s new chairman.”
Building on past success
Jan Daem’s work at LIPA has exemplified the required balance between simplifying the regulation of lasers as light sources for projection, while preserving the industry’s commitment to operator and end-user safety. Jan successfully led the European regulatory strategy and – together with his colleagues at LIPA and world-class laser safety experts – convinced the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to evaluate laser-illuminated projectors as ‘lamps’. He did this by providing peer-reviewed scientific evidence that laser-illuminated projectors present no greater risk than lamp projectors of equivalent brightness.
Meticulous and methodical
“Jan has been meticulous and methodical, a combination that has been the key to his success,” says Bill Beck, one of LIPA’s co-founders, past chairmen, and currently The Laser Guy at Barco. “Jan’s most recent contribution to LIPA was as head of the financial committee, providing an excellent foundation for his chairmanship.” Jan was unanimously elected by his peer directors and began his term on 1 June 2015.
The road ahead
As chairman, Jan will face one more challenge – to complete LIPA’s US regulatory strategy, bringing the US FDA/CDRH into alignment with the new IEC regulations he helped to develop. With this, LIPA’s primary regulatory mission will be complete. After that, LIPA will shift emphasis to its other missions: to accelerate the global adoption of laser-illuminated projectors in both cinema and non-cinema applications and to provide guidance and best practices to its members and users of laser-illuminated projectors around the world.
