Mathias Mink / Uwe Kirchenbauer (1984)
Uwe Kirchenbauer / Mathias Mink (2014)
The 1980s
1984 MKW is founded by Mathias Mink, Uwe Kirchenbauer, and Gerda Walker, initially as a limited-liability distribution company (GmbH) for medical and technical equipment.
1984-1986 Sale of medical equipment, most importantly the spinal therapy system “Schwing-Extensor” in Germany.
1986 MKW learns about laser therapy from a “Schwing-Extensor” customer and includes a laser product in its sales catalogue.
1987 The company specializes in low-level laser therapy units. The first MKW laser system – at the time still a simple point laser unit – is built to order and launched successfully. The point laser is upgraded by the addition of a point search feature with automatic laser.
1988 MKW develops as laser shower for large-area treatments. Series production with the company’s own housing line starts in 1989.
1989 Mathias Mink and Uwe Kirchenbauer acquire Gerda Walker’s shares.
The 1990s
1991 With the MKW laser comb, the first utility patent is registered with the German Patent Office in Munich.
1992 MKW’s multi acupuncture system is introduced as the only system in the world that can laser-treat several acupuncture points simultaneously.
1993 The company’s first branch is founded in Hanover.
1994 Production is expanded by the addition of a second production facility.
1998 MKW develops the first battery-operated laser system LA-X with integrated point search function, automatic laser, digital skin conductivity measurement, and replaceable fibre-optic cables, for which the company is granted a utility patent from the Patent Office in Munich. The product is launched on the market in 1999.
1999 The handbook “Lasertherapie: Licht kann heilen(Laser Therapy: Light Can Heal)“ is published. Nearly all studies presented in this book were conducted with MKW’s laser system.
The 2000s
2001 MKW presents the first laser shower / laser comb as an A/C-powered model. Development of the power station for the LA-X system as well as the rechargeable battery station for the laser shower / laser comb.
2004 The handbook “Lasertherapie und Laserpunktur: Behandlungspläne (Laser Therapy and Laser Puncture: Treatment Tables)” appears. All treatment programmes presented are based on applications with MKW’s laser systems. To date the handbook has gone through three print runs with a total of 4,000 copies. It has been translated into English and Spanish.
2005 MKW expands its network. Its exclusive partnership with the software specialists from Livetec boosts the company’s development capacity considerably. All MKW products are manufactured in Lörrach. The first laser products on OEM basis are manufactured.
2008 The handbooks “Lasertherapie und Laserpunktur bei Pferden as well as Lasertherapie und Laserpuntkur bei Hund und Katze” appear. Both handbooks are also available in English (Laser Therapy and Acupuncture on Horses and Laser Therapy and Laser Puncture in Dogs and Cats). All treatment programmes are based on applications using MKW’s laser systems.
2009 MKW presents a widely publicized global novelty at the world’s largest medical trade fair: the laser shower PowerTwin 21 – a laser shower with 21 laser diodes which can be retrofitted into a laser comb within seconds. Time-saving, high-density laser applications can now be performed on large areas.
The 2010s
2011 MKW presents the re-launch of the laser pen LA-X. Following the successful market launch of this application method more than a decade ago, the laser pen LA-X P200 has become the ultimate technological reference. MKW develops the laser systems LASERNEEDLE and LUCI as an outside contractor. Both systems are marketed and sold worldwide.
2012 The handbook “Laser Acupuncture: Successful Therapy Concepts” appears in German and English. The application programmes it presents refer for the most part to treatments with MKW’s laser systems.
2013 The first laser unit developed by MKW is accredited in the USA. Further laser systems are still in the accreditation process. In China accreditation is imminent. MKW is now also represented in the Arab world. Agreements have been signed with two major trade organizations.
2014 MKW works with over ten sales representatives in Germany and exports low-level laser systems throughout the world. Studies of renowned institutes as well as countless field reports demonstrate the therapy results which can be achieved with MKW’s laser system. Nearly 40,000 laser systems from MKW are employed worldwide. This makes MKW one of the world’s leading providers after 30 years.
2015 With the Laser Shower PowerTwin21+ and the Laser Pen LA-X P500, MKW presents an advanced development of its successful laser models. The new textbook “Low Level Lasertherapie – Grundlagen und Praxis moderner Photomedizin (Low-Level Laser Therapy: Basics and Practice of Modern Photomedicine)” discusses therapies with the MKW laser system. The sales network is steadily expanded. MKW Lasersystem is now also represented in Korea and Iran. Approval in Canada is imminent.
2017 MKW releases the software package 6.0. From now on FI bands (frequency integrated bands), sweeps (in autorun mode) as well as extended frequency series are part of and automatically integrated into MKW devices Laser shower PowerTwin21+ as well as Laser pen LA-X P500. The new software is based on research mostly done by the College for Low Level Laser Therapy (www.colll.org) and is being explained in the treatment booklet “pocket guide laser frequencies”. This treatment booklet is from now on part of the scope of delivery for said devices.
2018 The text book “Laser Field Therapy” is being published. The authors Kreisel / Rosin /Fuechenbusch explain in detail the mechanism of laser field therapy. Virtually all of the therapy forms explained are part of the MKW laser systems PowerTWin21+ and LA-X P500. MKW is exhibiting at the laser-world congress WALT in Nice.
2019 The MKW network keeps expanding. New exclusive distribution partners are acquired in the companies MVM in Turkey and Sarana in Indonesia. MKW steps up its cooperation with the College for Laser Photo Therapy (www.COLLL.org) and conducts webinars on laser-related issues on a regular basis. It offers online courses on laser protection and treatment tutorials in collaboration with COLLL. The German textbook Laser-Photo-Therapie in der Zahnmedizin (Laser Phototherapy in Dental Medicine) is published, which contains numerous references to MKW laser systems.
The 2020s
In March 2021, MKW presents the PowerTwin XP5 laser shower – a consistent further development of the successful PowerTwin 21+ model. A large color display makes it easy to set all parameters. Laser power, operating mode, therapy time and dose are displayed with maximum contrast. The highlight: a Bluetooth interface makes it possible to work with the “MKW LASER PRAXIS” software. This software has been specially developed for the practice. Simple touchscreen control via an associated tablet. With customer and patient manager, therapy control, therapy documentation, extensive frequency database with the option of creating your own frequencies, frequency series and indications with therapy programs. Lasering has never been so easy.
