About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of The Hartford Steam Boiler Group’s Members

By: via Business Wire

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” (Superior) of the members of The Hartford Steam Boiler Group (HSB). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies.)

The ratings reflect HSB’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management.

HSB maintains risk-adjusted capitalization that is consistently within the group’s overall strongest balance sheet strength assessment, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). HSB’s very strong operating performance assessment is supported by consistently excellent profitability metrics, which have outperformed AM Best’s commercial property composite by a wide margin for a prolonged period of time. The very strong overall operating performance is driven primarily by superior underwriting returns and enhanced by a steady stream of investment income. HSB’s five-year average combined ratio of 84.8% significantly outperforms the 92.6% average posted by the commercial property composite over the same period. Underwriting margins continue to be favorable, reflecting continued strong results in the group’s commercial equipment breakdown business, cyber protection business, home systems protection and service line, despite continued inflationary pressures.

The group has a long-standing reputation as a valuable partner to insurance companies throughout the industry. This unique position allows the group to distribute its products throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as other markets. Additionally, it allows its partners to access the specialized knowledge and innovative products the group provides to the industry, including the Internet of Things, deep engineering expertise and related risk management tools, as well as data insights, together with other innovative solutions, producing favorable returns. HSB’s recent growth is across several business lines, with cyber products seeing the strongest growth for the past several years. HSB manages its cyber risk accumulation through a combination of carefully tailored policy forms, cyber risk management services for the end insureds and a targeted risk selection strategy, as well as a sound risk management framework that includes the use of propriety capital model, strong reinsurance protection and defined risk tolerances.

The FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa+” (Superior) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for the following members of The Hartford Steam Boiler Group:

  • The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company
  • The Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company of Canada
  • HSB Specialty Insurance Company
  • HSB Engineering Insurance Limited

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

More News

View More
Why Amazon’s Prime Day May Be the Catalyst for a Year-End Rally
Via MarketBeat
Tickers AMZN
Let the Good Times Roll: 2 Stocks Showing No Signs of Slowing
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence World Trade
Tickers ATRO INOD META
Café Culture Revival? 3 Stocks to Watch After Chick-fil-A’s Move
Via MarketBeat
Tickers CMG MCD SBUX YUM
Carmakers Step in With Incentives as EV Tax Credit Expires
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy Government
Tickers F GM TSLA
Buy the Dip? Zillow’s Profit Comeback Meets Market Pressure
Via MarketBeat
Topics Lawsuit
Tickers ZG
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.