The laser welding machine ELC 200 H is suitable for workpieces such as drive shafts, universal joint shafts, steering shafts and similar components. It allows for the use of lasers in applications that have previously been reserved for other welding processes, for example friction welding and magnet-arc welding. Here too, the advantages of the pick-up principle come to the fore: workpiece transport to and from the machining area is very simple, as the machine loads itself. The horizontal spindle and the NC tailstock allow for whole component families of different workpiece lengths to be machined with great flexibility; and resetting the machine for a different workpiece geometry is accomplished in next to now time.