With the increased implementation of carbeon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), modern technologies for automated, highly productive and cost-efficient processing of CFRP are being sought, as is the maintenance of CFRP-based goods. Recent progress in laser system technology in terms of average power, beam quality and beam guiding systems enables innovative techniques for machining carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. This work compares laser-based material machining such as laser cutting, laser material ablation and laser surface pre-treatment with the state-of-the-art mechanical methods.