JML & RPO add significant new depth to Rochester's precision optics capacity

JML Optical Industries completed their move to 820 Linden Avenue in East Rochester, NY in December 2006. The move grants significantly more floor space to the JML operation than was possible at the former Portland Avenue facility. The 70,000 sq. ft. 15' clear space includes a 120 foot long coating area and a Class 10,000 clean room which includes two, two-man laminar flow booths, bringing the clean room to Class 100 at the booths. All production areas are HEPA-filtered, including the assembly area.

"We selected this new facility for several strategic reasons." said Joe Lobozzo, CEO of JML. "First, and foremost, to move our technology into the new millennium in order to delight our customers. Next, we wanted a facility that would enhance our ability to attract and retain world-class coworkers. Additionally, we wanted an open environment that would compliment our Lean Manufacturing organization. We are extraordinarily pleased with the results. We invite your comments after the RRPC Networking Event that we will host in February. Please come, and let us know if you are as pleased."

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In September 2005, RRPC-member Rochester Precision Optics, LLC (RPO) acquired optical manufacturing, coating, assembly and test assets from Kodak Optical Imaging Systems (KOIS). In October, RPO acquired their new 64,500 square foot facility in West Henrietta, NY at 850 John Street (the corner of Bailey Road, in University Park, formerly Ten Cate Enbi). With LeChase Construction expertise and Erdman Anthony engineering support, RPO has been engaged in extensive renovation at the site.

RPO begins operations at their renovated facility on January 2nd, providing extensive optical engineering and manufacturing capabilities. RPO currently employs over 30 people, who gained their optics expertise working for KOIS. Rochester Precision Optics is now taking orders with deliveries slated to commence in March, 2006. Visit the company's website here or contact company president, William Hurley, to learn more about RPO.

Go here to see photos of the two facilities.

Ariel Optics will be moving into a new facility this summer in the BEH Industrial Park located in Ontario, NY. Robb Sawyer, Marketing Manager for Ariel, says the company is having a 6,000 sq ft building erected by Secor builders, with a planned move in date of July 2006.

Ariel is a manufacturer of Precision and Ultra precision Plano optical components. The majority of their products are used in Military and Bio-Medical applications. “This is very exciting time for us. We are planning on adding 4 optical technicians in 2006 and quite a bit of new equipment,” said Sawyer.

A new, combined-curricula Associate Degree program at MCC was the subject of a press conference held at the new JML Optical Facility on December 12th. RRPC members joined Monroe County and MCC Officials in making the announcement.

The news conference and publicity to date has resulted in resulted in a great deal of interest in MCC's Optical Technology Program.  The next step for concerned RRPC-stakeholders will be to work with MCC on marketing the program, on continuous improvements to the curricula, and on establishing the recruitment criteria so that there is higher degree of success in attracting candidates with the right aptitude and graduating greater numbers into the labor market.

Left to right: Dennis Mullen, CEO Greater Rochester Enterprise (obscured by camera); MCC President, Tom Flynn; Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks; Rick Plympton, VP Sales & Marketing, Optimax.

University Technology Showcase
HYATT Regency Rochester
February 8th 2006
 
The Center for Electronic Imaging Systems (CEIS) announces its annual forum to showcase current university research. You are invited to come and browse from two tracks of technical mini-presentations and to interact with faculty researchers from the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Cornell University.
 
New this year will be a third track of mini-presentations by local industry leaders for university researchers. Some of the most innovative technology research at UR, RIT and Cornell today involves collaborative projects with industry.
 
In collaborative research arrangements, researchers and industry jointly sponsor a project. Costs, personnel, facilities, equipment, or research capabilities may be shared for mutual benefit. This provides industry with an excellent way to leverage their research activities and to partner with university researchers to obtain local and federal funding.
 
The showcase is free to members of local industry, and runs from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.at the  HYATT Regency Rochester, 125 East Main Street, on February 8, 2005.
 
Refreshments and opportunities for networking will be provided.

21 - 26 January 2006
Photonics West
San Jose, CA

Mark Your Calendars!

The 2006 RRPC Annual Meeting will be held once again in the Golisano Building at RIT, February 15, 2006. Attendance is open to members and non-members alike – members with one guest are free, others may attend for a nominal fee. Please contact Rick Rivers (rick@riversorg.com or 585-586-6906) if you plan to attend. Members can expect a reminder by mail soon.

Our speaker is Bob Breault, CEO of Breault Research Corporation and co-Chairman of the Arizona Optics Industry Association. Bob has been invited to discuss global business opportunities for Industry Clusters; new applications in Optics and Photonics, and successful Cluster strategies for pursuing government contracts.

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Monthly RRPC Networking Events begin Wednesday, February 8. Go here for the schedule or to sign up.

The Faster, Better, Cheaper Challenge

Optics manufacturers are constantly being challenged to provide optics better, faster, and cheaper. Mike Mandina, President of Optimax, has often mused about ways to satisfy all three requirements simultaneously. He often looks for ways to utilize or adapt techniques developed in other industries to optics fabrication. For years he wondered why modifications of techniques used to prepare hardwood floors or polish automotive components couldn’t be leveraged into the optical industry. Mandina has always been impressed by the speed at which these processes happen as compared with the relatively slow speed of polishing optics. Over time and through numerous experiments Mike has developed a process that incorporates high speed oscillation to optics manufacturing.

In order to satisfy the faster and cheaper requirements, the entire optical surface would need to be contacted by the lap simultaneously. Instead of the gentle oscillation of conventional polishing laps, the lap would move vigorously about its central position in a high speed vibration motion. Hence the name VIBE was given to the process. (United States Patent 6,942,554 B1).

For more information please contact Rick Plympton, VP Sales, Optimax.

OpticsProfessionals, LLC a Rochester, NY based recruiting firm has seen a steady and dramatic increase nationwide in the number of companies seeking professional level people with experience in the optics industry.

Rick Corey, President of OpticsProfessionals, reports that companies have increased needs in most functional areas including Engineering, Manufacturing/Operations and Sales & Marketing. “The number of openings has increased dramatically over the past few years, originally driven by the aerospace and defense industries. But now other industries are finding themselves short on optics expertise and looking for experienced people”, Corey said. “We have new client companies coming to us from consumer electronics, exterior lighting, automotive and even a toy manufacturer looking for key people who know how to design optical components or systems. The positions are fascinating… an Engineer could be working on a large high-precision optical system which will allow scientists to see far enough in space to view the beginning of the universe, or they could be working on a camera so small it fits into a pill-size capsule to view the inside of a person’s intestine to search for diseases.”

OpticsProfessionals reports the number of recruiting assignments has increased dramatically and the number of placements has doubled in 2005 over 2004. Some companies are looking for experienced sales people to lead them into new markets for their optical products, while others are looking for product development expertise in a particular technology.

The biggest problem? Finding qualified candidates who are open to a new career opportunity and who might be willing to relocate their family to a different area of the country. Because many companies are looking for very specific product, technology or optical materials expertise, the number of potential candidates is limited, requiring a broader geographic search. Positions in the Defense industry often require the candidate to posses certain security clearances, which narrows the field even further. “More than half the positions filled by OpticsProfessionals, LLC in 2005 required relocation, most of them more than 1,000 miles,” Corey said, “We are currently working on positions in the US, Canada, and Europe.”

“We see no slowdown in the demand for people with experience in optics.” Corey said. That’s good news for those graduating with degrees in Optical Science or Optical Engineering.