New York Photonics > news ( DNN 3.2.2 )

Recent Articles and Press Releases

Syntec Optics Increases Manufacturing Capabilities - Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Syntec Optics, recipient of the prestigious 2008 Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Award in the North American polymer optics market, announced increased manufacturing capacity that directly correlates with its focus on innovation. Syntec is also actively seeking more staff.

To quote the Frost and Sullivan award, “Syntec Optics, through its commitment to innovation and consistent focus on profitability, is rapidly growing at an average annual growth rate of 16%.”

Paul Tolley, Syntec VP/GM notes, “Our customers need complex custom optics for unique defense, medical or biometric/security applications and/or increasingly for energy-saving LED illumination. The key to great individual solutions is to continually strive for better manufacturability, lower-cost processes and enhanced materials, using a team approach for applying production innovations fast. This new equipment will let us grow production volume by about 50% and significantly increase our capability to innovate.”

Rick Arndt, Syntec VP/Tooling added, “Many Syntec innovations are already high value. Our patented HRDT® (High Refraction Diamond Turning) technology enables rapid turn-around prototypes for wave-sensitive, heat-resistant optics, cutting total development costs up to 5X. Proprietary mold designs automatically compensate for shrinkage, reducing molding time 25-40%. Enhanced materials, such as the new Acrylic Co-Polymer have been carefully tested for optics performance.”

Syntec only announced the patent award for HRDT in early September '08.

Arndt,

Deal Expands Lens Design & Rapid Prototype Capabilities - Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Navitar (Rochester, NY-based),a global leader in the design, manufacturer and distribution of precision optics and opto-mechanical assembliesfor the machine vision and digital projection industries announced the acquisition of Special Optics, a privately owned manufacturer of optical assemblies for long range surveillance, laser scanning, laser projection, UV, visible, and infrared applications. The acquisition was effective January 25, 2008.

Headquartered in Wharton, New Jersey and founded in 1965, Special Optics is a fully integrated provider of custom, precision optical and electro-optical solutions that span markets and applications from medical imaging, semiconductor metrology, digital projection, laser projection, laser scanning, digital radiology, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, missile tracking, and homeland security & defense.

According to Julian Goldstein and Jeremy Goldstein, co-presidents of Navitar, the acquisition of Special Optics provides the following key benefits:

Special Optics rapid prototyping and lens design capabilities will increase Navitar’s product offerings and complement Navitar’s strong lens manufacturing capabilities and ability to bring those innovative designs into volume production
The combination of Navitar’s volume production expertise and Special Optics rapid design and prototype capabilities is expected to enable Navitar to increase its competitive advantage and technical offering to military contractors and commercial accounts seeking to outsource optics-based assemblies

UR wins $1.8M for nanotech laboratory - Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Tiny devices could help local economy share in a $15B industry.

David Tyler
Staff writer, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
(April 11, 2007) — The University of Rochester will use a federal grant to help establish a center whose aim will be to create big breakthroughs from tiny devices.
Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, and school officials announced the grant Tuesday. The UR will get $1.8 million in federal money for a nanotechnology research center.
The center will be called the Nanosystems Initiative and will focus on nano-science research in areas such as fuel-cell development and biomedical applications, particularly tiny biosensors.
The money will help outfit and equip a 10,000 square-foot lab in the school's Institute of Optics annex building, school officials said.
"This is a university on the move," Slaughter said during an appearance at the Robert B. Goergen Hall for Biomedical Engineering and Optics, which will be dedicated next month.
The initiative is a three-year, $15 million project that school officials expect to lead to an additional $10 million annually in grants and funding. School officials expect as many as six startup companies to emerge from research done at the center over time.
UR President Joel Seligman said the facility will be the site of world-class researc

Glass Supplier Sets Up in Rochester - Thursday, March 29, 2007
A new glass sales and distribution company, CDGM Glass Company USA, has been formed in Rochester. The new company will market, sell and distribute CDGM optical glass (China) exclusively to the North American markets (United States and Canada).

Reflexite Consolidates Display Operations in Rochester - Thursday, March 29, 2007
Reflexite Corporation announced that it would consolidate U.S. manufacturing operations for its Display Optics Business in Rochester, NY. Reflexite Display Optics, on Lee Road in the City of Rochester, is a global business which produces optical films for LCD displays. The Rochester Site will not only remain the corporate headquarters for the Display business, but it will also be the center for product development and manufacturing for high-end applications.

Rochester Precision Optics Acquires Tricon - Thursday, January 25, 2007
Roughly one year after an $11 Million investment that included acquiring Kodak's precision optics business... read more...

Accucoat Expands into New Space - Thursday, January 25, 2007
AccuCoat Inc. has relocated into an all-new facility at their existing 111 Humboldt Street address. read more...

GPI adds High-End Dielectric Coatings - Thursday, January 25, 2007

Gurley Precision Instruments, best known for their photolithography on glass substrates, has made the successful leap to high-end dielectric coatings.