Lucent invests in Horizon Photonics

17 Jun 2002

Lucent Technologies has invested an undisclosed sum in one of its suppliers, Horizon Photonics, of Walnut, CA, a two year old company. The move will give Lucent greater access to Horizon's 'low cost' automated manufacture of passive optics.

Although the founders of Horizon Photonics still hold the majority interest in the company, Lucent's minority share does give the larger company board representation and Lucent will look to leverage the technology. Bob Cullen, president and co-founder of Horizon said that there was initial talk of a buy out but both parties agreed to an incubation period. How long this period will last remains to be seen.

According to Lucent, the passive components industry still relies primarily on manual assembly which does not provide the cost and volume that customers like Lucent desire from their components.

"We believe that Horizon is one of the leaders in automated manufacture of passive optical components," explained Ed Coringato, the senior manager of planning and business development for Lucent's optoelectronics components business. "We hugely appreciate the value of Horizon and this move makes a closer working relationship."

Horizon Photonics currently has about ten employees in engineering, operations and business. The investment from Lucent will allow the company to expand its research, operations and staff.

Passive components are non-powered devices such as lenses, isolators, micro-collimators and optical attenuators. These devices work with active, or powered, devices such as lasers and laser-light modulators, to optimize the quality of an optical signal.

Cullen commented, "We feel that we have a finger on the pulse of the next generation of passive optics manufacture. We want to do to this industry what Sony has done to the radio and television industry. Many industry players, including Lucent, believe in us and are looking forward to consistent quality and lower cost."

SH