Business briefs

05 Dec 2003

Including news from Jenoptik, Spectra-Physics, Koncent Communication, SBG Labs and more.

•  Jenoptik Laser, Optik, Systeme of Germany will run Jenoptik LDT as a wholly-owned subsidiary with immediate effect having bought the 40% stake held by Schneider Laser Technology. Jenoptik LDT develops laser projection systems.

•  Spectra-Physics, US, has formed a strategic marketing group to identify product and market opportunities that will ensure the company’s long-term growth. The group will focus on the microelectronics, industrial manufacturing, biotechnology and research markets.

Spectra-Physics has also announced an increase in orders for its lasers used in the data storage industry during the third quarter of 2003. The company claims that orders totalled over $4million in the last two months.

•  Koncent Communication, Shanghai Uniwave Technologies, Fujian Sandgy Optronics and Fuzhou Microlattice Semiconductor are merging to form a company called Photop Technologies. After the merger, Photop’s product offerings will include passive and active components, DPSS lasers, high-precision optical components and compound semiconductor crystals such as GaAs and InP.

•  SBG Labs, US, has sold its telecommunications photonic chip business to Hoya of Japan. SBG says it will support the transfer of the technology and assist Hoya with future product development in this area. A maker of liquid-crystal displays, SBG acquired the photonic chip technology from DigiLens in October 2003.

•  Santur Corporation, a US maker of tunable laser for metro and long-haul WDM systems, has received $10 million of Series C funding. The round was led by new investor VantagePoint and included existing investors Menlo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Thomas Weisel Venture Partners, and Lighthouse Capital.

•  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, US, has opened a new terahertz laboratory within its Center for Terahertz Research. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art kit including a three-phase terawatt system, which uses an amplified laser pulse to produce a high-powered terahertz wave.