02 Apr 2004
Including news from Thorlabs, Melles Griot, BAE Systems and Alcatel.
• ThorLabs, the US maker of optical components and test and measurement equipment, has purchased the UK division of Melles Griot. The latter is based in Ely, Camridgeshire and manufactures nano-positioning systems, optical tables and vibration isolation equipment. The purchase price was not disclosed.
• BAE Systems, the avionics technology specialist, has opened a £4 million laser centre at its Sensor Systems Division facility in Edinburgh, Scotland. The new 4000 sq. ft. centre will produce the laser system in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s electro-optical targeting system. A recent contract awarded to BAE by Lockheed Martin means that several thousand lasers will be produced at the Edinburgh site.
• Pro-Lite Technology, a UK distributor of photonics equipment, has signed a distribution agreement with Infrared Associates, a Florida-based maker of infrared detectors. The deal means that Infrared Associate's Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) detectors which cover the 1-25 micron wavelength range will be available in the UK and Ireland through Pro-Lite.
• Alcatel and Fujitsu have been awarded the contract to add a new terabit capacity cable to the Sea-Me-We submarine optical network. The new Sea-Me-We-4 cable will span nearly 20,000 km linking 14 countries spread throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The $500 million new cable is expected to go live in 2005.
• CRL Opto, a UK based supplier of microdisplays, has acquired the assets of MicroVue, a Scottish manufacturer of microdisplays which recently entered into liquidation. CRL says that it will re-commence production of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon (FLCOS) microdisplays as soon as possible.
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