Business briefs

04 Feb 2005

Including news from JDS Uniphase, Northrop Grumman, Bookham, Micronic and more.

General company news:

•  US-based market analyst Business Communications Company (BCC) predicts that the global market for quantum dots (QDs) will exceed $500 million by 2009. In its report "Quantum Dots: Technical Status and Market Prospects" BCC lists promising sectors for QDs as flat panel displays, flexible electronics, lighting, memory and solar energy.

•  Northrop Grumman plans to install and flight-test its commercial aircraft protection system on a Boeing 747 and MD-11 this year. Called Guardian, the systems uses directional infrared countermeasures to protect the aircraft from threats such as ground-based shoulder-fired missiles. Northrop's has industrial support from Federal Express and Northwest Airlines.

•  Biolase, the US-based dental laser maker, has acquired the intellectual property portfolio of Diodem for $3 million in cash and $4.5 million in stock. "This deal will provide opportunities in the areas of strategic licensing and product development, as well as strengthen Biolase's IP position of its Waterlase technology," said Robert Grant, president of Biolase.

•  Radiant Imaging of the US has reported a record sales increase of 68% in 2004 for its display characterization and light source measurement products. Ron Rykowski, Radiant's president, says the growth is partly due to the expansion of the firm's international distribution network.

Contracts and distribution

•  JDS Uniphase, US, has been awarded a contract to supply electro-optics modulators for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) being built at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The custom-designed lithium-niobate modulators will be used for precise pulse shaping.

•  Adaptive Optics Associates, a subsidiary of Metrologic Instruments of the US, has received an additional $1.8 million of funding from Livermore to supply optical components for the NIF. The order is for output sensors and light source launchers, which will be delivered in 2005.

•  Micronic Laser Systems says that a major Asian photomask supplier has placed an order for two of Micronic's products. Micronic says it will deliver one of its LRS15000 laser pattern generators and one MMS15000 TFT-LCD photomask metrology system to the undisclosed customer this year.

•  Bookham, the US developer of optical components and subsystems, has appointed ADM Electronics to distribute its products in Israel. ADM will distribute all of Bookham's telecommunications components.