Zecotek and Hamamatsu sign collaboration deal

17 Jul 2013

To commercialize imaging technologies and to jointly develop photo detectors, modules and electronics for imaging markets.

Zecotek Photonics, a developer of photonics technologies for medical, industrial and scientific markets, has announced that its subsidiary Zecotek Imaging Systems has signed collaboration agreement with Hamamatsu Photonics of Japan to commercialize existing imaging technologies and to develop photo detectors, and associated systems for imaging markets.

With around $1 billion in annual sales, Hamamatsu supplies optoelectronics components including photo multiplier tubes and photodiodes for positron emission tomography medical scanners, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) projects and various other industrial and scientific applications.

"This agreement represents a pivotal event for Zecotek. With Hamamatsu's technological, manufacturing and commercial expertise, our two companies will have the capacity to provide substantial value to the medical imaging and high-energy physics industries," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, CEO of Zecotek Photonics.

Koei Yamamoto, General Managing Director of Hamamatsu Photonics, added, "We are pleased to join forces and add value to Zecotek's imaging technologies. We will use our established R&D, technological and manufacturing expertise to strengthen Zecotek's technological products. We believe this to be a powerful and symbiotic relationship."

Marketing and manufacturing

The agreement combines the strengths of both organizations into a collaborative program, whereby Zecotek's patented imaging technologies can benefit from the marketing capabilities of Hamamatsu.

Hamamatsu will also take over the manufacturing and marketing of most of Zecotek's proprietary imaging technologies, including the commercialization of LFS crystals, solid-state MAPD photo detectors and future Zecotek developments.

Hamamatsu becomes the exclusive sales channel for Zecotek' patented protected LFS scintillation crystal and future generations of the scintillation material. Hamamatsu will take the lead on the technological enhancement, large-scale manufacturing and marketing of all Zecotek's imaging technologies.

The partners say they plan to establish a joint program to improve existing versions of photodetectors and imaging modules, for immediate commercialization and develop new innovative ones for future markets.

Both parties will retain full ownership to all their respective patents and intellectual property brought into the collaboration. The manufacturing and commercialization of existing and new technologies will be performed by Hamamatsu.

Zecotek Imaging Systems has research laboratory facilities in Singapore and Russia.

About the Author

Matthew Peach is a contributing editor to optics.org.