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25 Apr 2006
CVI Technical Optics, the Isle of Man-based subsidiary of CVI Laser, has acquired its island neighbour QLO, with the aim of boosting business based on the companies' expertise in phosphate disc polishing and optical coatings.
CVI Technical Optics, Onchan, Isle of Man, has acquired fellow island-based company Quality Laser Optics for an undisclosed sum. The deal will increase CVI-TO's European manufacturing capacity by over 25% and add new material processing capabilities, in particular, phosphate disc polishing. QLO's operation and most of its 35 staff will be relocated the five miles to CVI-TO's European headquarters in Onchan.
CVI Technical Optics is a subsidiary of CVI Laser (CVI), based in Albuquerque, NM, US. CVI has been privately held by equity firm Norwest Equity Partners since May 2003. CVI says its now extended range of products and capabilities and its 400 staff world wide will enable it to offer improved product performance and choice.
"We are combining two complementary companies to create a single source for spherical lenses, cylindrical lenses, multi-element lenses, waveplates, polarizers, beamsplitters, filters, windows, large format optics, mounts, and opto-mechanical sub-assemblies," said Helmut Kessler, General Manager of CVI Technical Optics. "Now we will have a transitional phase to integrate QLO into our business. Then we will be looking at achieving significant growth from combining the two."
QLO's expertise lies in the polishing of large phosphate discs. With its equipment QLO can perform a significant amount of polishing because, at 85 and 96 inch diameters, the company owns two of the largest continuous polishers in Europe. QLO staff built and customised these machines themselves.
"In return CVI will add coating functionality to QLO's output, which previously it did not have in-house," adds Kessler.
CVI's acquisition of QLO is the latest in a recent series of acquisitions. "We are looking at an acquisition strategy to add new capabilities and products to the group," Lynore Abbott, CVI's marketing and communications manager told optics.org. "It's less about adding capacity and more about adding technologies. Our previous significant acquisition was Optical Components, based in Covina, CA, which we bought in June 2005."
CVI is known for is rapid prototyping of almost any coating, on any size and shape of optical surface. The group also has expertise in infrared materials. "We have made a lot of investment in infrastructure at Covina and we expect to do the same with QLO," adds Abbott.
The Isle of Man is rapidly developing a reputation as a centre of excellence in the field of etalons, which revolves around the education of the founders of at least three optics companies there. The previously separate companies Technical Optics (now CVI-Technical Optics), QLO and SLS Optics have a connected history. The founders became experts in this technology area and learned how to polish key optical materials to the highest quality finish.
The Isle of Man is also an interesting location for high technology manufacturers, particularly because of the financial incentives from the Tynwald, the island's 1000-year old government. This comes in several forms: as grants; in the zero-rated corporate taxation; and the island's famously low income tax - the top rate is 18%.
About CVI Laser
Targeting semiconductor, biotech, industrial, commercial, aerospace and research industries, CVI has 30 years of optics manufacturing experience with precision machining and mechanical design to produce integrated opto-mechanical assemblies. The company manufactures optical components, providing engineering, rapid prototype delivery, high volume production, and system integration. CVI operates manufacturing facilities in New Mexico, California, the Isle of Man and South Korea.
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