Business briefs

11 Jun 2007

Featuring news from GSI, Electron Tubes, Gilden Photonics, Planar Systems, Satisloh, AP Technologies and others.

• GSI, a US supplier of precision motion control components, lasers and laser- based advanced manufacturing systems, has purchased the beryllium mirrors and structures business of UK-based Thales Optronics for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is expected to be slightly accretive to GSI's 2007 net earnings, and builds on existing collaboration between the two companies.

• New research from Japanese market research firm BOC suggests that the demand for blue-laser optical disk drives (Blu-ray and HD DVD) will grow from 15 million units in 2007 to 52 million in 2008. The report concludes that the strongest demand will come from the games console market, despite recent price-cutting by Sony on their standalone Blu-ray drives.

• A UK consortium of Filtronic, Forge Europa, QinetiQ, Thomas Swan and Cambridge University has won a three-year contract worth just under £3 million ($6 million) to develop a route to low-cost LEDs for solid-state lighting. The project, which is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, aims to demonstrate high-quality LEDs on 150 mm silicon substrates, to enable large-scale production of LED lamps for solid-state white lighting, and to provide a route for the UK to enter this rapidly growing market.

• Electron Tubes of the UK has sold its photomultiplier and accessories business to ET Enterprises Limited, a newly formed subsidiary of Ludlum Measurements, US. Ludlum also manufactures photomultipliers through its ADIT division. Ron McAlpine, currently operations director of Electron Tubes, is managing director of the new ETEL business, which will remain based in Ruislip, UK.

Electron Tubes has also renamed its detector modules and X-ray systems business. Sens-Tech will be led by Steve Jaye, currently director of sensor systems, and will be a major customer for ETEL's photomultiplers.

• Spectroscopy instrumentation supplier Gilden Photonics, UK, has relocated to a purpose-built facility on the Clydebank Business Park adjacent to Glasgow airport. The site includes a manufacturing workshop and customer showroom in addition to office space.

• Planar Systems, a US supplier of specialty display solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with the graphics systems manufacturer Matrox Graphics. The agreement will enable Planar's Dome EX displays to incorporate custom 10-bit enabled Matrox MED display controller boards.

• Technical Manufacturing Corporation, a manufacturer of vibration isolation systems, has added 9,000 square feet to its facility in Peabody, Massachusetts, US, the company's fourth expansion in 15 years. The new manufacturing space includes clean assembly areas for semiconductor factories, medical research labs and advanced photonics facilities.

• Satisloh, Switzerland, has restructured its precision optics operations as an independent business unit. Dr Michael Sander will be director of the new unit, which will include technology, sales, application engineering, production and service personnel. Contact details of Satisloh representatives worldwide will remain unchanged.

• AP Technologies has been appointed as a distributor in the UK and the Republic of Ireland for The Fox Group's light-emitting diodes. AP Technologies is a privately-held specialist distributor of optoelectronic components, sub-systems and supporting electronics.

People

• Roy Bjorlin has been appointed market segment manager for the electronics and optical market by Dymax Corporation, US, a manufacturer of assembly adhesives, coatings and light-curing systems. Bjorlin has 20 years of experience in the electronics industry, and will report to Rich Golebiewski, senior vice president of global marketing.

• Arizona Technology Enterprises, US, has named Augustine Cheng as its managing director, replacing Peter Slate. Cheng will leave his position as associate general counsel of Columbia University's Patent and Licensing Group and take up his position in Arizona on 1st August 2007. AzTE handles technology transfer for ASU and Northern Arizona University, linking school innovations with industrial applications.

• Andor Technology, a UK developer and manufacturer of high performance digital cameras, has named Conor Walsh as its chief executive officer with immediate effect. Walsh has served as the company's finance director since 2002. Hugh Cormican, director for strategic development, has also tendered his resignation which will be effective from November 2007.

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