Business briefs

• Hamamatsu Photonics has started construction of a new Integral Optics building for the development of ultracompact products combining optical systems with photonic devices. The new facility is sited within the grounds of the company's Central Research Laboratory in Japan, and construction is scheduled to be completed in September 2009. The Integral Optics building will serve as a technology centre for the various manufacturing divisions of Hamamatsu Photonics, and will be the new office for R&D groups that have been working on company-wide integral optics projects during the past several years.

• Energetiq Technology, a developer of short-wavelength light products headquartered in the US, has raised additional capital in its Series C round of financing. The financing was led by a new investor, Ushio Inc, and supported by existing investors including Intel Capital and Shea Ventures. The funding will allow development of the company's Laser-Drive Light Source systems, intended for use in life-science analytical instrument applications and semiconductor manufacturing, according to a statement.

• Planar Systems has sold its CoolSign digital signage business in fields of use outside of the gaming market to CS Software Holdings. Planar previously announced that it had sold its CoolSign Digital Signage business for use within the gaming field to Bally Gaming (see earlier Business briefs). Further terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

• The Qioptiq Group has entered into a consent agreement with the US Department of State to resolve alleged civil violations of arms export regulations, including unauthorized exports of controlled technical data and night-vision technology. The agreement includes an aggregate civil penalty of $25 million. The Department noted Qioptiq's full co-operation, voluntary disclosures and comprehensive, self-initiated remedial measures. The alleged violations arose when the companies belonging to Qioptiq were part of another group.

• Renishaw, a UK-headquarted supplier of metrology and inspection systems, has licensed the source code of the Camio coordinate measuring machine (CMM) software from its developer, Metris. Renishaw has also employed a number of Metris engineers to support future development of its products, although Metris preserves full ownership of the original source code and the Camio brand name. Access to its own software will enhance Renishaw's offering, including the option to retrofit the software into existing metrology products, according to the company.

People

• Gary Langford has been appointed chief financial officer by Nexxus Lighting, a supplier of solid-state, LED and fibre-optic lighting systems. He replaces John Oakley, who has resigned to pursue an opportunity at another publicly traded company outside of the lighting industry.

• Light Blue Optics, a developer of miniature projection systems, has named Chris Hoggarth as vice-president of sales and marketing with immediate effect. Hoggarth will have responsibility for the company's sales and marketing strategy and building relationships with key customers and partners in markets including automotive, information display and consumer electronics. His experience in the displays industry includes having been head of Samsung's European LCD business unit.

• George Bayz has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Optical Research Associates (ORA), having served on its board since 1999. Bayz comes to ORA with executive management experience at a number of software and project management suppliers.