InnoLight and Lumanova to merge

09 Mar 2009

The deal creates a strong German-based manufacturer of diode-pumped solid-state lasers.

InnoLight and Lumanova, both of Hannover, Germany, have announced a merger, effective from April 1st 2009. InnoLight develops and manufactures ultra-stable single-frequency lasers and laser systems for a variety of commercial and industrial markets such as gravity wave detection, aerospace, basic research and OEM applications, while Lumanova produces diode-pumped solid-state lasers (see our earlier Start-up Spotlight).

The agreement is said to represent the foundation of a premiere manufacturer of diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) lasers, to trade under the Innolight name.

There were already strong ties between the two companies, with Ingo Freitag serving as managing director for both. "InnoLight focuses on unique specifications for scientific customers," Freitag told optics.org. "Lumanova's strength is to provide cost effective products for industrial OEM customers," .

In particular, InnoLight developed the control electronics of Lumanova's laser products, and Freitag predicts that the combined companies will develop new products based on the same technology for use in scientific and industrial laser systems.

"A good example of the new synergies available will be InnoLight's master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) technology, giving access to higher output powers," said Freitag. "One of Lumanova's core competencies, apart from compact DPSSL technologies, is an innovative packaging solution for its high performance lasers. New miniaturized platforms and designs are outstanding technologies to provide better, more valuable and lower cost lasers."

The combination of both companies is intended to significantly improve financial and technical performance, and at a faster rate than either of the two companies could accomplish on a stand-alone basis. "Both companies have strong technology platforms in DPSS Lasers and the best engineering teams, and we expect to drive innovation and expansion in existing and new growth areas," commented Freitag.