Photonics industry round-up

17 Jun 2002

This week's photonics-industry highlights involve cash awards, promotions, partnerships and more.

US photonics giant Coherent has promoted its Photonics Group president, John Ambroseo, to the position of chief operating officer. Coherent's chief executive Bernard Couillaud says that the latest reshuffle has been triggered by rapid changes in the photonics industry. "With John [Ambroseo] assuming responsibility for the overall day-to-day company operations, I will devote more time and energy to moving Coherent forward," he said. A new president for the Photonics Group has yet to be named.

Meanwhile, European competitor Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Germany, has applied for its second shares listing on the German Neuer Markt. Listed on the US NASDAQ market since 1996, the laser manufacturer expects approval by the end of the month.

One company taking its first steps in the photonics industry is the Dutch start-up Lion Photonix, which has just won USD 400,000 in its first round of funding. Specializing in silicon oxynitride integrated optics for microsystems, the company intends to offer manufacturing-design services for silicon components, assembly and packaging technologies.

And finally, a meeting of minds across the Atlantic sees US-based Light Management Group (LMG) making its first European distribution deal after signing an agreement to share its acousto-optic technology with the French laser company Opton Laser. Opton Laser will first assess LMG's technology before offering it to Europe's key industrial and telecoms players, including British Telecom, France Telecom and Alcatel.