Jan 28 2010
IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: IPGP), the world leader in high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers, announced today the acquisition of the outstanding shares of privately-held, Birmingham, Alabama-based Photonics Innovations, Inc. (PII), a maker of active and passive laser materials and tunable lasers for scientific, biomedical, technological, and eyesafe range-finding applications.
The acquisition allows IPG to expand its product offerings to the middle infrared (approximately 2 to 5 micron). PII’s core capabilities include novel optical and laser materials fabrication, solid state and tunable laser design, and optical and sensing systems development. The acquisition is expected to have no material effect on IPG’s financial results for the remainder of the year. Financial terms were not disclosed.
PII was established by researchers at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to apply proprietary and patented optical materials, lasers, and spectroscopic technologies to the development and commercialization of state-of-the-art optical sensing instruments in rapid sensing, identification, and quantification of agents and materials. In addition to active and passive laser materials and tunable lasers, PII develops affordable and reliable middle-infrared microchip and external cavity broadly tunable light sources for scientific, sensing, medical and defense related applications. It also manufactures integrated state-of-the-art middle-infrared optical sensing instruments for rapid sensing, identification, and quantification of agents and materials.
“With the acquisition of Photonics Innovations, we plan to enhance IPG’s product portfolio in middle-infrared spectral range – an exciting emerging market,” said Dr. Valentin Gapontsev, IPG Photonics Chairman and CEO. “The combining of our state-of-the-art fiber laser technology with PII’s proprietary transition metal doped ZnS and ZnSe based crystal laser materials has opened exciting opportunities to build new perfect hybrid laser sources in the range 2 to 5 um for various applications. Both companies have complementary expertise and a passion for technological innovations. We look forward to integrating our similar entrepreneurial cultures and further strengthening our leadership position in fiber lasers.”
“We are delighted to join IPG Photonics,” commented Dr. Sergey Mirov, President of Photonics Innovations, Inc. “As a result of this merger, the combined company now has significantly more resources and the ability to target many new applications in biomedical, sensing, instrumentations, advanced systems, and material processing. IPG is a natural strategic fit for PII and we believe this will benefit both companies’ customers.”
IPG Photonics and Photonics Innovations will be exhibiting at SPIE Photonics West booth #1107 on January 26-28, 2010 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, California, USA.