March 3, 2006, Santa Clara, CA--For the past eight years, Coherent, Inc. has been marketing HeNe lasers from Melles Griot (Carlsbad, CA) under the Coherent name. Effective April 3, 2006, the current distribution agreement will end.

"We've been happy to private-label these products; however, we've decided to focus on non-HeNe products such as our direct-diode, diode-pumped solid-state, and optically-pumped-semiconductor products. These products, offering wavelengths from the UV and visible to near-IR, continue to offer compelling solutions for our customers," said Paul Sechrist, vice president, Components Business Management for Coherent, Inc.

Coherent's current HeNe customers will be redirected to Melles Griot for their HeNe solutions. Melles Griot will honor current contracts and support for new and existing HeNes going forward. The last HeNe shipments from Coherent are anticipated to be March 31st, 2006. Coherent will work with customers to optimize the transition as appropriate.

Fri Mar 03 10:12:00 CST 2006