As of July 2014, Laser Components Group has expanded its infrared detector activities by acquiring the majority ownership of U.S.-based manufacturer Microwatt Applications (Stuart, FL). The acquisition will enable Laser Components Group to manufacture pyroelectric detectors in-house.
Microwatt Applications manufactures pyroelectric detectors based on lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) for industrial gas analysis, medical technology, flame recognition, and process control; and pyroelectric detectors based on deuterated L-alanine-doped triglycine sulfate (DLaTGS) as the sensing material used in applications such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers and terahertz applications.
"With Alan Doctor, one of the most experienced and renowned experts in the field of pyroelectric detectors joining our ranks, both companies perfectly complement each other," says Patrick Paul, general manager at Laser Components GmbH (Olching, Germany).
As of July 2014, Microwatt will operate under the name Laser Components Pyro Group, Inc. and as a subsidiary of Laser Components Detector Group, Inc. (Tempe, AZ), which already manufactures a line of different IR semiconductor detectors (silicon and indium gallium arsenide semiconductor detectors). Microwatt will remain in Florida and will gradually be expanded.
For more info, see http://www.lasercomponents.com/