January 22--Newport Corp. announced that it has formed a new Fiber Laser Business Group within its Spectra-Physics Lasers Division to lead the company's efforts in fiber laser amplifier technology development. The group's charter is to develop and commercialize products incorporating the company's capabilities in diode lasers, fiber coupling, frequency conversion, optics, and photonics packaging.
"Fiber-based laser technologies have made significant advances in recent years, driven primarily by research and development efforts in the telecommunications industry," says Rober G. Deuster, Newport's chairman and chief executive officer. "These new fiber-based laser products offer inherent advantages in cost- and performance efficiency, power scalability, reliability and beam quality for some applications. Adding these products to Newport's existing portfolio of diode-pumped solid-state lasers will enable us to address new applications in our existing markets, will play an important role in Newport's growth into new markets, applications and customers, and will add additional breadth to Newport's integrated photonics solutions strategy."
Deuster continued, "This focused team approach is consistent with our legacy as a technology leader in the laser industry. We were the first company to aggressively embrace and organize ourselves to exploit diode-pumped solid-state laser technology in the 1980s, and we expect to become a leader in fiber-based products as well. What is most exciting is that the recent gains in fiber laser performance and versatility, along with the potential for continued innovation, are opening up many new application areas and price-performance points for laser technology in general, and Newport in particular."
Deuster noted that the company has been working in this development area for some time and is already in discussions with key customers on products for several new applications.
"As the photonics industry continues to grow, new laser architectures and future products become essential elements in advancing technology roadmaps," concluded Deuster. "Newport's broad product and technology portfolio, extensive experience in applications for science and industry, and global manufacturing and service capabilities provide the foundation required to bring these high-performance products to market in 2007 and beyond."
For more information, visit www.newport.com.