IPG Photonics acquires Photonics Innovations, enters mid-IR laser space

Jan. 27, 2010

2 min read

Fiber-laser manufacturer IPG Photonics Corporation (Oxford, MA) has acquired the outstanding shares of privately-held Photonics Innovations, Inc. (PII; Birmingham, AL), which makes 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 mid-IR (approximately 2 to 5 microns). 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.Strong academic tiesPII was established by researchers at The University of Alabama at Birmingham 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. PII’s co-founder and current president, Sergey Mirov, is also a professor of physics, as well as co-director of the Center for Optical Sensors and Spectroscopies at University of Alabama at Birmingham.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 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 zinc sulfide and zinc selenide based crystal laser materials has opened exciting opportunities to build new perfect hybrid laser sources in the range of 2 to 5 microns 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.”IPG Photonics and Photonics Innovations are exhibiting at SPIE Photonics West booth #1107 this week (January 26-28, 2010) at the MosconeCenter (San Francisco, CA).

About the Author

John Wallace

Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.