Optics/photonics business statements on COVID-19 show grit in the face of adversity

To help keep Laser Focus World's audience up to date on the state of the optics and photonics industry in the age of the coronavirus, we have compiled a list of links to statements that optics and photonics companies—as well as universities and other institutions—have made concerning COVID-19. Most, but not all, of these statements describe steps taken to maintain safety while keeping business underway; others describe efforts to develop new products to help the world overcome this pandemic.

A number of things are evident in these statements:

--It is clear that safety, both for employees and customers, is paramount.

--The supply chain appears to remain strong as of late March.

--Numerous companies have crucial roles in defense, medical, and semiconductor supply chains and are thus deemed "essential businesses," meaning they may stay open even under more-extreme government-specified shutdown measures.

--The dedication of our industry in keeping things as close to "business as usual" as possible is obvious.

This list was originally compiled on March 25, 2020 and is being updated and added to by Laser Focus World editors as we receive new information. If you want your company's or institution's link to be added, or your company or institution is on the list and you have an updated link (or you have simply updated the page and want us to note the new date), please send the link to: John Wallace, Senior Editor, Laser Focus World (note: please send links only, no text statements).

Statements on COVID-19 by businesses and institutions in the optics and photonics industry, with dates if given   (Note: it is possible that a website page may be updated by the business so that the date on the site's page does not align with the date we have noted)

A to G

Aerotech -- 5/8/20 -- https://www.aerotech.com/about-aerotech/covid-19-business-update.aspx 

AIM Photonics -- 3/23/20 -- http://www.aimphotonics.com/covid-19notice

Airguide -- https://airguide.soton.ac.uk/

Alluxa -- 3/18/20 -- https://www.alluxa.com/news-events/notes-from-the-ceo/alluxa-and-covid-19/

Amada America -- https://www.amada.com/america/coronavirus-information

AMETEK -- https://www.ametek.com/pressreleases/news/2020/march/ametek-statement-on-the-covid-19-outbreak

Amplitude Laser -- https://amplitude-laser.com/news/our-measures-against-the-coronavirus/

Applied Image -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.appliedimage.com/covid-19-corona-virus-update/

ASML -- 3/19/20 -- https://www.asml.com/en/covid-19

A*STAR (Agency for Science, technology, and Research) -- https://www.a-star.edu.sg/News-and-Events/a-star-news/news/covid-19/from-singapore-to-the-world-where-fortitude-kit-2.0-has-been-deployed-globally

Avantes -- 3/13/20 -- https://www.avantes.com/company/news/item/1455-covid-19-update

Basler -- https://www.baslerweb.com/en/service/message-from-the-board-on-corona/

Cailabs -- 3/20 -- https://www.cailabs.com/en/new/information-covid-19/

Candela -- https://candelamedical.com/na/covid19

Chinese Academy of Sciences -- 1/27/20 -- http://english.cas.cn/newsroom/cas_media/202001/t20200131_229807.shtml

Chromasens -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.chromasens.de/en/blog/covid-19-statement

Chroma Technology -- 4/7/20 -- https://www.chroma.com/news-events/covid19

Cincinnati Inc. -- 3/23/20 -- http://wwwassets.e-ci.com/PDF/COVID-19/CI-Essential-Business-Letter.pdf    

CMM Optic -- (on home page) https://www.cmmoptic.com/

CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) -- 3/18/20 -- https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/basic-science-is-the-best-protection-against-epidemics

Cobolt -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.coboltlasers.com/cobolts-production-capacity-is-intact/

Coherent -- 3/31/20 -- https://www.coherent.com/company/pandemic-updates

CoolLED -- (on home page) https://www.coolled.com/news/covid-19-a-message-to-our-customers

Corning -- https://www.corning.com/worldwide/en/about-us/news-events/company-update-regarding-covid-19.html

Delta Optical Thin Film -- https://www.deltaopticalthinfilm.com/we-are-open-for-business-set-up-a-teams-meeting/ 

Deposition Sciences, Inc. (DSI) -- 3/23/20 -- (on home page) https://www.depsci.com/

Dynasil -- https://www.dynasil.com/coronavirus-update/

Edinburgh Instruments -- https://www.edinst.com/news/covid-19-statement/

Edmund Optics -- https://www.edmundoptics.com/operational-updates/ as well as interactive online map of Edmund's facilities on home page https://www.edmundoptics.com/

Electro-Optics Technology (EOT) -- 3/23/30 -- https://www.eotech.com/content/userfiles/EOT%20-%20COVID-19%20Essential%20Business%20Letter%20-%20Public%20Letter.pdf

Esco Optics -- 3/13/20 -- https://escooptics.com/blogs/news/operations-and-procedures-during-covid-19

FARO -- 3/23/20 -- (on home page) https://www.faro.com/

Fibercore -- 3/24/20 -- https://www.fibercore.com/news-article/fibercore-response-to-covid-19

Ficontec -- 4/20 -- https://www.ficontec.com/statement-ficontec-covid-19/

Fisher Scientific -- https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/our-response-to-the-covid-19-outbreak.html#content-par-main_columncontrol_dd98

FLIR Systems -- 3/20/20 -- https://www.flir.com/news-center/corporate-news/a-message-about-covid-19/

Future Photonics Hub -- http://photonicshubuk.org/

Frankfurt Laser Company -- (on home page) -- https://www.frlaserco.com 

Fraunhofer Institutes (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) -- 3/18/20 -- https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/Coronavirus-the-Fraunhofer-gesellschafts-response-and-action-it-has-taken-to-protect-its-employees-business-partners-and-participants-at-fraunhofer-events.html

Gamma Scientific -- (on home page) https://www.gamma-sci.com/

G&H -- 3/24/20 -- https://gandh.com/covid19-update/

H to M

Hamamatsu -- https://www.hamamatsu.com/jp/en/news/announcements/2020/20200302000000.html

Headwall Photonics -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.headwallphotonics.com/blog/topic/covid-19

Hexagon -- https://www.hexagonmi.com/about-us/covid-19-coronavirus

II-VI -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.ii-vi.com/news/letter-to-the-community-from-the-ceo/ and https://www.ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-ramps-manufacturing-capacity-of-components-and-subassemblies-for-molecular-diagnostic-testing-systems/

imec -- https://www.imec-int.com/en/covid-19

Infrared Cameras Inc. (ICI) -- (numerous items on home page) https://infraredcameras.com/

InfraTec -- (on home page) https://www.infratec-infrared.com/thermography/

Innolas -- (on home page) https://www.innolas-photonics.com/

Inrad Optics -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.inradoptics.com/optics-resources/technical-blog/245-covid-19-status-updated 

Isomet -- (on home page) http://www.isomet.com/

iXblue Photonics -- 3/19/20 -- https://photonics.ixblue.com/news/we-are-still-open-business-covid-19

Jenoptik -- 4/1/20 -- https://www.jenoptik.com/press/pressreleases/2020/04/01/measures-to-strengthen-the-financial-power; also 3/18/20 -- https://www.jenoptik.com/press/pressreleases/2020/03/18/information-on-corona-prevention

JML Optical -- https://www.jmloptical.com/about/news-events/covid-19-message-for-customers-partners-and-key-stakeholders/

Keyence -- https://www.keyence.com/landing/gen/news_2002.jsp

KMLabs -- https://www.kmlabs.com/news-and-events/an-update-to-our-clients-and-collaborators-on-the-current-coronavirus-situation

LaCroix Precision Optics -- https://lacroixoptics.com/news/COVID19-statement

Laser Focus World -- 3/24/20 -- https://www.laserfocusworld.com/photonics-business/article/14168765/operating-amidst-uncertainty

Laserglow technologies -- (click on icon at right of screen) https://www.laserglow.com/content/Corporate-Sustainability-Responsibility

Laserline -- 3/20/20 -- https://www.laserline.com/en-int/news-detail/laserline-company-information-on-actual-occasion-covid-19/

LASER-TEC -- 4/3/20 -- https://www.laser-tec.org/laser-tec-and-nsf-assist-opcn-students-during-covid-19-pandemic.html

Lightel -- https://lightel.com/news-event/75/covid-19-message-from-the-ceo

LightMachinery -- https://lightmachinery.com/about/news/update-on-the-impact-of-covid-19/

Lockheed Martin -- 3/10/20 -- https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/statements-speeches/2020/lockheed-martin-statement-on-employee-covid-19-exposure.html

Luxinar -- https://www.luxinar.com/news/our-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19/

MACOM -- https://www.macom.com/about/news-and-events/press-release-archive/row-col1/news--event-archive/managing-the-covid-19-situation

Matrox Imaging -- 3/17/20 -- https://www.matrox.com/imaging/en/press/releases/2020/covid-19-statement-updates/

Menlo Systems -- https://www.menlosystems.com/events/news-press-releases/view/2805

MKS Instruments -- https://www.mksinst.com/coronavirus

Modulight -- 3/19/20 -- https://www.modulight.com/press-releases/press-news-73/?fbclid=IwAR2tfC-SKEOYVMQz3Ll4HqW2nizAPu2BtjUNkRLUopW8HMGbtR5tIZqTrKc

MRSI -- https://mrsisystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MRSI-Remains-Open-to-Support-Essential-Infrastructure-Sectors.pdf

N to R

Nanoscribe -- 3/20/20 -- https://www.nanoscribe.com/en/news-insights/news/comprehensive-service-in-challenging-times

Nikon -- 3/27/20 -- https://www.nikon.com/news/2020/0327_01.htm

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) -- 3/31/20 -- https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/03/nist-funding-manufacturing-institutes-support-pandemic-response

NKT Photonics -- https://www.nktphotonics.com/lasers-fibers/2020/03/12/we-are-still-open-for-business/

Novanta -- https://www.novanta.com/covid-19-response-statement/ 

Ocean Optics -- 3/16/20 -- https://www.oceaninsight.com/covid-19/

Olympus -- 3/24/20 -- https://www.olympus-global.com/news/2020/an01596.html

Omega Optical -- 3/25/20 -- https://www.omegafilters.com/about/Covid19_response

Optec Laser Systems -- 3/25/20 -- https://optec-laser-systems.com/covid-19-managment/

Optimax -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.optimaxsi.com/news/optimax-is-an-essential-business-operations-remain-open/

OptiPro -- https://www.optipro.com/covid-19-response/

Optoelectronics Research Centre -- https://www.orc.soton.ac.uk/

Optoscribe -- https://www.optoscribe.com/news-events/blog/posts/2020/march/update-regarding-covid-19-from-nick-psaila-ceo/

OptoSigma Europe -- https://europe.optosigma.com/covid-eu/

OptoSigma USA -- https://america.optosigma.com/covid-us/ 

OSA, The Optical Society -- https://www.osa.org/en-us/about_osa/covid-19_(coronavirus)_message/

Oxford Instruments -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.oxinst.com/news/covid-19-update/

Palomar Technologies -- 3/24/20 -- https://www.palomartechnologies.com/blog/update-on-covid-19

Pangolin -- 3/18/20 -- https://pangolin.com/blogs/news/stay-safe-positive-and-educated-covid-19-wont-take-us-down

PerkinElmer -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.perkinelmer.com/PDFs/downloads/COVID-19-Stakeholder-Letter.pdf

Photon Engineering -- (on home page) https://photonengr.com 

Photonis -- 4/3/20 -- https://www.photonis.com/news/update-coronavirus 

PicoQuant -- (on home page) https://www.picoquant.com/

PowerPhotonic -- 3/24/20 -- http://www.powerphotonic.com/company/news/powerphotonic-continues-accept-manufacture-ship-orders

Precision Optics Corp. -- https://www.poci.com/news

Princeton Instruments -- (on home page) https://www.princetoninstruments.com/about-princeton-instruments/managing-partnerships.cfm

Prior Scientific -- 3/25/20 -- https://www.prior.com/product/coronavirus-covid-19-update

Quantel -- 3/17/20 -- https://www.quantel-laser.com/en/news-article/items/COVID19.html

Quantum Composers -- 3/18/20 -- https://www.quantumcomposers.com/post/covid-19-factories-unaffected-open

Renishaw -- https://www.renishaw.com/go/en/45353.aspx

Rheinmetall -- 4/2/20 -- https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/public_relations/news/latest_news/index_23488.php

RP Photonics -- 3/12/20 -- https://www.rp-photonics.com/spotlight_2020_03_16.html

S to Z

Santec -- 4/16/20 -- https://www.santec.com/media/en/a202 

Schott (notice on home page) -- https://www.us.schott.com/english/index.html

SEMI -- https://www.semi.org/en/coronavirus-resources

Spectral Evolution -- https://spectralevolution.com/coronavirus/

Spectrogon -- 3/3/20 -- https://www.spectrogon.com/archives/8373/

SPIE, The international society for optics and photonics -- 3/19/20 -- https://spie.org/news/spie-responds-to-covid-19

SPI Lasers -- https://www.spilasers.com/news/covid-19-statement/

Sydor Optics -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.sydor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/0-1.pdf

Teledyne DALSA -- https://www.teledynedalsa.com/en/news/newsroom/covid-19-operations-statement/

Teledyne Princeton Instruments -- https://www.princetoninstruments.com/about-princeton-instruments/managing-partnerships.cfm

TeraXion -- 3/25/20 -- https://www.teraxion.com/en/news-events/covid19update-2020-03-25/

Thales Group -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/group/press-release/covid-19

Thermo Fisher Scientific -- https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/clinical/clinical-genomics/pathogen-detection-solutions/coronavirus-2019-ncov.html?icid=WB36078

Thorlabs -- 3/25/20 -- https://www.thorlabs.com/covidResponse.cfm

Trotec -- 3/18/20 -- https://www.troteclaser.com/en-us/news/company-statement-covid-19/

TRUMPF -- https://www.trumpf.com/en_US/landing-pages/us/corona-virus/

United Lens Company -- 3/20/20 -- https://www.unitedlens.com/latest-updates-from-ulc-on-covid-19/

University of Arizona (including James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences) -- https://www.arizona.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information -- page includes a 3/25/20 video of university President Robert C. Robbins and Provost Liesl Folks answering questions in a Facebook Live event

University of Central Florida (including CREOL) -- 3/25/20 -- https://www.ucf.edu/safety/coronavirus/

University of Rochester (including the Institute of Optics) -- 3/26/20 -- https://www.rochester.edu/coronavirus-update/

University of Tokyo -- 3/26/20 -- https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/general/COVID-19.html

Ushio America -- 3/25/20 -- https://www.ushio.com/ushio-covid-19-update/

Valtech -- 3/23/20 -- https://valtechcorp.com/coronavirus/

Veeco -- 3/17/20 -- https://ir.veeco.com/news-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/VEECO-PROVIDES-BUSINESS-UPDATE-RELATED-TO-COVID-19-FOR-FIRST-QUARTER-2020/default.aspx

Vertex optics -- (on home page) https://vertexoptics.com/

Vescent Photonics -- (on home page) https://www.vescent.com/

Vincent Associates -- 3/23/20 -- https://www.uniblitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Update-VIncent-Associates-3-23-20.pdf

Vishay -- 3/18/20 -- http://www.vishay.com/company/press/releases/2020/COVID19UpdateMarch262020/

Wavelength Electronics -- https://www.teamwavelength.com/covid-19-statement/

Westboro Photonics -- https://wphotonics.com/westboro-photonics-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Zeiss -- 3/24/20 -- https://www.zeiss.com/spectroscopy/about-us/news-events/statement-covid-19.html

Zepler Institute and Clean Rooms -- https://zepler.soton.ac.uk/

Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics -- https://zepler.soton.ac.uk/

Zygo -- https://www.zygo.com/?/blog/AMETEK-Essential-Businesses-Remain-Open-During-COVID-19-Outbreak/ 

Got optics- and photonics-related news to share with us? Contact John Wallace, Senior Editor, Laser Focus World