SphereOptics acquired by Halma and to merge with Labsphere

January 29, 2010--Halma, a safety, health and sensor technology group based in the United Kingdom, acquired SphereOptics (Concord, NH), a maker of custom light measurement technologies. SphereOptics will join Halma’s global group of photonics businesses as it is merged with its light metrology company Labsphere (North Sutton, NH) (see also “Labsphere and Orb Optronix forge light measurement partnership").

SphereOptics manufactures and distributes precision products for use in light metrology applications. The company’s standard and custom radiometric and photometric products address the specific needs of the aerospace, automotive, electronic imaging, laser diode, LED, lighting, medical imaging and optics industries.

Labsphere has a strong worldwide presence in light testing and measurement and optical coatings. The company’s products include LED, laser and traditional light source light measurement systems; uniform light sources for imaging device calibration; spectroscopy accessories; and high diffuse reflectance materials and coatings for applications in backlit panel displays, computed radiography, and system calibration.

“The reunion of two industry leaders, Labsphere and SphereOptics, will provide our customers with innovative, high quality products, world class technical expertise and unequalled customer service,” said Labsphere president Kevin Chittim.

Halma is a holding company of almost 50 worldwide subsidiaries that develop and manufacture products to improve quality of life for people worldwide. The company’s business groups focus on industrial safety, health and analysis and infrastructure sensors. SphereOptics joins Labsphere, Ocean Optics (www.OceanOptics.com), Ocean Thin Films (www.Oceanthinfilms.com), Fiberguide (www.fiberguide.com), and Mikropack GmbH (www.mikropack.de) in the photonics sector of the health and analysis business group.

Halma’s photonics companies are established brands with market-leading technologies and products which generate light, condition light and analyze the interaction of light on substances. Their products range from spectrometers to complementary technologies such as chemical sensors, analytical instrumentation, optical fibers, thin films and optics. The scope of applications is vast, from cancer detection to specialized architectural and theater lighting filters. Halma says the acquisition of SphereOptics and its complementary technologies will create opportunities for technical and marketing collaborations as it continues to grow this sector.

--Posted by Gail Overton; [email protected];
www.laserfocusworld.com