Spectra-Physics Commercial Systems Group Changes Name

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. July 11 -- Spectra-Physics has renamed its Commercial Systems Group as a result of the company's increased focus on providing components to the growing telecommunications market. The company, a majority-owned subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corp., will be known as Spectra-Physics Passive Components.
The rapid growth in telecommunications represents a major market opportunity for us, said Patrick L. Edsell, chairman, president and CEO of Spectra-Physics. With our unique experience and capabilities, Spectra-Physics Passive Components is particularly well positioned to succeed in this area. The name change is a statement that we're going to focus on telecommunications components, while retaining our commitment to the laser optics business.
The Zeroshift line of 200-GHz narrow band pass filters will be the first product sold under the new name. Passive Components has produced high-precision laser optics and thin-film coatings for optical elements in dense wavelength division multiplexing and optical add drop multiplexer applications for over 40 years.