Photonics News: Week in Brief: 12/17/21

NUREMBERG, Germany — Wiring systems supplier Leoni AG is selling its subsidiaries Leoni Fiber Optics GmbH, Leoni Fiber Optics Inc., and j-plasma GmbH to a consortium of buyers around Weinert Industries AG. The portfolios of Leoni Fiber Optics and j-plasma include special fibers in the areas of optical metrology and industrial data transmission. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The 4×400G Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) group announced its formation as an industry consortium to advance the development and adoption of high-density 1.6T pluggable optical transceivers operating at 100 Gbit/s per lane. Founding members of the MSA include Arista, Broadcom, Intel, Molex, and AOI. The consortium will address end user needs for next-generation network infrastructure based on existing 100G Lambda optical interface standards with reaches up to 10 km on single-mode fiber.

JENA, Germany — Jenoptik AG refinanced its revolving syndicated loan and increased it from €230 million ($260 million) to €400 million ($453 million). The five-year term can be extended twice by one year each time, so that the volume can be increased to €600 million ($679 million), if necessary.

ASSLAR, Germany — Pfeiffer Vacuum, a high-tech vacuum solutions provider for the semiconductor industry, opened the Silicon Valley Innovation Center in San Jose, Calif. The company said that the 10,000-sq-ft facility will create more than 20 jobs.

Pfeiffer Vacuum's Silicon Valley Innovation Center. Courtesy of Pfeiffer Vacuum.

MUZZANO, Switzerland — FEMTOprint SA, a contract manufacturer of 3D-printed microdevices in glass and other transparent materials, will launch a photonics business unit in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Beginning in February, under the management of Rolando Ferrino, the business unit will pursue the company’s growth in photonics — specifically in micro-optics.

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. — Voyant Photonics raised $15.4 million in Series A funding led by UP Partners, with participation from earlier investors LDV Capital and Contour Ventures. The lidar company has made its developer kits available for select customers on its waiting list.

GWANGJU, South Korea — The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) developed a material technology in which a high resolution is possible without requiring a high temperature for the process. The institute reported that it successfully applied the material to an OLED microdisplay. The prototype is a 0.7-in. microdisplay with 2300 pixels per inch. ETRI is planning follow-up studies to develop a panel with a target resolution of 3000 pixels per inch. The institute is in discussions with private industry to commercialize the technology.

SWINDON, England — Sensata Technologies, a developer of sensor-based solutions including optical tachometers, acquired Sendyne Corp., a developer of sensing and simulation technologies for next-generation e-mobility. The acquisition strengthens Sensata’s electrification component portfolio and strategy, and expands on its recent acquisitions of Gigavac, Lithium Balance, and Spear Power Systems. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

GLASGOW, Scotland — The University of Strathclyde-based Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics will receive £6.5 million ($8.65 million) over the next five years from the Scottish government. The funding will enable the purchase of cutting-edge equipment and doctorate-level training for students.