CVI Laser LLC of Albuquerque, N.M., has signed an agreement to acquire Melles Griot, a deal expected to bolster its optical manufacturing capacity and allow for the development of new markets.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to be completed no later than June 15. With the merger, the company will change its name to CVI Melles Griot.The expansion will bring design, manufacturing, assembly and testing of photonic products and optical subsystems under one roof.“We are excited to add the Melles Griot laser products to our portfolio,” said Stuart Schoenmann, CEO of CVI. “This acquisition will bring us closer to our customers around the world, as we will have more than doubled our worldwide geographic footprint.”CVI is a privately held company that manufactures a variety of optical components and that provides services such as engineering, prototyping, high-volume production and system integration to its clients. The company has close to 500 employees.The merger brings together two substantial optical companies, but there is little overlap in the products they produce. Schoenmann said that the deal will provide customers with a broader product range and a single source for diverse lighting and optical needs. “Melles Griot was a natural fit with CVI.”The transaction is the latest move by CVI to broaden its customer base. It has established manufacturing facilities in Asia, purchased two companies in Europe (Technical Optics and Quality Laser Optics) and one other US company (Optical Components). More acquisitions are likely in the future.“Strategic acquisitions will enable us to provide new and improved products, rapid turnaround times and even faster times to market,” he said.Melles Griot, which is based in Carlsbad, Calif., comprises three business groups that manufacture optical systems, lasers and other photonic devices. It serves a variety of industries, including semiconductor, biotechnology, metrology and research.The company also has approximately 500 employees and has been a subsidiary of South Africa-based Barloworld Scientific Ltd. since 1988. Barloworld anounced in March that negotiations for the company had reached an “advanced stage.”