The acquisition of !%Schott Lithotec’s%! fused-silica technology last fall has enabled !%7375%%j-fiber Group%! to provide optics and laser markets with high-purity synthetic silica. The transaction involved the transfer of processes, people and expertise for the German companies. J-fiber, of Jena, bought the Mainz-based Schott’s fused-silica melting process, including burner, annealing and selected machinery for further silica treatment, as well as its measurement technology for quality assurance, process documentation material and patents. The company hired Schott’s key specialists for melting, treatment, processing and quality assurance, who supported the information transfer and implementation of processes and equipment for initializing production at the facilities of its subsidiary, j-plasma. Under the brand name SQ, j-fiber now offers fused silica with suitable optical properties and various quality grades for use in fiber optics, optics and laser technologies, and for technical applications including lithography.