Optics Balzers announced the groundbreaking at its new headquarters, a project that is expected to show the direction for the further growth of the company. Optics Balzers executive members break ground at the new site. From left to right: Dr. Martin Kasper (managing director), Alex Vogt (CEO), Werner Vogt (ITW), Dolores Reinhardt (deputy member of the board for Hanspeter Reinhardt) and Dr. Christoph Studinka (chairman of the boar). (Photo: Optics Balzers) The new building will merge all of the company’s units under one roof. The concentration of all development, production, materials management, warehousing and administration tasks will now be in a single, new industrial complex tailored to the specific needs of the company. It is expected to boost company productivity by at least 20 percent. “Entire industries have been relocated to low-wage countries for cost reasons. But we have very close ties to Balzers and will remain here and at our site in Jena, Germany to create new jobs,” said Alex Vogt, CEO, outlining the strategic goals of the company. The building will be planned and constructed by ITW Ingenieurunternehmung AG, on the basis of the latest technical and ecological standards. The entire complex will be clad in a special outside plastic paneling to reflect sunlight from the building and to provide thermal insulation toward the inside. It will work closely with the specialists at ITW toe establish the entire inner layout of the buildings, as well as determine a way to organize the relocation of the two sites so as not to affect ongoing production. Optics Balzers supplies optical coatings and components for biophotonics, space and defense, sensors and imaging, lighting and projection, and industrial applications. Products offered include optical thin-film coatings, glass processing, patterning and sealing technologies, and optical subassemblies. For more information, visit: www.opticsbalzers.com