TRUMPF Maschinen Austria has opened an extension to its Smart Factory at its Pasching site in Austria. Trumpf has invested around €40 million ($44 million) in the expansion of the site over the past two years, building two new production halls with an area of 7000 sq m, and 850 sq m of office space. The site is equipped with a new laser hybrid welding system for large parts like machine frames, which the Pasching plant supplies to other TRUMPF locations. The site also contains a milling center to quickly process large parts with high precision. TRUMPF's two-story extension to its Pasching site Smart Factor includes two additional production halls and added office space. Courtesy of TRUMPF. EINDHOVEN, Netherlands — Morphotonics, a provider of large-area nanoimprint technology, launched a Series B funding round, with a first closing of more than $10 million, and a second closing expected by the end of the year. The funding will allow the company to scale its operations and supply chain, expand its global customer base — particularly in Asia — and help it to position fully-automated, large-area nanoimprinting as a standard in display optics production through new product innovations. ENSCHEDE, Netherlands — Laser technology developer Superlight Photonics has established a strategic partnership with Japanese distributor KLV. The partnership expands Superlight’s footprint in the Asia-Pacific region by enhancing the availability of Superlight’s products within Japan. SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Open XR Optics Forum has made its Open XR Signal Specifications document available, providing a full line-side signal specification for Open XR Optics transceivers, enabling implementation of line-side compatible transceivers. The signal specification has been developed and approved by the Open XR Optics Forum. These specifications further advance multivendor availability and interoperability of Open XR Optics-enabled transceivers through standardization. BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Applications are open for the 2025 SPIE Startup Challenge. The annual entrepreneurial pitch competition is held by SPIE as part of Photonics West, with the finals being held Jan. 28. Cash prizes of $10,000, $5000, and $2500, provided by Startup Challenge Founding Partner Jenoptik, will be awarded to the top three finalists. The SPIE Startup Challenge application deadline is Oct. 16. Jenoptik’s Ralf Kuschnereit (left) and 2024 SPIE President Jennifer Barton (right) pose with Benjamin Dringoli (middle) of TRAQC, the winner of the SPIE Startup Challenge 2024. Courtesy of SPIE. TORONTO — Designer and developer of data-center light sources POET Technologies has been selected by Mentech Technology to supply transmit and receive optical engines for use in the development of 800G pluggable transceivers. Mentech has placed purchase orders for those engines. Sample orders by Mentech are for initial builds and engineering development. Mentech is a supplier of data communications and telecommunications components. MÜLHEIM-KÄRLICH, Germany — Diode laser manufacturer Laserline has acquired 70% of the shares of U.S. laser specialist WBC Photonics, headquartered in Boston. The acquisition expands Laserline’s solution portfolio to include blue laser systems with high beam qualities of 4 mm mrad or better. This positions Laserline as a full-service provider for diode lasers in the blue wavelength range and covers a broad product spectrum from systems with high focusability to power levels in the multi-kilowatt range. VIENNA — TriLite, developer of small-scale projection display technology, has successfully completed an extended Series A funding round, raising its total Series A funding to more than €20 million ($22 million). The funding accelerates TriLite’s commercialization of its projection technology for AR and automotive markets. BUFFALO, N.Y. — Empire State Development has issued a call to apply to round eight of the Luminate NY accelerator competition program for startup companies working on technologies enabled by optics, photonics, or imaging. Applicants for Luminate NY must be incorporated, have at least two full-time employees, and should have proven their core technology, preferably having developed a working prototype. Once admitted, companies will receive assistance, including capital, access to comprehensive lab facilities for technology development, education, and business mentoring. Teams must be able to participate in person in Rochester, N.Y., one week per month, and in virtual programming the other weeks. Applications are being accepted through Jan. 10, 2025. CUPERTINO, Calif. — Mojo Vision, a developer of high-performance microLED technology, has partnered with CY Vision, a next-gen heads-up display (HUD) technology company, to develop HUDs built with microLED technology that incorporate AR into automobiles. These HUDs will leverage AI and 3D imaging to provide drivers with an immersive and personalized driving experience with informative, line-of-sight overlays that promote driver safety and provide essential information.