G&H Acquires Global Photonics to Strengthen U.S. Aerospace and Defense Market Presence

Photonics.com
May 2025TRINITY, Fla., May 14, 2025 — G&H has acquired Global Photonics, a Florida-based specialist in complex optical systems and thin film coatings. The acquisition strengthens G&H's Optical Systems division and extends the company's presence in the U.S. aerospace and defense market. The move, G&H said, "establishes G&H Tampa as a U.S. Center of Excellence for Optical Systems."

Global Photonics supplies optical systems for military land applications, including periscopes and fire-control systems, as well as instrumentation for air platforms and other advanced precision optics. Its expertise in cleanroom lithography, photolithographic reticle fabrication, ion beam etching and advanced thin film coatings will complement G&H’s existing manufacturing capabilities and enhance the group’s offerings into the North American market.

G&H has acquired Global Photonics, which will be rebranded as G&H Tampa. Courtesy of G&H.

“Global Photonics is a strong strategic and operational fit for G&H, bringing deep application expertise, strong relationships with U.S. defense primes and complementary manufacturing capabilities to our growing Optical Systems division,” said Charlie Peppiatt, CEO of G&H. “This acquisition accelerates our plan to become the partner of choice for high-precision optical systems in both the U.K. and the U.S. and opens exciting new growth channels in North America.”

According to Peppiatt, the move also allows G&H to reapply the same strategy it has recently used to advance within another market.

“The establishment of a full optical systems engineering and manufacturing capability in the U.S. for the aerospace and defense market mirrors our successful strategy for the U.S. healthcare sector with the recent opening of our G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences in Rochester, N.Y.,” he said. The G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences opened earlier this month and is designed to bridge the gap between research and development activities and full-scale production, reducing time to market for a myriad of life science applications.

For G&H, the acquisition follows its October 2024 purchase of Phoenix Optical Technologies, a manufacturer of precision optics technology based in St. Asaph, Wales.

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