https://cdn.specpick.com/images/photonics/optigratemay2017.jpg712370
Fiber laser giant IPG Photonics has acquired the Florida company OptiGrate, saying that its volume Bragg grating (VBG) technology will be critical as it launches a new line of ultrafast pulsed lasers. IPG was already an OptiGrate customer, and says that VBG-based components enable a dramatic performance improvement, as well as miniaturization and cost reduction for ultrafast pulsed lasers used in micro materials processing and other applications, including medicine.
Spun out of the University of Central Florida back in 1999 and based in Oviedo, OptiGrate was majority-owned by the family of its founder Leonid Glebov. His son Alexei, currently general manager, will continue to run the business alongside CTO Vadim Smirnov following the deal.
According to Alexei Glebov, approximately 40 employees would continue with the company as part of IPG, with the parent firm promising to honor all existing customer commitments while further expanding the market for VBGs.