June 20, 2007, Ditzingen/Jena, Germany--The Trumpf Group and Jenoptik intend to expand their cooperation, which goes back to 2001, and set up a joint venture, JT Optical Engine. The partners will bundle their activities in the area of new laser components and will each have a 50% percent share of the company. Headquartered in Jena and comprising 20 staff members, the joint venture still requires antitrust approval.
According to the companies, JT Optical Engine will develop, produce, and sell optical modules for fiber-optic lasers. Next to pump diodes, control and beam management, the optical engine is an important component in fiber laser devices. The joint venture company will offer the modules to third parties worldwide and supply both Jenoptik and Trumpf.
The demand for fiber lasers with very high beam quality and power outputs below 1 kW is very promising but still small relative to the entire market, according to Peter Leibinger, vice-chairman of the Trumpf Managing Board.
"We would like to unlock and expand the market for low-power fiber lasers with our joint venture company by offering industrial optical systems for a wide range of different fiber laser devices," he said.
For Trumpf and Jenoptik, this also means expanding the low-power side of their diode-pumped solid-state laser product range. The two companies have been working together in the area of high-power diode lasers for several years. Trumpf has held a 25.1% share of Jenoptik Laserdiode GmbH since 2001.