Rochester, NY -- Manufacturer of precision optics and imaging system components, Navitar, Inc., celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year. Founded by David Goldstein in 1972, Navitar has become a respected global optics leader over the past four decades. The Rochester, NY-based company will celebrate its successes over the past forty years with employee and customer appreciation events throughout the year.
In 1946, David Goldstein and two friends formed Elgeet Optical. In the 1950s and 1960s, Elgeet’s products were used in movie cameras, missile tracking devices, and microscopes. In 1960, the Elgeet-Navitar 8mm F1.5 wide-angle lens was produced for TIROS-1, the world’s first television and infrared observation satellite, now on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Twelve years later, Mr. Goldstein reorganized and Navitar was born. In 1994, brothers Julian and Jeremy Goldstein purchased Navitar, Inc. from their father, and have continued his legacy through innovation and continuous improvement.
The company made a lasting impact on the world of optics in 1984 with its introduction of the Zoom 6000 lens system, which has expanded into a family of lenses ideal for dozens of applications. Over the next two decades, Navitar made strategic acquisitions of several companies. The purchase of Buhl Optical (Pittsburgh, PA) expanded offerings in the projection and video lens markets. In 2008, Special Optics in Wharton, NJ was purchased, leading to explosive growth in Navitar’s custom lens design capabilities. And in 2011, the purchase of assets of Modulation Optics (Glen Cove, NY), including trademark rights to the Hoffman Modulation Contrast® (HMC®) imaging technique, allowed Navitar to increase its product offerings in the biotechnology and life science markets.
Navitar employs workers in production and shipping, engineering, international and domestic sales, marketing, accounting and purchasing, and executive management. Employees average fifteen years with the company. As Navitar moves forward, it looks to capture a growing market segment in digital signage and spherical display with its line of HemiStar® 180°/360° fisheye projection lenses, as well as grow business in the high-tech research and biotechnology sectors with its line of modular microscopy components.
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