Also in the news . . .

In a move to improve its competitive position in the international optical engineering market, Ireland has launched the Optical Engineering Society of Ireland, a chapter of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE). . . . Halma plc (London, England) has acquired optical-component manufacturer Volk Optical Inc. (Cleveland, OH) for $9.5 million in cash, plus an additional fee of approximately $1.5 million at completion of the deal, depending on net assets and cash held by Volk at that time. . . . Swiss metrology-equipment manufacturer Fisba Optik has named Breault Research Organization Inc. (Tucson, AZ) as exclusive US and Canadian distributor of its Micro-Interferometer Phase instrument. . . . The US Patent Office has awarded optical-materials company Spectra Science Corp. (Warwick, R.I.) an allowance on its method of microlens fabrication by laser heating of absorbing glasses; a patent will follow in upcoming months. . . . The Economic Development Board of Singapore has awarded Avimo Group Ltd. (Singapore) subsidiary Avimo Electro-Optics pte. Ltd. (Tulsa, OK) a $446,150 Innovative Development Scheme grant for the development of robust optical coatings. . . . JML Optical Industries Inc. (Rochester, NY) has established a World Wide Web page at http://www.jmlopt.com, featuring on-line ordering, a cross-reference guide, and lens-search capabilities.