Laser Industry Report

Nov. 1, 2000
Nichia releases high-power violet laser diodes; NECSEL makes $109 million big sell in third-round financing ...

Nichia releases high-power violet laser diodes
Nichia Corp. (Anan, Japan) is selling violet laser diodes as engineering samples for testing and evaluation to purchasers who agree to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Listed as model NLHV3000E high-power violet laser, the 395- to 415-nm device boasts a maximum continuous-wave (CW) power of 35 mW. The estimated CW lifetime is 500 hours at 30 mW of power and 60°C. Commercial release of the devices is expected early next year, according to the Nichia announcement. Target applications include medical diagnosis and analysis instruments, as well as digital video disks.

NECSEL makes $109 million big sell in third-round financing
Novalux (Sunnyvale, CA) achieved a $109 million coup last month during third-round investment financing, while remaining perhaps the best financed secret in the optoelectronics industry. "We were just inundated," said CEO Malcolm Thompson. Nevertheless, for those who had not yet entered the folds of a Novalux nondisclosure agreement, the Novalux extended-cavity surface-emitting laser (NECSEL) remained a mystery. Prototype NECSELs are expected to be available later this year, but publication of a scientific paper may have to wait until the 2001 Optical Fiber Communication conference, when Novalux definitely plans to give some details.

GSI Lumonics Life Sciences completes Packard sale
Packard BioScience Co. (Meriden, CT) has completed the acquisition of GSLI Life Sciences, a division of GSI Lumonics Inc. (Kanata, Ontario, Canada), for $40 million in cash and approximately 4.6 million shares of Packard common stock (with an adjustment based on net assets acquired). In addition to the imaging-product line, Packard also has acquired the bioinformatics-software products of GSLI Life Sciences. The GSLI Life Sciences group will become a part of Packard BioChip Technologies LLC, a new entity formed to focus on biochips. Packard is pursuing a leading role in providing biochips and microarray-analysis tools for postgenomics and drug-discovery research.

Caterpillar gets $19 million for laser and equipment R&D
The US National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST; Gaithersburg, MD) has awarded Caterpillar (Peoria, IL) and its joint-venture partners almost $19 million for two separate multiyear research-and-development projects concerning machine components and lasers. The laser project, Intelligent Flexible Laser Integration, is intended to overcome Europe's lead in laser-based manufacturing by developing a new high-power laser to improve manufacturing and repair in commercial and naval shipbuilding, aircraft, and auto industries, construction and mining, and other fields. The economic benefits are projected to exceed $12 billion over a six-year period. Work on both projects is scheduled to start this year.

Pilkington to transfer eye-safety technology to Rockwell
The Rockwell Science Center (RSC; Thousand Oaks, CA) has received a four-year, $5 million contract from the US Department of Defense to establish a high-volume flexible domestic manufacturing capability for thin-film coatings for laser protective eyewear used in defense applications. The program is funded under Title III of the Defense Production Act, enacted to ensure viable domestic production capabilities for items essential to national defense. Pilkington Optronics (St. Asaph, Wales) is assisting RSC in the technology transfer. As part of the effort, Pilkington will deliver sample spectacles, goggles, and visors to the US Army, Navy, and Air Force for evaluation.

Also in the news . . .
Alfalight Inc. (Madison, WI), a developer of high-power laser diodes for optical communications, has added a Canadian packaging facility to its headquarters. . . . Motohiko Tahara, a 20-year semiconductor industry veteran, is the new president of Cymer Japan Inc. (Chiba, Japan).

Hassaun Jones-Bey

For more business news, subscribe to Optoelectronics Report. Contact Jayne Sears-Renfer at [email protected].

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