The OFC/NFOEC 2009 exposition came to a close yesterday. Although overall attendance was down – organizers announced a preliminary registration total of 9500 (the official final attendance tally for 2008 was 12,000) – most of those who were here this week “were here for a reason,” as one exhibitor noted. Fabrinet Co. Ltd.'s elephant was an eye-catcher on the OFC/NFOEC exhibit floor. The maker of optical and electromechanical components, modules and bulk optics is based in Thailand, where the elephant is the national symbol. (Photo: Gary Boas) In many cases, it seems, companies sent only those focused on next-generation products – rather than putting everyone on the payroll on a plane to San Diego, as they might have in years past. Stay tuned for a complete wrap-up of OFC/NFOEC 2009. Gary Boas contributing editor, Photonics Spectragboas@eggship-media.com