Spectra-Physics Forms Strategic Marketing Group

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 8 -- Spectra-Physics announced it has created a new strategic marketing group that will focus on four key market segments: microelectronics, industrial manufacturing, medical/biotechnology and research. In addition to identifying product and market opportunities in these areas, the group will pursue partnerships and acquisition opportunities.

Steve Sheng, president of Spectra-Physics' Lasers Division, said, "Lasers and photonics have really matured as key enabling technologies in some very diverse commercial applications. For laser manufacturers, it's no longer sufficient just to be a technology leader; we have to develop products and business development strategies in close concert with these applications. Our new strategic marketing group will facilitate an ongoing dialog with key accounts, systems integrators and end users to ensure that all our business activities are closely tied to market needs and trends."

Heinrich Endert will lead the microelectronics segment. Endert has over 15 years of experience in the laser industry and has worked in a wide variety of industrial applications, including laser micromachining, marking, instrumentation, telecommunication and medical uses. Before joining Spectra-Physics, he was vice president of marketing and sales at IMRA America. Wolfgang Gries will lead the industrial manufacturing group. Gries was a co-founder of LAS GmbH, which Spectra-Physics acquired in 2000. Spectra-Physics said it expects to appoint a market segment leader for the other areas in the near future.

Spectra-Physics, a subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corp., makes and distributes solid-state and high-power semiconductor lasers, gas lasers and ultrafast systems for industrial, scientific, micro-electronics and biomedical markets.

For more information, visit: www.spectra-physics.com