Thorlabs Buys Melles Griot UK Facility

NEWTON, N.J., and CARLSBAD, Calif., April 2 -- Thorlabs has bought Melles Griot Ltd., a Cambridgeshire, England-based division of Melles Griot Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., the companies announced today. The UK facility makes nanopositioning systems for high-precision alignment applications, optical tables and full-vibration isolation systems.

Details of the purchase were not disclosed. Thorlabs will continue the manufacturing operations at the UK site, which the companies said was a critical factor in the deal.

Blake Fennell, CEO of Melles Griot, said, "We strive to be a leaner, more focused organization. More than 80 percent of our revenue is now OEM-based, equally split between lasers and optics. This is where our investment in infrastructure and IP will most benefit our customers and other stakeholders. We also continue to invest in logistics and channel development for our catalog business."

Thorlabs, which recently acquired Tektronix Munich (formerly Profile GmbH), makes optical and mechanical components and integrated test and measurement systems.

For more information, visit: www.thorlabs.com