As part of an effort to consolidate its business in the corrective lens market, Rodenstock Technologie Holding GmbH of Munich, Germany, has sold Rodenstock Präzisionsoptik GmbH, also of Munich, to Linos AG of Göttingen. The deal includes Rodenstock's US facility, Rodenstock Precision Optics Inc., in Rockford, Ill.

Linos announced plans to establish an independent development and manufacturing structure in the US and to increase its total number of employees to more than 1300 by 2004. The companies will target applications in information technology and communications, health care and life science, and industrial manufacturing.