Photonics Industries International Establishes European Subsidiary: Week in Brief: 5/2/25

Photonics.com
May 2025CHELMSFORD, England, May 2, 2025 — Photona Group, the parent company to LASER COMPONENTS, acquired 100% of the shares in FOC&T GmbH, a fiber technology manufacturer. Per the acquisition, Lars Mechold, authorized signatory and technical director at LASER COMPONENTS Germany, will become managing director of FOC&T GmbH and will take over for founder and executive director Anton Pautz who will continue to be available to the company as a consultant in his retirement.

The façade of PHOTONICS INDUSTRIES EUROPE, BV in Zevenaar, Netherlands. Courtesy of Photonics Industries International Inc.

PHOTONICS INDUSTRIES EUROPE, BV in Zevenaar, Netherlands. Courtesy of Photonics Industries International Inc.

ZEVENAAR, Netherlands — Solid-state laser manufacturer Photonics Industries International Inc. established a European subsidiary, PHOTONICS INDUSTRIES EUROPE, BV. The subsidiary aims to enable the parent company to better serve customers across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Vuzix Corporation, a supplier of waveguides and AR technology, acquired an advanced waveguide R&D facility in Milpitas, Calif., making the acquisition from an unspecified technology company. The facility will serve as a hub for waveguide tools development and innovation.

PITTSBURGH — AI-powered spatial biomarker discovery company PredxBio entered into a strategic partnership with Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. to create a joint offering that integrates PredxBio’s SpaceIQ spatial analytics platform with Hamamatsu’s MoxiePlex multiplex immunofluorescence imaging system. The integrated product creates a plug-and-play ecosystem that researchers can use to capture images and make insights, such as spatial immune cell profiling, pathway activation analysis, and biomarker stratification, said the companies.

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands — SuperLight Photonics, a wideband laser technology specialist, entered into a partnership with Precision Technologies Pte Ltd to become SuperLight Photonics’ technology distributor in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. The partnership will provide Singapore’s high-tech industries with direct access to SuperLight Photonics’ products and will facilitate tailored solutions and localized technical support to buyers in the region.

LONDON — As part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), UNESCO created the Quantum 100 initiative, which aims to recognize and champion 100 quantum professionals from around the world in the fields of academia, arts, communication, education, government, industry, and philanthropy. Submissions are open until May 28.

BOLTON, Mass. — Hyperspectral imaging company Headwall Photonics partnered with Laitram Machinery, a provider of automation and equipment solutions for the food processing industry. The collaboration focuses on enhancing quality control, maximizing yield, and elevating the efficiency of operations across various food markets, combining Headwall’s hyperspectral imaging systems with Laitram Machinery’s processing equipment.

Data taken from Ouster’s Gemini perception software. Courtesy of Ouster, Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO — Ouster, Inc., a provider of lidar sensors and software solutions, signed a multi-million-dollar agreement with LASE PeCo, a manufacturer and integrator of intelligent traffic and security solutions, to further deploy its 3D digital lidar technology across Europe. The expanded agreement will bring hundreds of additional sensor deployments and Ouster Gemini perception software licenses to its European customers and will allow LASE PeCo to leverage Ouster Gemini across various applications such as people counting, mobility analytics, and perimeter and intrusion protection.

ERLANGER, Ky. — UV-C LED disinfection systems company AquiSense secured a series A investment round led by Burnt Island Ventures, following a recent management buyout. The funds will be used to accelerate growth in a range of water treatment applications including beverage, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and municipal. AquiSense did not disclose the value of the investment round.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — IonQ is jointly developing a quantum innovation center with EPB of Chattanooga, an energy and communications company. The EPB Quantum Center will house a state-of-the art IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer that will be shared by both companies. Through the partnership, worth $22 million, IonQ will also establish an office in Chattanooga, Tenn. to provide quantum computing, networking, and application development support and training.

DALLAS — Micro-displays supplier MICROOLED Inc. entered into a partnership with optical sighting systems provider Vortex Optics to advance development of high-performance weapon sights for optical sighting systems. The collaboration will see the integration of MICROOLED’s active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display (AMOLED) technology in Vortex’s weapon sights for target acquisition.

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