On Friday April 20, Edmund Industrial Optics hosted a grand opening for its Pennsburg facility, with a loan presentation ceremony for the $4 million received from the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority. These funds are earmarked for facility upgrades and new capital investment such as new optical coating machinery, centering machines, and automated metal lathes.

While opening ceremonies typically involve a ribbon cutting, this ceremony had an unusual twist as explained by Edmund CEO, Robert Edmund: "In the optics industry, we don't cut ribbons - we break glass." Robert Edmund, joined by Gerald Birkelbach of The Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority, used a ceremonial hammer to break a tube of glass, thus officially opening the facility.

The event was attended by about 20 government, banking, and business representatives, as well as by many members of the EO staff. The event included a guided tour of the facility, a presentation of objectives, and a luncheon.