IPG Photonics has acquired OptiGrate, a manufacturer of chirped volume Bragg grating (VBG) technologies and thermos-refractive glass, for an undisclosed sum. According to IPG, the sale will strengthen the company’s ultrafast laser business.
OptiGrate VBG-based components enable performance improvement, miniaturisation and cost reduction of ultrafast pulsed lasers for micro materials processing, medical and other applications.
‘As the technology leader in volume Bragg gratings and thermo-refractive glass, OptiGrate will help IPG develop new leading-edge solutions and improve our current products and components,’ said Felix Stukalin, IPG’s senior vice president of North American operations. ‘The acquisition completes IPG’s internal set of core components for our revolutionary new ultrafast pulsed laser product lines that we are introducing to the market.’
OptiGrate was founded in 1999 by Dr Leonid Glebov, research professor of optics and photonics at University of Central Florida, which licenses certain technology to OptiGrate. OptiGrate’s president and general manager, Dr Alexei Glebov, and CTO, Mr Vadim Smirnov will continue to run the business.
IPG anticipates that OptiGrate’s operational location will remain in Oviedo, Florida, and that current employees will continue with the company, enabling further growth and innovation. IPG intends to support and honour all existing customer commitments while further expanding the market for OptiGrate’s products.
