February 2-7, 2019, the global optics and photonics community descended on San Francisco for SPIE’s annual conference: Photonics West. With a whopping 58 companies in attendance, New York Photonics had its largest showing to date, the largest of any cluster at the conference. “New York companies have been presenting and exhibiting at Photonics West for...Continue Reading

 High-tech manufacturing company recognized for achievements in the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program OptiPro Systems, LLC, a world leader in precision optics manufacturing equipment, was honored with the 2016 Tibbetts Award for their achievements in innovation and job creation as a participant in the SBIR program. The company credits the program to helping develop solutions...Continue Reading

It’s been a very exciting time in this industry,” Bob Bicksler, president and CEO of JML Optical, said. “Sophisticated electronics, matched up with software, has resulted in a tremendous transformation.” JML has undergone a transformation of its own since Bicksler and COO Gregg Sadwick acquired the company from founder Joe Lobozzo three years ago. The...Continue Reading

Toptica has positioned itself at the center of the optics universe, with a Victor office that handles sales, support, service and light manufacturing for its North American clients and a president who holds physics and business degrees from both the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. “We have the best right here in...Continue Reading

Rochester, New York is bursting with energy, photonic energy! The New York (NYSTAR) MEP Center, aka High Tech Rochester, is a key player in the revitalizing this industry, along with various economic and business development entities in the Rochester region. To strengthen and grow this industry the Rochester region has received three grants; the Advanced...Continue Reading

Representatives from several RRPC member companies attended Europe’s largest exhibition for optics, optical systems and components this week in Frankfurt, Germany. The RRPC, JML Optical Industries, Rochester Precision Optics, QED Technology Inc., Corning Tropel Corp., and the IDEX companies Semrock and CVI/Melles Griot were among the 585 exhibitors at Optatec, May 20-22. Sydor Optics also...Continue Reading

Letter: Slaughter has led on photonics In reference to the Feb. 2 essay by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (“To fight poverty locally, invest in well-paying jobs”), I applaud the congresswoman’s efforts on behalf of optics and photonics. This is an industry that is highly technical and often not understood by many outside of Rochester, but the...Continue Reading

The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster announced the recipients of three annual awards and a special lifetime achievement award at its annual meeting on Thursday, September 5th at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. The RRPC Entrepreneurship Award was awarded to Michael Bechtold, CEO, Optipro, for demonstrating creativity, innovative spirit and drive in pursuit of the...Continue Reading