SCHOTT is expanding its coating capabilities for optical components. In Duryea, the international technology group manufactures ready-to-use optical components and glass filters of up to 457mm in diameter with anti-reflective (AR) and highly reflective (HR) coatings. In addition, a new magnetron-sputtering machine in Yverdon allows for the production of high performance band pass and notch filters as well as ultra hard anti-reflex coatings.
"We have now become a one-stop shop for high-quality coated optical components," says Dr. Angela Hohl-AbiChedid, Business Development Manager at SCHOTT Advanced Optics. "Using more than 125 years of optical glass expertise, SCHOTT has developed manufacturing processes that guarantee our customers highest quality not only with optical materials. We are also excellent partners when it comes to polished and coated components and offer a great range of high-quality products," she adds.
In Duryea, SCHOTT invested $2 million in the expansion of its coating capacities. The new US line adds to the company's coating capabilities in Malaysia and in Switzerland. On more than 2,000 square feet, chambers of different sizes have been installed to meet customers' performance, volume, and cost requirements. Using e-beam and ion-assisted e-beam evaporation technologies, coated components from the US meet the reflection and environmental specifications set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The company also invested in the expansion of its capacities in Yverdon, the competence center for coatings at Advanced Optics. Here, SCHOTT set up a new magnetron-sputtering machine for components of up to 200mm in diameter and 60mm in thickness, such as extreme narrow band pass filters, steep edge filters or so-called notch filters (i.e. Triple Notch). These filters are employed in fluorescence microscopy or Raman spectroscopy, for instance. In addition, the combination of hard (anti-scratch) coatings and broad band AR coatings can be applied. With more than 17 different coating machines in Yverdon, SCHOTT is able to manufacture products that meet the most special and demanding requirements.
SCHOTT Advanced Optics manufactures numerous different types of optical materials and finished components for a variety of applications such as contrast enhancement filters for aircraft displays, active laser glasses for high-energy lasers and laser range finders as well as "Zerodur" for space applications. By expanding the coating capacities, SCHOTT is able to meet additional market demands and continues to develop numerous unique and successful products.