LASER COMPONENTS - A Family-Run Business in Its Second Generation
Günther Paul took a chance in 1982 when he went into business for himself and founded Laser Components GmbH with the support of his wife Monika. What began in their own home has developed over thirty years into an impressive, internationally-operated company with foreign and domestic production facilities and branch offices. No less impressive is the network of reliable premium suppliers and distributors. Have a look at the history:
1982 | Günther Paul founded LASER COMPONENTS Laser Components was founded as a limited liability company for the sale and production of lasers and optoelectronic components in Gröbenzell (west of Munich). | |
1986 | Production Facility for Laser Optics The first facility was opened for the in-house production of dielectric coatings. | |
1987 | Blau Optoelektronik GmbH Together with Frank Blau, a facility was founded in Überlingen (on Lake Constance) for the production of laser modules, which are sold under the FLEXPOINT® trademark. | |
1993 | Move to Olching Laser Components GmbH moved to its own building in the neighboring village of Olching. | |
1993 | U.K. Sales Office Laser Components (UK) Ltd.: The first sales office was opened in the United Kingdom | |
1993 | Production Facility for Lead-Salt Laser This technology was acquired from the Fraunhofer Institute in Freiburg. | |
1994 | ISO9001 Certification | |
1995 | Production Facility for Fiber-optic Assemblies A production facility was opened for the assembly of optical fibers used, for example, in the transmission of high power levels. | |
1996 | French Sales Office Optophotonics SA is a French sales office that was opened as part of the Laser Components Group. | |
1996 | Photonics News The first issue of the company newsletter, Photonics News, was published. | |
1997 | Webseite www.lasercomponents.com - The first company website went online. | |
1998 | Production Facility for III-V Semiconductors The assembly technology of III-V semiconductors became the company’s new core competence. | |
2000 | U.S. Sales Office Laser Analytics, Inc. was acquired and renamed Laser Components Instrument Group (now: Laser Components USA, Inc.). They started out initially not only as a sales office but also manufactured IR spectrometers. Production Facility for Pbs Laser Diodes Technology was transferred from Laser Analytics to LC’s German headquarters. | |
2001 | LT LaserTools GmbH Founded together with Franz Westermair, LaserTools GmbH initially specialized in the production of laser light barriers. This Munich-based company is now an established force for custom solutions in optoelectronic measurement technology. | |
2003 | Production Facility for Pulsed Laser Diodes The first production facility abroad emerged in Canada. Paul Rainbow founded Laser Components Canada, Inc. in Montreal as a production facility for pulsed laser diodes with the following wavelengths: 850 nm, 905 nm, and 1550 nm. | |
2004 | Production Facility for Avalanche Photodiodes | |
2005 | ISO 9001 Certification of Laser Components Canada Laser Components Canada was the first production facility abroad to obtain ISO 9001 certification. | |
2006 | Laser Components Group’s Succession Plan Patrick Paul, the elder son of the company founder Günther Paul took over as managing director of Laser Components. | |
2007 | Name Change in France With the retirement of the managing director of Optophotonics SA, the French company was completely taken over by the Laser Components Group and renamed Laser Components SAS. Christian Merry became the new managing director. | |
2008 | Production Facility for Spherical Lenses The coating of laser optics has been one of the core competencies of LC since its beginning. This was expanded by the production of precision optics in 2008. | |
2009 | Acquisition of Second Building in Olching With the purchase of the neighboring building, the utilizable office and production space was increased by 2500 m² to ensure further expansion at the headquarters in Olching. | |
2010 | Production Facility for Single Photon Counters With detectors from Laser Components Detector Group and electronics from Germany, the production of COUNT® single photon counters began in Olching. | |
2013 | Production Facility for IR Detectors Laser Components Detector Group’s production facility was expanded to include the development and production of IR detectors made of germanium, InGaAs, extended InGaAs, and InAs. | |
2014 | Production Facility for Pyroelectric Detectors Laser Components Detector Group acquired the company Microwatt LLC. The group in Stuart, Florida, has been operating since then under the name Laser Components Pyro Group. Sales Office in Scandinavian/Nordic Countries Laser Components Nordic AB opened under the management of Mikael Winters in Gothenburg/Sweden. | |
2015 | Production Facility for PbS/PbSe Detectors Laser Components Detector Group was expanded further: The production of IR detectors made of PbS and PbSe began in Phoenix. | |
2016 | ISO Class 7 Cleanroom A class 7 cleanroom was opened in Olching in connection with the assembly of optical fibers to serve the further development of medical markets. EN ISO 13485 Certification Laser Components GmbH obtained ISO 13485 certification. | |
2017 | Environmental and Operational Qualification for Automobile Applications Laser Components Canada obtained AEC-Q101 qualification. | |
2018 | Generation change Patrick Paul takes over the company management from his father Günther. | |
2018 | LASER COMPONENTS Canada, Inc. LASER COMPONENTS acquires full ownership of the company building in Quebec. | |
2020 | LASER COMPONENTS Detector Group The former units Pyro Group and Detector Group are merged and now operate under the name LASER COMPONENTS Detector Group in Arizona. The new Detector Group manufacturing and administration building is opened in Chandler, Arizona. | |
2021 | LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Spin-off of Laser Components Germany GmbH out of the Laser Components GmbH The Laser Components GmbH changes its name to Photona GmbH. | |
2023 | An Extended Management Team Sales Manager Sven Schreiber is appointed General Manager of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH. |