… and some early dates for your diary

Joint Photonics Cluster and Hertfordshire BIC event at Astrium, Stevenage, 15 May 2003
The Photonics Cluster (UK) in partnership with Hertfordshire Business Incubation Centre (HBIC) and Astrium are delighted to announce the success of the targeted networking event for industrialists, researchers, academics and end user beneficiaries of technology research.

Cluster Network meeting 6 June 2003
Regular cluster meeting held at Faraday Wharf, Aston Science Park, Birmingham, UK. The start of proceeding is 1pm with a buffet lunch provided and an estimated close of 3.30pm. Formal presentations will be supplemented by the highly popular Member slots on this occasion coming amongst others from Lambda Photometrics, Fujifilm Electronic Imaging, Pro-Lite Technology and Sifam Fibre Optics

2nd Call for LINK funding - Information Storage and Displays (ISD) Outline Proposal by 30 June 2003
A seminar incorporating a briefing from Chris Williams, Programme Manager of LINK (ISD) will be on 15 May 2003. The cluster will undertake this activity in partnership with Hertfordshire Business Innovation Centre to maximise the collaboration potential between existing and prospective cluster companies and research organisations.

Other News ....

3D Scanners (UK)

This member company has supplied a non contact scanning system to the cluster. The uses for the Modelmaker X system are many and varied industry applications including X rated ones! To view visit the recent 3D Scanners (UK) corporate newsletter

Oxford Lasers Ltd was founded in 1977 by a team of Oxford physicists in order to exploit the significant advances in laser technology made by Professor Colin Webb's research group at Oxford University. The company has since become a world leader in the design of lasers and laser systems and in recent years has moved the business into wider commercial areas.

SIFAM Fibre Optics, UK manufacturer of high specification fused fibre components supplied into the long haul and metro applications, will focus on developing new opportunities in emerging markets outside the telecoms sector.

Coherent is a leading provider of photonics based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets. Founded in 1966, Coherent sells products in over 80 countries and today has 11 production and research facilities worldwide.

Please contact the team on 0044 (0) 121 260 6020 to note your interest in this item or to participate within any of the Photonics Cluster activities. Alternatively please visit www.photonicscluster-uk.org and record your details on the contact sheet.

A Collaboration has been agreed with Photonics Spectra to provide Cluster e-news with regular a marketing article. We trust that this will be a valued addition to the newsletter.

Path to a Sale: A Difficult Path to Follow

The Forsyth Group has studied ads in Photonics Spectra for over ten years now and the research has proven useful in helping advertisers develop better advertisements … advertisements that actually drive readers to take action leading to purchase of advertised products.

Aston University and Arden Photonics study interferometry
Aston University and Arden Photonics are working together to study applications for high magnification, phase shifting interferometry. The six month long project is being undertaken by Vishal Sharma who is currently studying for an MSc in Telecommunications Technology at the University of Aston.

Optronik Appoints Pro-Lite as UK Distributor
February 18th, 2003, Milton Keynes, UK: Pro-Lite Technology LLP (Milton Keynes, UK) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Optronik (Berlin, Germany) to distribute its full line of photometric equipment in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Optronik is dedicated to serving the needs of the global vehicle lighting and traffic signal industries by providing a range of precision goniophotometers, retro-reflecting goniometers, photometers and colorimeters.

Indigo Photonics Announce Exclusive Global Agreement With Insensys
Indigo Photonics announced details today of an exclusive global agreement with Insensys for the distribution of its new Fiber Sensor Interrogator (FSI). Engineering teams from Insensys and Indigo have collaborated on the FSI development program to ensure that the commercial and technical requirements of Insensys' customers for a rugged, high performance and cost effective sensing system, are embodied within the new equipment.

PRP Optoelectronics Ltd is pleased to announce that Dr. Ken Reay has joined the board as a non-executive chairman. Ken brings a wealth of experience in photonics and optoelectronics, having until recently been CEO of JDS Uniphase (Bracknell), formerly SDL Queensgate Ltd, which he co-founded in 1979. Peter Abbey, Managing Director of PRP, said "We are delighted that Ken has agreed to chair the PRP board. His extensive knowledge of photonics and optoelectronics and his experience of managing rapid growth companies will be extremely valuable in helping us execute our business plan and build value for investors".

14th May 03	--	Edinburgh, UKCPO Board Meeting.
15th May 03	--	Stevenage, Joint activity with HBIC to promote funding solutions and the Photonics Application Centre.
3rd June 03	--	London, "Smart Optics" Faraday Partnership - Forum will address the developing Smart Optics research and technology portfolio.
4th-5th June 03	--	London, Anglo - Russian Technology Transfer Business Exchange.
5th June 03	--	London, LINK Seminar presenting best practise from Optical System Digital Age programme.
6th June 03	--	Regular Cluster Meeting.
11th June 03	--	Technical seminar in conjunction with QinetiQ - Malvern Science Park - e security - sensors -thermal imaging.
23rd-26th June 03	--	Munich, Germany. Laser2003 - World of Photonics. Representation at exhibition by management and members.

Click here to view Cluster Diary May 2003 - December 2003

Welcome to the new products section. This section has been heavily over subscribed so please inform the Photonics Cluster team as early as possible on new product releases to avoid disappointment.

Arden Photonics release MPX-1
Arden Photonics' MPX-1, for measuring the Mode Power Distribution (MPD) of multimode optical fibres appeared in public for the first time when it was shown at FiberFest in the USA in April. The MPX-1 now features connector end-face inspection as well as enabling users to calculate international standard parameters such as Coupled Power Ratio (CPR) and Encircled Flux directly from the MPD.

Indigo Launch Fiber Sensor Interrogator (FSI)
Indigo Photonics released details today of a new optical sensor system for measuring strain detected by optical fiber gratings. The Fiber Sensor Interrogator (FSI) operates by transmitting and receiving light from a compact interrogation unit along an optical fiber, containing sensor gratings.

Coherent Releases 488nm Sapphire for Flow-Cytometry
With the release of the Sapphire-488-200™ laser, Coherent responds to requests for the ideal 488nm laser. Like many bio-instrumentation applications, Flow Cytometry research demands lasers whose reliability exceeds that available from established argon-ion gas laser technology.

Coherent Displays Chameleon™: New Turn-Key MPE Laser
The new Coherent Chameleon™ laser is transforming the effectiveness of hands-free, turn-key, tunable femtosecond lasers within Multi-Photon Excitation (MPE) research.

Gaussian Beam Propagation Software
Halcyon Optical Services has launched a user-friendly software package for transforming Gaussian beams through optical systems. The new product, called 'T-Gauss', features a unique 'back computation' facility, allowing direct computation of unknown parameters, such as object position or focal length. Generic curves are also provided to help the user visualise the sometimes strange behaviour of Gaussian beams. T-Gauss is ideal for optical fibre engineers, laser scientists and physics students. Ask for a free 30 day demo CD or buy it for £75.

Anglo - Russian Technology Transfer Event 4-5 June 2003 Hilton London Metropole Hotel, London
Major international event organised jointly by the UK Department of Trade and Industry and the Russian Ministry for Science, Industry and Technology. Aims are to support the development of UK/Russian collaboration in technology oriented innovation. Specially selected and validated Russian technology projects will be presented during the event with opportunities provided for UK attendees to arrange one-to-one meetings with particular projects.

Collaboration with QinetiQ to secure the attendance of Cluster companies at a technical seminar on 11 June 2003
A seminar will explore the industry relevance of breakthroughs in technology from with QinetiQ's wealth of knowledge. The sectors include sensing, displays, and communications technologies. Places are limited with a non members fee of £150 per person.

One of the many member benefits is access to the fully equipped cluster labs, these include specialist areas of:

ModelMaker X 3D Scanning System
The Photonics Cluster (UK) has acquired the new ModelMaker X system from 3D Scanners, a non-contact optical measurement system that allows complex parts to be scanned in a fraction of the time taken by conventional touch probe digitisation techniques.

Nd YAG Laser Machining System
The Photonics Cluster has recently acquired a Diode Pumped Solid State, Frequency Doubled Nd YAG laser machining system. This system operates at 532 nm, with a repetition rate of 10 kHz and an average power of 10 Watts.

Non-Contact Vibration Test & Measurement equipment
The cluster laboratories contain a comprehensive selection of specialist Test & Measurement instruments as well as much ancillary equipment. This includes scanning non-contact laser vibrometry equipment for single point or area mapping of vibration.

Laser Ablation System
The UP-266 is a second-generation, high-performance Class 1, Nd:YAG laser micro-electronics trimming and repair system. It is a compact, table top, self-contained laser machining system that includes laser, stages, video system and control software to allow trimming and repair of a variety of micro devices.

High Speed Photographic Imaging Labs
The VisiLase V227 includes the highest data-rate digital camera in the world. It is capable of taking high speed movies at up to 60 000 frames per second. When replayed at normal video rates, this corresponds to 2 400 times slow motion.

Micro-mesure Non-contact surface analysis
The Micro-mesure 3 axis, 3 D surface mapping system features the passive "optical pen" measurement head and high resolution translation stages giving better than 0,1 µm resolution in x, y and z.

Colour Photometric LAB facilities
The PC(UK) photometric laboratory enables its members to access the latest computer controlled photometric testing equipment.

Test and measurement systems
The Photonics Cluster (UK) lab facilities posses an excellent selection of test and measurement equipment including the latest EXFO instrument.

Cluster News