Photonics Cluster participation at Photonex 2002
This inaugural exhibition for the MPC was a super event bringing high quality exposure of its activities to its key target base. The exhibition is a regular venue for the whole UK photonics community.

Photonics Cluster participation at ECOC
The ECOC was also an important event for the MPC giving international exposure to its members. Special thanks to the Oxford Lasers team of Alan Ferguson and Elizabeth Illy who provided support to the MPC whilst still undertaking a successful exhibition in their own right.

Specialist PR Agency partners with Photonics Cluster
The photonics Cluster are delighted to have partnered with specialist PR agency GBCS for the issue of key announcements.

On 16th October 2002
the cluster delivered a joint cluster and the National Physical Laboratory event. This combined practical demonstrations on cluster equipment with labs to a series of presentations on metrology challenges within industry. This attracted 55 attendees giving the cluster tremendous exposure within the industry.

On 14th November 2002
the cluster presented an overview of its activities to the Association of High Speed Photography using Photonics at the Institute of Physics, London. This was a key presentation given the high-speed photography lab, which has been created as part of the cluster facilities.

On 20th November 2002
the cluster participated within the board meeting of the United Kingdom Consortium of Photonics Clusters. This is seen as an important opportunity area for the cluster to expand its influence on the wider national photonics industry, effectively positioning the cluster as the most influential English representative.

On 28th November 2002
the cluster participated within the Fiber Optic Technology Network at the Institute of Physics. This was another opportunity area for the cluster to expand its influence on the wider national photonics industry particularly with the larger equipment manufacturers, such as Anritsu, Agilent, Rhode Scharz, Nettest and EXFO.

On 5th December 2002
the cluster delivered an ambitious event combining members and its extended network, end user companies and beneficially business intermediaries in a full day seminar and meeting programme. Despite the logistical difficulties this was an overwhelming success bringing 35 business intermediaries and end user companies together with 40 cluster companies.

Rocotech International
Rocotech International Ltd offers a comprehensive range of fibre optic components for telecommunications, WDM Networks and CATV applications.

BFI Optilas
BFI Optilas is one of Europe's largest distributors of hi-tech products. We employ over 350 people in 14 offices with sales and marketing coverage across all of Western Europe.

Laser Physics UK
Laser Physics U.K was formed 6 years ago originally as a sales support venture but soon became recognised as a company who could provide a specialist portfolio of photonics related products complimented by a personal and efficient response and attention to customer satisfaction.

Photek Limited
Photek is a specialist company dedicated to manufacturing Image Intensifiers and other microchannel plate based detector and systems.

IST Optics, announce major contract from the Las Vagas lighting Exhibition
Following the successful completion of the LED solid state lighting system, developed with the support of a AWM Innovations Network award, IST have just returned from the lighting industries most prestigious exhibition held in Las Vegas.

Lucid provides specialist industry training
Lucid Optical Services, in conjunction with the Photonics Cluster have put together a series of six 1-day training course modules on photonics. The courses encompass the current state-of-the-art in optical fibre technology and the related test and measurement skills needed for working in the industry at all levels.

DDA Searching For Metrology Challenges-do you have one?
DDA (Defence Diversification Agency) are working with the DTI to promote the services of four laboratories associated with metrology. DDA are looking for specific industrial or commercial measurement problems and are asking all Midlands Photonics Cluster members if they have a photonics measurement challenge that requires a resolution.

Lambda Photometrics Ltd celebrate 25 years of service To UK
This year Lambda Photometrics celebrates 25 years as a specialist UK distributor of lasers, laser based systems, optical and electro-optic components, systems and instrumentation. The company also markets fibre optic components, sub-systems and measuring instruments. Micro and nano-positioning products, piezoelectric and motor driven with single and multi-axis movements from Physik Instrumente and scanning vibrometers from Polytec are also offered.

OpTek Systems expands its facilities
Precision machining systems manufacturer OpTek Systems is moving into new premises to allow for continued expansion of it's machine build and machining services facilities.

Optoprim seals Distribution Deal
Optoprim Limited has recently been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Siskiyou Design Instruments, offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of high quality opto-mechanical position equipment for both research and industrial applications.

January 03 - Electronic newsletter No 2. Member contributions welcomed


16th Jan 03 - Seminar with Lucid Optical Services Ltd and NSG Group - access networking. Seminar with 3 speakers - targeted at 30 attendees. £125 non members/£75 members

29th Jan 03 - Training seminar with EXFO supported by Lucid Optical Services. Audience targeted at field engineers.

12 to 14 February 03 - IPOT / Machine Vision will take place in Hall 12 of the NEC, Birmingham, on the 12 and 13th February 2003. Representation at exhibition by management and members.

6th March 03 - Inaugural meeting of Photonics Cluster combining MPC and UKLEO memberships. Please notify of attendance. Buffet/networking lunch from 12 noon.

23rd to 26th June 03 - Munich, Germany. Laser2003 - World of Photonics. Representation at exhibition by management and members.

Click here to view Cluster Diary 16th Jan 2003 - 3rd July 2003

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

BFI Optilas Introduces Automatic High Speed Polarisation
BFI Optilas Introduces Automatic High Speed Polarisation Dependent Centre Wavelength and Bandwidth Measurement.

Mode Profiling of Multimode Optical Fibres
Arden Photonics is pleased to announce the launch of a new product, the MPX-1, for measuring the Mode Power Distribution (MPD) of multimode optical fibres. MPD is an important factor in accurate measurements of both bandwidth and loss. The MPX-1 provides a comprehensive measurement capability, which enables users to measure MPD directly as well as to calculate international standard parameters such as Coupled Power Ratio (CPR) and Encircled Flux.

Compact and Versatile Intelligent Picomotor
New Focus, a leading provider of photonics and microwave technology solutions, is now offering CE-compliant Intelligent Picomotor™ (iPico) control modules for use with their patented Picomotor™ products. Through a collaboration with Logosol, Inc., a leading motion-control company, New Focus has developed an industrial-design module system that makes it easier to integrate the Picomotor™ into OEM instruments, devices, and research experiments.

New 12 Gb/s Pattern Generator
LA Techniques Ltd has recently introduced the LA19-02-01 low cost 12 Gb/s pattern generator. There are many applications in development and production testing where a fully-featured pattern generator is not always necessary and this instrument offers an affordable alternative which follows the same successful formula which was established with the 3 Gb/s model. Typical applications for it are those where it is necessary to generate an eye such as when testing directly-modulated diodes, electro-absorption modulators etc.

Oxford Lasers researches new Micro-machining Applications
Oxford Lasers Ltd manufactures systems for laser micro-processing as well as high-speed imaging. Both the Industrial and Imaging Divisions of Oxford Lasers, utilise high pulse rate laser sources for materials processing applications and imaging / particle sizing applications respectively.

Evolution of Photonic Measurements in the Production Environment
As we all know the telecommunications industry and the photonics sector in particular has taken a battering in the last 1-2 years. Most companies have completed their restructuring and are actively looking at how they can meet the challenges of a leaner, meaner environment.

Techniques For Measuring Laser Peak Power
The following article has been kindly supplied by Delta Developments
Over the last twenty years Delta Developments a Midlands Photonics Cluster Member has developed techniques and instruments for the measurement of output parameters of lasers such as beam width, beam position, CW power, pulsed peak power, pulse shape and pulsed energy. However, this article will describe the measurement of the Peak Power of pulsed lasers.

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

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 MPC photometric laboratory enables its members to access the latest computer controlled photometric testing equipment.

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

Cluster News