One afternoon the Photonics Cluster (UK) was quietly planning its next event when a call from the UK Trade & Investment division of the DTI was received asking if a cluster representative would like to take part in the Optoelectronics and Flat Panel Display trade mission to China in September 2004.
The mission would travel to three of the most influential optoelectronic regions in China, Shenzhen, Beijing and Chengdu. The advantage of travelling on a DTI mission was to become very clear; simply put; the mission would be well organised, effective and enable delegates to meet influential state dignitaries and respected business leaders across each province on the mission.
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Sir John Harvey Jones leaving a 3 dimensional image of his right hand during a recent visit to the facilities at Photonics Cluster (UK)
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Strategy board endorses photonics 
One of the first tasks of the new Technology Strategy Board (TSB) of the DTI was to review the next round of the Technology Programme. Announced at the end of November, the new round will aim to invest around £80 million in new projects. Of most relevance to the Photonics community is the area covered by "Optoelectronics and disruptive electronic technologies" but there are other areas where photonics can play a part, such as nanotechnology and imaging technologies.
Lasers get up to speed
Modern aircraft use increasingly sophisticated electronics and navigation systems, and yet pilots have to rely on a pretty low-tech speed gauge to tell them how fast they are flying. Lasers could change all that if the LINK OSDA Laser air speed sensor instrument (LASSI) project is successful.
Crystal clear future for Mesophotonics
A research group at the University of Southampton this year celebrated the tenth anniversary of starting work on photonic crystals. The company set up to commercialise the research is turning the science into a new generation of optical chips.
Making an exhibition of photonics
After a successful trial run in 2003, Photonex04 decided to run another technical programme alongside the exhibition. The two-day series of presentations, under the title "Making light work in industry", looked at business and technology aspects of photonics.
The seminar programme covered topics from raising funds to bring new technologies to market, to ways in which various optical technologies could help to solve some of the technical problems facing different industries. Photonics Focus dropped into a session where speakers approached diffractive optics from extreme ends of the power spectrum.
All these articles feature in the latest issue of Photonics Focus
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GS Atlantic challenge
Photonics Cluster (UK) member set to break the record for crossing the Atlantic … in a rowing boat!
Almost one year from now - November 27th 2005 with the support of Photonics Cluster (UK) member George Simpson, of Chapman Molony patent and trademark attorneys, will make a record breaking attempt to row the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera to Antigua in a custom four-man ocean rowing boat.
Arden Photonics investigates Multimode Fibre Technology
Andrew G Hallam, in collaboration with the Photonics Department at Aston University will undertake a three year PhD research program into the effects of mode control in multimode fibre. The work will include the study and measurement of modal propagation effects in multimode communication and sensor systems.
INTERTECH 2004 - Photonics Cluster (UK) Participation
The North West region's leading international technology partnering event gave businesses an ideal opportunity to forge new links with companies in the UK and overseas.
InterTech 2004 was staged on October 11 and 12, and was organised by County Durham Development Company (CDDC), the inward investment and business development arm of Durham County Council.
Photonics Cluster (UK) and NanoMicroClub collaboration improves communication to UK industry
Through the coordinated initiation, promotion and delivery of respective events and activities there will be an improved communication service for this technology area.
Government Supported Events 2004 – 2006 UK
Government grants up to £2,500 available to eligible UK companies when exhibiting with Trade Fair Support at any of these shows
Photonex04 - UK's premier event for photonics and optical technologies
PHOTONEX, held in October at Stoneleigh Park, was a great success say many of the exhibitors and visitors. It is a more good news story for the optoelectronics industry in general, as it is closely monitored by many in the industry who regard the mood of the event as an important indicator of the health of the market.
Xmark Media - official sales agency for exhibition space at Opto IRELAND
Photonics Cluster (UK) are pleased to confirm that SPIE Europe have secured cluster member Xmark Media to be official sales agency for exhibition space for their event in Dublin Ireland. Photonics Cluster (UK) will also be supporting SPIE in the promotion of this event alongside the extensive SPIE programme.
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TRW Conekt - Application of science and technology in product development
TRW Conekt is the external consultancy arm of TRW Automotive, generating new ideas and applying science and technology in product development, manufacturing and validation.
Faro UK - leader in the provision of portable 3D measurement solutions
Faro UK is the global leader of portable 3D measurement solutions consisting of products that can measure from a few inches up to 70 metres, at the point of manufacture.
The University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is proud of its international reputation as a leading research university, reflecting the breadth and excellence of the work undertaken in our schools and research institutes.
Redwave Labs Ltd
RedWave Labs is company specialising in opto-electronic applications. Redwave supply OEM subsystems for commercial instruments, and have state of the art equipment to carry out design, development and small volume production.
Optical Coating Technologies - Application of permanent hard coat, and anti-fog coatings to lenses, visors and panels
Optical Coating Technologies Limited apply a range of coatings, supplied by global partners. These coatings applied by spray, dip, flow and vacuum techniques enhance the appearance, durability and hence saleability of thermoplastic products, whether they be formed sheet, mouldings or extrusions.
Laser Optical Engineering
Laser Optical Engineering (LOE) was launched in 1996 by Dr John Tyrer, LOE and provides a highly customer focused interface for the introduction of novel laser based technology into industry.
Phoenix Photonics - optical fibre components and integrated modules
Phoenix Photonics develops and manufactures optical fibre components and integrated modules for applications in the telecommunications, sensors and test & measurement instrumentation markets.
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.
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Defense and Security Symposium
Trade Fair Support has funds available (on behalf of SIRA www.sira.co.uk ) to organise a UK Pavilion at the Defense & Security Symposium 2005 organized by SPIE.
Avionics Fiber-Optics and Photonics Conference
The avionics industry has made great strides in recent years deploying fiber optics and photonics technology on commercial and military aircraft. This trend will continue to grow as avionics fiber optic system architectures, networking schemes, and components evolve and mature.
IPOT and Machine Vision - exhibition and technology seminar programme
With 85% of stands already sold and still 3 months to go the 2005 Image Processing and Optical Technology (IPOT) and Machine Vision shows are looking to be the best yet, with an impressive list of exhibitors on board including Sony, Schneider Electric Ltd and DVT.
LEDs Magazine launched: new publication serves the growing LED industry
A new publication, LEDs Magazine, has been launched by Cabot Media Ltd and IOP Publishing Ltd to serve the information needs of the rapidly growing LED industry.
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are semiconductor light sources that are displacing existing technologies in a wide variety of applications, and at the same time helping to create completely new ways of using light.
Global Cluster Initiative Survey - international benchmarking
Photonics Cluster (UK) was delighted to have participated within a comprehensive study on cluster initiatives undertaken by the Institute of International Business, Stockholm School of Economics.
Institute of Physics - Commercialising Research for Opto Technologies
The Photonics Cluster (UK) team participated within the recent 'Commercialising Research for Opto Technologies' held at the Institute of Physics on Friday 29 October, 2004. The event carried on the tradition of a series of very informative and generally entertaining lectures followed by a highly successful networking meeting.
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Cluster Programme Of Activities From 1st December
2004
| Date |
Venue |
Event |
| 09/12/ 2004 |
Faraday Wharf, Aston Science Park |
NPL, DMAC Meeting |
| 16/12/ 2004 |
Faraday Wharf, Aston Science Park |
Christmas Cluster Meeting |
| 13/01/ 2005 |
Grace College, Durham University |
Thermal Management Seminar. PC (UK) joint with EPPIC Faraday Partnership. |
| 22-27/01/2005 |
San Jose Convention Centre, San Jose, California, USA |
Photonics West 2005 |
| 14-15/02/2005 |
Business Design Centre, Islington, London |
ARC 05 - The Architectural, Retail & Corporate Lighting Show. |
| 16-17/02/05 |
NEC, Birmingham |
Image Processing and Optical Technologies (IPOT) |
| 21-23/02/05 |
Berne, Switzerland |
1st UK-Swiss Applied Photonics Partnering Workshop |
| 23/02/05 |
The Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Madejski Stadium, Reading |
Interconnections 2005 - promoting collaboration between academia & industry |
| 8-10/03/05 |
Anaheim Convention Centre, Anaheim, California |
USA OFC - Optical Fiber Communications Conference |
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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.
Clarydon Electronic Services
Due to recent developments in LED technology a range of High intensity Surface Mount LED's have enabled designers from many industries such as traffic signals, concealed lighting, decorative work and many others, to use LED's where once they may have used conventional bulbs or lamps.
Chapman Molony - IP Sherpa™ advisory service -discount for cluster members
A new advisory service has been launched by cluster members Chapman Molony, a firm of patent and trade mark attorneys specialising in photonics to help companies realise the commercial benefits of intellectual property (IP).
Pheonix Photonics - Integrated array all-fibre modules
Manipulation of the optical signal by components in fibre networks is generally accomplished by breaking the fibre path and applying the required functionality in an alternative media, either planar waveguide or free space.
DM Optics - AQ7260 optical time-domain reflectometer
The new AQ7260 optical time-domain reflectometer available is a compact, lightweight instrument designed to offer speed, ease of use and efficiency in the installation and servicing of optical communication networks.
Spectronic Devices - Electronics for Linear CCD arrays
Based on many years designing and manufacturing cameras using Linear photodiode arrays and CCDs, Spectronic Devices Ltd.
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One of the many member benefits is access to the fully equipped
cluster labs, these include specialist areas of:
ModelMaker - The Fastest, Smallest and Lightest Hand-held Laser
Scanner
The ModelMaker from 3D Scanners (UK) Ltd. of Coventry is an extremely versatile tool for rapid collection of 3D data in real time and usually in a single co-ordinate system.
Optical Fibre Test & Measurement Equipment
The cluster laboratories contain a comprehensive selection of specialist Test & Measurement instruments as well as much ancillary equipment.
ProMetric™
CCD Light and Colour Measurement System
The photometric laboratory enables its members to access the latest computer controlled photometric testing equipment.
High
Speed Photographic Imaging Labs
The imaging lab is the joint venture between Oxford Lasers and Photonics Cluster (UK). The Oxford Lasers VisiLase V227 includes the highest data-rate digital camera in the world.
The "Micro-measure" 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 is X, Y and Z.
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.
Non-Contact Vibration Test & Measurement Equipment
The cluster laboratories contain a comprehensive selection of specialist
Test & Measurement instruments as well as much ancillary equipment.
PLC
Optical Fiber Alignment and Attachment Station
This system is designed to align the optical axis of optical waveguide
with the input - and - output fibre arrays for optimization, and
then fix them by UV curing.
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Packaging and Thermal Management Properties
13th January 2004
The cluster are supporting OneNortheast, County Durham Development Company, and the EPPIC faraday partnership with a seminar on "packaging and thermal management properties"
More Details
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Biophotonics and Healthcare
Cluster membership has grown to over 160 organisations and it is now considered advantageous to maximise the effectiveness of the network by establishing special interest groups.
More Details
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Photonics West, San Jose, USA.
22nd-27th January 2005
The Photonics Cluster team are both exhibiting and leading another funded overseas business visit to Photonics West, San Jose, USA. This visit will comprise up to 20 companies with an ideal participation from companies with a bias towards biomedical or defence and security applications.
More Details
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OFMC '05
Photonics Cluster (UK) is delighted to promote the forthcoming National Physical Laboratory (NPL) 7th series of European based conferences on measurements for optical fibre and optoelectronics, OFMC.
More Details
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Interested in the Wider ICT Community
As you may be aware Photonics Cluster (UK) is just one of a number of projects being funded by Advantage West Midlands to help build a world-class IT and telecommunications industry in the West Midlands. This is being achieved in part through the creation of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Cluster in the region
More Details
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PRIVACY POLICY:
We guarantee that we won't give the names or email addresses of subscribers
to any non Cluster members unless required to do so by law (and even then
we'd probably argue the case).
ABOUT US:
Photonics Cluster (UK) produce a quarterly newsletter for the photonics industry. It is published
by IST Media organiser of the Cluster Newsletter.
EDITORIAL:
The Cluster Newsletter is produced and edited by IST Media Productions for Photonics Cluster (UK).
Press releases and other information can be sent to the Cluster team at info@photonicscluster-uk.org
This project is supported by Advantage West Midlands.
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