Optical focus FISBA OPTIK

OPTICAL FOCUS

The beauty of micro-optics

As the world’s leading specialist optical components developer and manufacturer, Swiss-based FISBA OPTIK AG is bringing its high-quality optical solutions to customers worldwide. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to CEO Werner Kruesi to find out more.

Founded by a senior optical designer and an entrepreneur in Switzerland in 1957, world leading optical components specialist FISBA OPTIK has grown to become the most respected company in its field. Based in the Swiss business university city of St Gallen, FISBA OPTIK offers a comprehensive range of optic solutions from design to manufacture, from simple lenses to complex optical systems including laser modules, micro-optics and advanced optical components for various industrial applications.

With Swiss quality and precision still at the heart of the company, this privately owned organisation proudly works in the ‘spirit of partnership’. CEO Werner Kruesi explained, “The ‘spirit of partnership’ is our motto as it perfectly illustrates our continuing commitment to working as a true partner for our customers. We are proud to say that at least 90 per cent of our turnover comes from about a dozen customers and we work primarily with leading systems integrators and other first-class companies. We are not a company that is constantly looking for new business as we protect our existing business and support our customers and their prod-

Precision molded lenses (aspheres)

ucts throughout their whole life cycle. It’s a very demanding business but one which we have steadily developed to ensure we offer the best possible quality of optical solutions for our demanding customers worldwide.”

Strong presence worldwide

With around 370 employees and an annual turnover of more than 50 million Swiss francs, FISBA OPTIK is active all over Europe and has an increasingly strong presence worldwide. All of its production is finally sold outside of Switzerland, although some of its customers purchase by their subsidiaries in the country. A dedicated R&D office in Berlin supports the Swiss head office, where all the optical components, sub-assemblies and micro systems are designed, developed and manufactured by highly skilled employees using ultra-modern and state-of-the-art machinery and equipment.

Mr Kruesi continued, “All our business is export-driven. As our customers are primarily system integrators of advanced optical systems, they expect the very highest standard at every step of their dealing with us, so we ensure that we meet these high standards wherever our customers are in the world. We sell directly to customers in the USA, Asia and Europe with all our activities industry-to-industry.”

FISBA OPTIK has three main product lines, each one carefully developed to meet the same high standards on which the company’s reputation has been built. Firstly, its advanced optical components are suited to sophisticated customers, with the high-end products able to be produced economically in large numbers. Secondly, it produces optical micro systems, also known as photonic micro systems, which can be made smaller than one cubic centimetre if required. The third product category is the macro optics systems, which are also all developed and fabricated in-house. In each area, all the products and components are all tailor-made for each client, although some of

Micro-optics: fast axis collomitor for laser diodes FISBA Beam Twister™ (FBT) for symmetrisation of diode laser beams

Quality control with a looking glass

Half-automated assambly work station for Half-automated assambly work station for mounting micro optic systems (positioning and mounting micro optic systems (positioning and bonding accuracy smaller than 0.0005 mm. bonding accuracy smaller than 0.0005 mm.

the more standardised items can be used by more than one client.

Mr Kruesi added, “As our work is so highly specialised and technical, we must make each product and component to the exact specifications of each client, although we will use any technology cross-over as long as it is perfectly suited to the individual application in order to make the product as cost-effective as possible.”

Understanding advanced demands

A range of industries purchase optical components and sub-assemblies from FISBA OPTIK, with the most prevalent being the medical technology and biophotonics sectors. The company is also active in the semiconductor- printing- and defenceindustries. Mr Kruesi explained that the medical technology and biophotonics sectors are likely to deliver the biggest growth in the next few years, thanks to an expected expansion in the sectors in general. He said, “We expect to enjoy greater market penetration in all our active sectors, with a 5–10 per cent growth predicted. Photonics is a very exciting area for us as it’s really growing and we’re already active here, so we are well established in this future-focused industry.”

The predicted growth for FISBA OPTIK will also be supported by the company’s continued investment in processes and the latest equipment and machinery for advanced technologies such as precision glass molding, optical design and system engineering as well as in manufacturing, assembly and inspection of micro components and systems. Investing in product development, research and training is also imperative to the company’s ‘spirit of partnership’ motto, as it regularly stays in close contact with its customers and leading research institutes to ensure that the products and processes it is developing meet their needs both today and in the future.

Looking to the future

Mr Kruesi concluded, “We are primarily focused on organic expansion in each of our three main product areas, with an especially high growth predicted across the photonics provision. We do not rule out strategic acquisitions though, particularly if we are made aware of companies with similarly professional ethics and technically advanced optical products that would complement our respected product range.” n

Micro optic lens system (4 lenses, lens diameter 1.0 - 2.7 mm, center thickness 0.15 - 0.3 mm, external diameter 3.6 mm)