See the XONOX VT 1200 Vertical Interferometer in OptiPro's APD lab

OptiPro Systems has teamed up with XONOX-Technology to be the exclusive representative of the XONOX product line in North America. The new collaboration provides OptiPro with a more complete product solution, while allowing XONOX Technology to expand to the North American market.

OptiPro will provide sales, marketing, service, and support in North America for XONOX, which specializes in manufacturing metrology equipment and software for optics manufacturing companies. XONOX offers a variety of metrology solutions for optical manufacturers, including interferometers for workshop and QC lab, innovative transmission spheres with extended measuring range, analysis software, and center thickness measurement.

"We are excited to be teaming up with XONOX, an innovative and distinguished company that provides high-quality metrology solutions for the precision optics industry," said Mike Bechtold, President of OptiPro. "Because the XONOX product line complements OptiPro's metrology solutions, this cooperation allows OptiPro to provide new ways to help our customers prosper."

"We are both small but innovative companies and our business philosophies fit each other very well," explains Peter Watz, General Manager of XONOX. "It is of the utmost importance that our North American customers have direct support with a local company. OptiPro is the ideal company to represent XONOX Technology because of their history providing exceptional service and support to optics manufacturing companies."

One of XONOX's latest products is their revolutionary 4+ Transmission Sphere System which provides up to 60% more visible aperture in lens testing on standard 4" interferometers.

For more information on XONOX and the company's metrology solutions, go to http://www.xonox-tec.com. If you are interested in seeing a demonstration on the VT-1200 Vertical Interferometer recently installed at OptiPro, contact OptiPro's sales team at 585-265-0160 or sales@optipro.com. 

Ed Fess, R&D Manager at OptiPro, conducts a live demonstration of the OptiSonic 3X at Optifab 2013

More than 1650 people were in attendance last week at Optifab 2013! OptiPro had 10 machines under power and making optics in our booth, including three new solutions: the PRO 160C Centering Machine, OptiSonic 3X, and TRIUMPH platform. 

• The PRO 160C precision optics centering machine is capable of precision centering of spheres, aspheres, and freeform optics with laser alignment. Truncations, facets, steps, bevels, and tapers can also be performed on the PRO 160C, making it exceptionally versatile. A rock-solid granite base ensures unprecedented precision and repeatability.

• OptiSonic 3X is OptiPro's newest grinding solution that utilizes Ultrasonic vibration to accomplish rapid material removal while minimizing tool wear. OptiSonic 3X allows users to efficiently grind hard optical ceramic materials including sapphire and spinel. The technology can also be utilized on softer materials to achieve faster cycle times and improved surface quality after grinding.

• The TRIUMPH platform is capable of high production polishing of aspheres, spheres, and domes as well as freeform polishing. The TRIUMPH incorporates three polishing solutions in one ultimate multi-polishing head: ePX 200 high speed spherical polisher, UltraForm Finishing (UFF) and OptiPro's latest polishing technology UltraSmooth Finishing (USF). USF complements UFF to achieve higher precision after finishing parts with UFF.  

The three new machines generated a great amount of excitement among companies interested in reaching new heights in manufacturing efficiency and precision. The in-booth demonstrations showcasing the PRO 160C and OptiSonic 3X drew large crowds as Ed Fess, R&D Manager at OptiPro, explained the cutting edge features of each machine. Visitors were also able to see, in action, CNC optical grinding with the PRO 80 GTS and eSX 300 ATC (automatic tool changer), high speed spherical polishing with the PRO 80P, fast finishing of aspheres with the PRO 80 UFF, and precision optical metrology equipment with OptiTrace 5000, UltraSurf 5X, and PRO Tower.  

OptiPro would like to thank everyone who visited our booth throughout the three days of Optifab! If you are interested in learning more about the PRO 160C, OptiSonic 3X, TRIUMPH, or any of the 17 products in OptiPro's line of innovative optical manufacturing solutions, contact OptiPro at 585-265-0160 or sales@optipro.com.

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There are still a few spots open for the next OptiPro U session: November 11th-15th, 2013 at OptiPro's facility in Ontario, NY! If you are thinking about polishing your skills in precision optics manufacturing, register today before the class fills! OptiPro U is a one week study of current processes, machinery, and tools employing the latest CNC technology that is shaping the methodology in manufacturing optical components.

Throughout the week, students will attend classroom lectures pertaining to deterministic microgrinding of spheres and aspheres, high-speed polishing of spheres, and sub-aperture polishing of aspheres while implementing interferometric, non-contact and contact metrology systems. They will also receive ample hands on experience in putting the lecture material to practice by using OptiPro's advanced optical manufacturing laboratory. Here they will use the latest PRO Series machines (PRO 80 GTS, PRO 80P, PRO 80 UFF), eSX grinding, ePX high-speed polishing and UltraForm Finishing (UFF) platforms as well as the OptiTrace 5000 profilometer, UltraSurf non-contact profilometer and PRO Tower interferometer. 

Dave Valleli, Custom Optics Lab Manager at Hardin Optical, had this to say about the OptiPro U course he attended back in April: 

"OptiPro U is an amazing accomplishment. The course was well thought out, comprehensive, and superbly executed. After 15 years in the optics industry, I am no stranger to this business but I came home with valuable information that will improve the efficiency and quality of the products we produce here at Hardin."

Check out photos from the April 2013 OptiPro U course >> 

Register for OptiPro U in November >> 

Learn more about OptiPro U >> 

Contact Danielle Bechtold today (585-265-0160 x245 or dbechtold@optipro.com) for more information or to sign up. Space is limited so reserve your spot before the class fills!

Attend the Tour at OptiPro >>

To help support the Manufacturing Day movement, OptiPro will be holding a public tour of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on October 30th at 3:45 PM. The original time of 3:00 PM was modified to 3:45 PM in order to accommodate the tours taking place at neighboring manufacturing companies Harbec and Optimax. The tour at Harbec will take place from 1:15PM to 2:15PM, while Optimax's tour will run from 2:30PM to 3:30PM.   

The tour will give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day business operations at OptiPro to combat any preconceived notions about the manufacturing industry in its modern state. Guests will be guided through each area of OptiPro's 20,000 square foot facility, while being educated on how each department works together to develop innovative manufacturing solutions.

From left to right: Bill Hurley (President of Rochester Precision Optics), Mike Bechtold (President of OptiPro), Tom Battley (Director of RRPC)

The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC) announced the recipients of three annual awards and a special lifetime achievement award at its annual meeting on Thursday, September 5th at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. One of the awards, the Entrepreneurship Award, was given to Mike Bechtold, President of OptiPro Systems, "for demonstrating creativity, innovative spirit and drive in pursuit of the dream of creating an industry-leading company in the Optics, Photonics and Imaging Industry." This honor was much to the surprise of Mike, who emphasized that the award belongs just as much to his employees as it does to himself.

"The entire OptiPro team deserves this honor," says Mike Bechtold. "The foundation of OptiPro's success has always been an unprecedented dedication to our customers. It is what fuels our company to continually advance our technology. I am truly fortunate to have worked with such a hard-working and determined group of professionals that share these same values." 

To check out photos from the event, go to OptiPro's Facebook Page >>