Schott Ups Stake in Ulm

YONKERS, N.Y. -- Schott is increasing its stake in the university spin-off U.L.M. Photonics GmbH (Ulm, Germany) to 52 percent, thereby acquiring majority ownership. After two years in operation, U.L.M. Photonics, has built and developed one of the most respected research, design and manufacturing facilities for Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and thus become the technology leader in this sector. VCSEL will continue to replace traditional lasers in applications such as medical devices, printing, sensors, and data communications.Schott’s investment comes despite the worldwide downturn in the telecommunications market, said Dr. Karl-Peter Merz, Member of the Corporate Management Committee of Schott Glas and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Schott Optovance. “We are pursuing attractive opportunities to apply U.L.M.’s leading VCSEL technology in applications inside, as well as outside, the telecom and datacom markets.”Due to the current market conditions, Schott is restructuring Schott Optovance, Inc. (Southbridge, Massachusetts). Although Schott Optovance has become the leader in high-density, fiber management components for parallel optical interconnects, as well as high-density planar optical components, the company will be sold, spun-in or closed by the end of the year. Supply of products to its approximately 20 customers, most of them established leaders in optical equipment and subsystems, will be assured during the restructuring.“We are facing the realities of today’s telecommunications markets. Although Schott Optovance has developed a unique and strong technology basis and became the leader in its respective sector, we are not able to forecast when a sustained turnaround of the telecommunications markets will take effect,” said Merz.Ulm Photonics GmbHSchott GroupSchott Optovance Inc.