ics West 2009, North America’s premier
event for the photonics and optics industry.
“The overwhelming global response to
the Prism Awards demonstrates that even
during this grim economic downturn, the
industry is very much alive and increasingly relevant,” said Thomas F. Laurin,
president of Laurin Publishing. “We look
forward to seeing this year’s exciting
world-class innovations from our industry
leaders and experts.”
The winners of this year’s Prism
Awards for Photonics Innovation will be
announced at Photonics West 2010 in San
Francisco.
Entries can be submitted at www.pho-
tonicsprismaward.com; contact innova-
tion@spie.org with questions.
Krista D. Zanolli
krista.zanolli@laurin.com
Dome Award Optimax Systems Inc., headquartered in Ontario, N. Y., a manufacturing
company that provides prototyping of precision
optical components, has been awarded a Phase
II Small Business Innovative Research grant. The
award will enable the company to create a polished transparent aerodynamic infrared tangent
ogive dome out of polycrystalline alumina.
Certification Received In Pavilion, N. Y., Syn-tec Optics has received ISO 9001:2000 certification. The custom polymer optics manufacturer plans to leverage the qualification to
reach global markets where strict process control is required to meet cost and schedule restrictions.
Funding Optics The Optical Society of America
(OSA) Foundation has announced the programs
it will be funding next year. It will offer grants
for optics education, for OSA student member
activities and for student travel to OSA-spon-sored events. The foundation’s goals are to improve science education, provide optics instruction and resources to underserved populations,
and offer career and professional development
support to the optics community.
Semiconductor Collaboration An agreement to expand access to the 3M Wafer Support System equipment has been signed by
3M of St. Paul, Minn., and Suss MicroTec of
Garching, Germany. The German company
will become an authorized equipment supplier for the 3M system, which temporarily
bonds the ultrathin wafers required for 3-D
packaging. Suss Micro Tec also will manufacture and sell wafer bonders designed to use
3M’s materials.
New View In Ulm, Germany, Wi Tec GmbH has
moved to its new headquarters. The facility provides about 1900 sq m of space and contains
customized production facilities, seminar rooms
and office space. The company believes that the
building will enable it to meet the demand for
its high-resolution nanoanalytical microscopy
solutions.
SSL Opportunities The US Department of
Energy (DoE) is seeking applications for three
solid-state lighting (SSL) funding opportunities.
Under funding from the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, the DoE will provide
support for projects focusing on core technology research, product development and manufacturing.
Million-Dollar Order Ceramics and metals
manufacturer SCI Engineered Materials Inc. of
Columbus, Ohio, has received an order for
thin-film solar products worth $1 million. The
products are expected to be manufactured and
shipped during the latter half of this year.
Chapter 11 Citing the recession and a 2007
federal raid on the business, Rocky Mountain
Instrument (RMI) Co. of Lafayette, Colo., a
manufacturer of full spectrum optical components, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The
company owes between $1 million and $10
million to as many as 49 creditors. RMI has
