II-VI changes name to Coherent

II-VI  (Nasdaq: IIVI) announced a corporate name change to Coherent Corp. (Nasdaq: COHR) and a new brand identity, following the successful completion of II-VI’s acquisition of Coherent, Inc., on July 1, 2022.

“We chose the name Coherent because it has the universal meaning of ‘bringing things together,’ and an appeal that we believe will expand our brand recognition and ultimately lead to value creation,” said Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., Chair and CEO of Coherent Corp. “The broader meaning of the word coherent represents our diversity in thinking distilled into our clarity of purpose, our unity in action, and our broader sense of engagement by connection to our mission, vision, and values.”

The company says its new logo represents the atom, which is foundational to what makes our products possible. The new name and brand identity reflect the combined company’s strong heritage and long history while signaling a broadened scope and vision for the future. The organization will maintain II-VI’s founding date of 1971 and its founding place and corporate headquarters as Saxonburg, Pennsylvania.

https://ii-vi.com/

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ADVA and II-VI debut 100ZR pluggable coherent transceiver

ADVA and II‐VI introduced a jointly-built, 100ZR pluggable coherent transceiver for the optical network edge.

The new Coherent 100ZR, which is rated for both commercial- and industrial-temperature (C-temp and I-temp) operating ranges, features the II-VI Steelerton coherent digital signal processor (DSP). The device plugs directly into existing head-ends, switches, and routers, enabling existing network elements to transmit 100 Gbps signals over links stretching up to several hundred kilometers. 

“With this new application-specific transceiver technology, service providers can now benefit from the simplicity and robustness of coherent technology in the access network and seamlessly upgrade millions of 10Gbit/s Ethernet links to 100Gbit/s,” said Henning Hinderthür, VP of product line management at ADVA. “While this product design is perfectly tailored to this application, it will also achieve economies of scale by leveraging II-VI’s track record of manufacturing transceivers in high volume.”

“We’ve had great feedback from both carriers and OEMs on this product, and are pleased to partner with ADVA on this key milestone for the industry,” said Matthias Berger, VP of coherent technology at II-VI Incorporated. “The transceiver includes the Steelerton™ DSP, a first-of-its-kind and game-changing coherent processor, due to its small size and low power consumption, which are both key to achieving the standard QSFP28 power dissipation requirement of less than 5 watts. What makes this transceiver even more compelling for carriers is the embedded auto-tunable Flextune™ technology, which lowers operational expenses by simplifying network deployments. It’s the ideal combination of cost-effective coherent technology with plug-and-play ease of use.”

https://adva.li/coherent-100zr-slides

https://www.adva.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/20220621-adva-and-ii-vi-incorporated-unveil-industrys-first-100zr-pluggable-coherent-transceiver

II-VI tapes out DSP for 100 Gbps coherent optical access

Tuesday, June 07, 2022  II-VI, Optical, Silicon  

II‐VI announced tape-out of its Steelerton digital signal processor (DSP) for 100 Gbps coherent transmission in optical access and aggregation networks.  

The company says its Steelerton DSP, miniaturized and with ultralow power dissipation, typically of 2 W, was designed specifically to enable 100 Gbps digital coherent optics (DCO) in a pluggable QSFP28 format, one of the most widely deployed 100 Gbps transceiver form factors in access networks.

“The Steelerton DSP promises to bring 100 Gbps QSFP28-DCO transceivers into the mainstream in access networks,” said Matthias Berger, Vice President, Coherent Technology, II-VI Incorporated. “It’s a breakthrough solution that enables wide-scale deployment of full C-band tunable coherent transceivers into QSFP28 ports, of which there are tens of millions in service. The Steelerton DSP is less than one-fifth the size and consumes less than half the power of any other 100 Gbps coherent DSP commercially available.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-develops-ultralow-power-dsp-for-100-gbps-coherent-transmission-in-optical-access-networks/

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II-VI milestone: 1,000 WSS modules shipped for subsea

 II-VI announced a significant milestone: more than 1,000 of its LightFlow Flexband wavelength selective switch (WSS) modules shipped for deployment in undersea optical networks. II-VI received its first such commercial orders in 2019.

The WSS modules are used in reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) embedded in branching points on the ocean floor. 

II-VI’s WSS leverages an athermal liquid-crystal technology, which is controlled by very simple circuits and consumes very low power. The LightFlow Flexband WSS is available in 1×1, 1×2, 1×4, 1×8, and 1×9 configurations. II-VI’s broad portfolio of products for undersea networks includes pump lasers, filters, and detectors.

“The market for undersea-qualified WSS continues to grow, leveraging technology that has demonstrated high reliability,” said Dr. Richard Smart, Senior Vice President, ROADM Business Unit. “We are uniquely positioned in the undersea WSS market, thanks to the ultrahigh reliability of our liquid-crystal WSS, which is field-proven with more than 15 years of high-volume deployments. The WSS is the most recent addition to II-VI’s portfolio of undersea-qualified products, built over two decades of innovation and that includes an industry-enabling product line of high-reliability semiconductor lasers and optical components. These products are powering a revolution in undersea capabilities, driving the convergence of communications and computing, enabling new services, and improving global sustainability.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-reaches-milestone-of-shipping-more-than-1000-wavelength-selective-switch-modules-for-undersea-optical-networks/

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II‐VI signs renewable energy contracts in Asia

II‐VI has signed renewable energy contracts for powering multiple sites throughout Asia with 100% renewable electricity. These new agreements represent 35 GWh of renewable electricity per year, thereby avoiding an additional 18,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. The agreement covers II-VI sites in India, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, and Japan.

The company notes that it has now entered into renewable electricity contracts for over 40 sites around the world, including over 35 sites that now cover 100% of their annual electricity usage with renewable sources.

“II-VI now purchases approximately 38% of our electricity from renewable sources,” said Tim Challingsworth, Chief Sustainability Officer. “This announcement is an important next step in fulfilling our commitment to steadily reduce our carbon footprint position around the globe.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-significantly-reduces-its-global-carbon-footprint-with-renewable-energy-contracts-in-asia/

• In April 2022, II-VI announced that nine of its U.S. sites will now cover 100% of their annual electricity usage with renewable sources. 
• In January 2022, that its largest plant in China would be powered with 100% renewable electricity sources within four years.
• In October 2021, it announced that it was powering all of its facilities in Europe with 100% renewable electricity sources.

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II-VI tapes out DSP for 100 Gbps coherent optical access

by James E. Carroll

II‐VI has taped-out its Steelerton digital signal processor (DSP) for 100 Gbps coherent transmission in optical access and aggregation networks.  

The company says its Steelerton DSP, miniaturized and with ultralow power dissipation, typically of 2 W, was designed specifically to enable 100 Gbps digital coherent optics (DCO) in a pluggable QSFP28 format, one of the most widely deployed 100 Gbps transceiver form factors in access networks.

“The Steelerton DSP promises to bring 100 Gbps QSFP28-DCO transceivers into the mainstream in access networks,” said Matthias Berger, Vice President, Coherent Technology, II-VI Incorporated. “It’s a breakthrough solution that enables wide-scale deployment of full C-band tunable coherent transceivers into QSFP28 ports, of which there are tens of millions in service. The Steelerton DSP is less than one-fifth the size and consumes less than half the power of any other 100 Gbps coherent DSP commercially available.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-develops-ultralow-power-dsp-for-100-gbps-coherent-transmission-in-optical-access-networks/

ADVA and II-VI debut 100ZR pluggable coherent transceiver

Tuesday, June 21, 2022  ADVA, II-VI  

ADVA and II‐VI introduced a jointly-built, 100ZR pluggable coherent transceiver for the optical network edge.The new Coherent 100ZR, which is rated for both commercial- and industrial-temperature (C-temp and I-temp) operating ranges, features the II-VI Steelerton coherent digital signal processor (DSP). The device plugs directly into existing head-ends, switches, and routers, enabling existing network elements to transmit 100 Gbps signals over links...

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IFS makes a splash: $1B fund, Arm & RISC-V support, Open Chiplet Platform 

Monday, February 07, 2022  Intel, Silicon  

by James E. CarrollThe newly established Intel Foundry Services (IFS) announced several initiatives to accelerate its entrance into the semiconductor fabrication market: a $1 billion investment fund, support for Arm and RISC-V in addition to x86, and pioneering work with chiplet architecture based on 3D packaging technology.The new $1 billion investment fund has three aims:Equity investments in disruptive startups.Strategic investments to accelerate...

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II‐VI unveils optical access node-on-a-blade

II‐VI unveiled a node-on-a-blade platform featuring WSS technology, high-power pump lasers, and ultrahigh-resolution wavelength telemetry. It operates as a multi-degree reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) system for enterprise access networks. 

II-VI’s node-on-a-blade benefits

• More efficient to deploy: With the industry’s most compact WSS technology, the system saves cost by significantly reducing facility expenses.
• More efficient to operate: The system seamlessly supports route-and-select nodes, which are highly desirable for their operational simplicity and flexible add-drop configurations.
• More efficient to scale: With its ultrahigh-resolution embedded telemetry, the system can manage a high mix of wavelength services at different baud rates.

“Our broad portfolio of optical technologies for ROADM networks is the most complete, highly differentiated, and often the first on the market,” said Dr. Richard Smart, Senior Vice President, ROADM Business Unit. “This enables us to form close relationships with customers who are looking to deploy disruptive optical networking solutions.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-unveils-node-on-a-blade-platform-with-ultrahigh-resolution-telemetry-for-high-mix-wavelength-services/

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Windstream Wholesale completes 1000 km 400G ZR+ field trials

Windstream Wholesale completed 1000 km 400G field trials leveraging pluggable modules from II-VI with QSFP-DD-DCO optics that achieve a high transmit power of 0dBm. The trials demonstrated unprecedented performance with strong working margins over a production network route and traversing up to 24 ROADMs in a lab environment.

During the field trial, Windstream Wholesale closed established a 400G link on a 1,000+ kilometer link between Phoenix and Los Angeles using the 0dBm ZR+ qualification units from II-VI with a strong residual margin k, validating suitability for production use. Notably, this performance was achieved with less than 20 watts of power consumption for each module.

“II-VI’s high transmit power 0dBm 400G QSFP-DD DCO transceivers enable Windstream to deploy greatly simplified network architectures, by optically connecting routers directly to access, metro, and regional transport networks without additional intermediary interfaces, eliminating an entire layer of optical equipment,” said Buddy Bayer, chief network officer at Windstream. “This revolution in IP-over-DWDM network architecture achieves significant savings in upfront costs and ongoing expenses, affording Windstream a highly competitive operational model.”

“Our partnership with Windstream on the joint development of the 0dBm 400G ZR+ QSFP-DD-DCO transceivers has allowed II-VI to accelerate the technology development, as proven by the recent success in the field trials,” said Matthias Berger, vice president, coherent technology, II-VI Incorporated. “Demonstrating inter-operability, low power dissipation and native 0dBm output is a ‘triple-play’ of features that will enable IP-over-DWDM for ROADM based networks.”

http://www.windstreamwholesale.com

II-VI ships 400G ZR+ QSFP-DD-DCO transceivers to Windstream Wholesale

Sunday, February 13, 2022  II-VI  

II‐VI confirmed shipment of its 400G ZR+ QSFP-DD-DCO transceiversto Windstream Wholesale for field qualification.II-VI’s 400G transceivers leverage digital coherent optics and offer optical output power of 0 dBm. The transceivers can plug directly into QSFP-DD transceiver slots on IP routers. II-VI said Windstream can leverage this technology to optically connect routers directly to access, metro, and regional DWDM transport networks without...

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Windstream and II-VI to develop 400G QSFP-DD pluggables

Thursday, October 21, 2021  II-VI, Windstream  

Windstream Wholesale is working with II-VI to co-develop next-generation, 400G transceivers. The companies said their joint work will:Deliver the world’s first high-performance 0 dBm, 400G QSFP-DD coherent pluggable module—making these transceivers compatible with existing and emerging modern ROADM based photonic layers supporting multi-service, multi-layer architectures;Significantly increase 400G transceiver density by drastically reducing the...

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II-VI unveils pluggable OLS in QSFP for 400ZR/ZR+

II‐VI introduced a pluggable optical line subsystem (POLS) in the small QSFP form factor for eight-channel 400ZR/ZR+ transport in datacenter interconnects.

II-VI’s new POLS product, the QSFP-LS, is designed in the very compact QSFP form factor that plugs directly into a switch or router QSFP port, transparent to the port speed, and enables full-duplex multichannel 400ZR/ZR+ transport, including multiplexing, demultiplexing, and variable-gain amplification. The QSFP-LS supports up to eight DWDM wavelengths at 400 Gbps, or 3.2 Tbps per fiber pair.

“In the last several years, we’ve led the industry in offering breakthrough solutions at scale of our miniature optical amplifier components, including our flagship 3-pin uncooled micropump. These components are now the building blocks that differentiate our POLS platform,” said Dr. Sanjai Parthasarathi, Chief Marketing Officer, II-VI Incorporated. “The QSFP-LS is one of our most advanced integrated products and the tiniest open line system on the market. It’s about one-fifth the size of similar amplifier module technology ten years ago and consumes one-third the power, enabling it to remain within the maximum power-dissipation requirements for any QSFP socket. Compared to similar functionality in a dedicated rack-mounted line system, the QSFP-LS consumes about half the amount of power, is about a fifth of the cost, and occupies orders of magnitude less space.”

II-VI expanded its industry-leading POLS platform by adding the QSFP-LS to the OSFP-LS, which was introduced in March 2020. The availability of POLS in both the QSFP and OSFP form factors provides a universal optical amplifier building block that is compatible with some of the most widely available plug-in sockets in switches and routers.

“With the original OSFP-LS and now the QSFP-LS available, we have a greatly simplified transport solution that eliminates the need for dedicated rack-mounted line systems, which will significantly reduce the number of network elements to be installed, powered up, configured,

and monitored,” said Martin Hull, VP of Platform Products at Arista Networks. “POLS technology represents a paradigm shift in datacenter interconnects that is complementary to and on par with the advent of 400ZR/ZR+ pluggable transceivers, in terms of greater equipment density, lower power consumption, and pay-as-you-grow flexibility that now extends to QSFP ports.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-unveils-pluggable-optical-line-subsystem-in-qsfp-form-factor-for-400zr-zr-transport-in-datacenter-interconnects/

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II-VI ships 400G ZR+ QSFP-DD-DCO transceivers to Windstream Wholesale

II‐VI confirmed shipment of its 400G ZR+ QSFP-DD-DCO transceiversto Windstream Wholesale for field qualification.

II-VI’s 400G transceivers leverage digital coherent optics and offer optical output power of 0 dBm. The transceivers can plug directly into QSFP-DD transceiver slots on IP routers. 

II-VI said Windstream can leverage this technology to optically connect routers directly to access, metro, and regional DWDM transport networks without additional intermediary interfaces, eliminating an entire layer of optical equipment and thereby significantly reducing both capital and operational expenditures.

“We’re excited to begin qualification with Windstream ahead of our original schedule,” said Matthias Berger, Vice President, Coherent Technology, II-VI Incorporated. “This 400G transceiver is based on our advanced and proprietary indium phosphide technology, which is uniquely suited to achieve high output power levels of 0 dBm while remaining within the power consumption requirements of QSFP-DD.”

“This 400G transceiver is truly a game-changing technology that will make IP-over-DWDM a reality on Windstream’s ICON network,” said Buddy Bayer, Chief Network Officer at Windstream. “II-VI moved at an accelerated pace to deliver these transceivers, putting us on track to expand 400G wavelength services to large wholesale and hyperscale customers as early as the second half of calendar year 2022. Our ‘fast and flexible’ approach is demonstrated once again through the right strategic partners.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-ships-400g-zr-qsfp-dd-dco-transceivers-to-windstream-wholesale/

Windstream and II-VI to develop 400G QSFP-DD pluggables

Thursday, October 21, 2021  II-VI, Windstream  

Windstream Wholesale is working with II-VI to co-develop next-generation, 400G transceivers. The companies said their joint work will:

• Deliver the world’s first high-performance 0 dBm, 400G QSFP-DD coherent pluggable module—making these transceivers compatible with existing and emerging modern ROADM based photonic layers supporting multi-service, multi-layer architectures;
• Significantly increase 400G transceiver density by drastically reducing the size and power demands of 400G pluggables relative to sled-based and even CFP2-based solutions;
• Reduce capex and opex by allowing for direct insertion of high-performance coherent optics into current 400G enabled routers, based on the smaller form factor; and
• Open up a direct technical path for the further evolution IP-over-DWDM with ROADM-based photonic layers, extending the application space beyond simple point-to-point DCI style networks.

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Windstream and II-VI to develop 400G QSFP-DD pluggables

Windstream Wholesale is working with II-VI to co-develop next-generation, 400G transceivers. The companies said their joint work will:

• Deliver the world’s first high-performance 0 dBm, 400G QSFP-DD coherent pluggable module—making these transceivers compatible with existing and emerging modern ROADM based photonic layers supporting multi-service, multi-layer architectures;
• Significantly increase 400G transceiver density by drastically reducing the size and power demands of 400G pluggables relative to sled-based and even CFP2-based solutions;
• Reduce capex and opex by allowing for direct insertion of high-performance coherent optics into current 400G enabled routers, based on the smaller form factor; and
• Open up a direct technical path for the further evolution IP-over-DWDM with ROADM-based photonic layers, extending the application space beyond simple point-to-point DCI style networks.

“This game-changing partnership is a vital step toward making 400G wavelengths the default deployment service for large wholesale and hyperscale customers,” said Buddy Bayer, chief network officer at Windstream. “II-VI’s high transmit power 0dBm 400G QSFP-DD DCO transceivers will enable Windstream to deploy greatly simplified network architectures, by optically connecting routers directly to access, metro, and regional transport networks without additional intermediary interfaces, eliminating an entire layer of optical equipment. This revolution in IP-over-DWDM network architecture achieves significant savings in upfront costs and ongoing expenses, affording Windstream a highly competitive operational model.”

“Our partnership with Windstream will fast-track the development of a disruptive 400G transmission technology that builds on our award-winning integrated coherent transmitter and receiver optical subassembly, or IC-TROSA, which itself is based on our advanced and proprietary indium phosphide technology along with our industry leading opto-electronic integration platform,” said Matthias Berger, vice president, coherent technology, II-VI Incorporated. “Indium phosphide is the intrinsic enabler of the 400G transceiver’s high 0 dBm output power yet with low enough power consumption to be uniquely suitable for QSFP-DD.”

An archived webinar panel called “Beyond 400ZR-Expanding the Reach of Pluggable Coherent” is available here:

https://cignal.ai/2021/10/beyond-400zr-expanding-the-reach-of-pluggable-coherent/?utm_campaign=xxxx&utm_source=yyyy&utm_medium=zzzz

https://news.windstream.com/news/default.aspx

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II‐VI and Lumentum form SmartTuning Optics MSA

II‐VI and Lumentum are founding members of a new SmartTuning Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) that aims to standardize an interoperable self-tuning feature for full-band tunable dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) pluggable optical transceivers. 

The companies say that incorporating a plug-and-play, self-tunable feature adds an extra layer of automation which further simplifies network installation and operation practices. Self-tunable DWDM pluggables eliminate the need for labeling or tracking fibers, reducing the overall operational cost for service providers. Additionally, the self-tuning functionality does not require new integration–within systems, the function can be enabled or disabled. 

"With the SmartTuning MSA, 5G mobile service providers will be able to better optimize their network architectures with easy-to-integrate, cost-effective, and automated optical networking solutions," said Justin Abbott, Lumentum Director of Product Line Management, Telecom Transmission. "This development should also accelerate the expansion of 5G network infrastructure by enabling more network automation, which results in less technician time in the field and lower ongoing network operating costs."

"The algorithms developed by the SmartTunable MSA will improve OpEx and CapEx for our end users by simplifying the deployment of their systems, reducing technician time in the field, and eliminating the need for tuning equipment,” said Dr. Lee Xu, Sr. Vice President, Transceivers Business Unit. “Our customers will greatly appreciate the efficiency and streamlined operations achieved through this standardization effort, as they ramp-up DWDM system deployments to support high speed wireline and 5G wireless broadband services.”

http://www.smarttunable-msa.org/

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II-VI intros optical monitoring system for transport and access

II-VI introduced an optical monitoring system (OMS) that enables service providers to obtain real-time critical information about the health or disruption of optical transport and access networks, including the integrity of fiber cables, the quality of optical connectors, and the signal strength of optical channels.

“The OMS is a modular, vertically integrated platform that leverages our industry-leading and field-proven optical monitoring modules, namely, our optical time-domain reflectometers and optical channel monitors, and our deep expertise in subsystem development to achieve a versatile, reliable, and cost-effective network-ready solution,” said Dr. Richard Smart, Sr. Vice President, ROADM Business Unit. “The OMS enables telecom, cable, and cloud service providers to obtain a comprehensive view of their optical networks, from the core to the edge, optimizing network uptime and providing differentiated quality of service.”

The OMS can be integrated seamlessly into the network by simply plugging it into the existing optical test ports, enabling service providers to overlay a universal network-level monitoring solution without any service interruption. A single OMS can cycle through up to 48 monitoring ports, thanks to an embedded optical switch designed and manufactured for high reliability by II-VI. 

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-introduces-optical-monitoring-system-for-optical-transport-and-access-networks/

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Apple expands advanced VCSEL manufacturing with II-VI

Apple has committed a further $410 million to II-VI to create additional capacity for manufacturing VCSEL devices and accelerate delivery of future components for iPhone.

II-VI manufactures vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that help power Face ID, Memoji, Animoji, and Portrait mode selfies. Apple also works with II-VI to manufacture lasers used in the LiDAR Scanner — technology that helps deliver faster, more realistic augmented reality experiences and improves autofocus in low-light scenes in photos and videos.

The new award, which builds on an initial $390 million awarded from Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund in 2017, is expected to resul in 700 jobs in Sherman, Texas; Warren, New Jersey; Easton, Pennsylvania; and Champaign, Illinois.

“We established Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund to support American businesses creating next-generation technology and the jobs of tomorrow,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “II-VI shares our commitment to push the boundaries of innovation and we’re proud to be extending our work together across the country.”

“The partnership between Apple and II-VI sets the stage for a new wave of breakthrough technologies that we believe will enable a wide range of applications that will benefit our world for decades to come,” said Dr. Vincent Mattera Jr., II-VI’s CEO. “We are incredibly grateful for Apple’s support which has allowed us to expand our manufacturing capacity and scale our operations across the US.”

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II-VI maintains its existing bid for Coherent, Inc.

II-VI is maintaining its current proposal to acquire Coherent, which will expire at Noon Pacific Time on Thursday, March 25, 2021.  II-VI believes its proposal would create significant value for the shareholders of both companies and remains superior to Lumentum’s latest proposal.

Under the terms of the II-VI proposal, Coherent’s shareholders would receive $220.00 in cash and 0.91 of a share of II-VI common stock for each Coherent share, which implies a total per share value of $287.18 based on the 10-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) of II-VI common stock for the period ending March 16, 2021, the day prior to the date II-VI submitted its current proposal.

https://ii-vi.com/ii-vi-incorporated-maintains-its-current-proposal-for-coherent/

Lumentum again raises bid for Coherent Inc.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021  Coherent, Lumentum, Mergers And Acquisitions  

On March 22, Lumentum increased its bid to acquire Coherent.Under the terms of the revised proposal, Coherent stockholders would receive $230.00 per share in cash and 0.6724 shares of Lumentum common stock for each Coherent share they own. Based on Lumentum's closing stock price on March 22, 2021, this equates to a consideration of $287.50 per Coherent share.Lumentum intends to finance the cash portion of the transaction through a combination of...

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II-VI again raises its bid for Coherent

Thursday, March 18, 2021    

II-VI increased its offer to acquire Coherent Inc. to top the revised proposal from Lumentum on March 17th.Under the terms of the revised II-VI proposal, Coherent’s shareholders would receive $220.00 in cash and 0.91 of a share of II-VI common stock for each Coherent share, which implies a total per share value of $287.18 based on the 10-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) of II-VI common stock, ending March 16, 2021. II-VI continues to expect...

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II-VI opens industrial laser lab in Suzhou, China

II-VI opened a new applications laboratory in Suzhou, China, to support the growing industrial laser market in the region. 

II-VI said its new applications laboratory provides close customer support on state-of-the-art laser materials processing with practical hands-on training, in-depth applications consulting, and detailed feasibility studies based on the expertise of II-VI’s applications engineers and the advanced capabilities of II-VI’s laser processing heads.

The company highlighted new opportunities for industrial lasers in the automotive sector as as manufacturers retool their production lines for the unique welding requirements of electric vehicles and their batteries. 

“In our new applications laboratory in Suzhou, customers can directly experience our high-performing and intelligent laser processing heads,” said Dr. Karlheinz Gulden, Senior Vice President, Laser Devices and Systems Business Unit. “This product application facility, together with our labs in Berlin, Germany, and Detroit, U.S., enhances our global ability to demonstrate manufacturing feasibility and develop optimized processes for our customers.”

 

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Coherent receives a higher offer from II-VI

On Friday, March 12, Coherent's board of directors once again determined that a revised acquisition proposal from II-VI Incorporated was a superior acquisition proposal. On Thursday, March 10, Coherent had announced a revised acquisition agreement with Lumentum.  Under the new deal with II-VI, each share of Coherent common stock would be exchanged for $195.00 in cash and 1.0 share of II-VI common stock at the completion of the transaction. ​

Coherent said it has notifed Lumentum that it intends to terminate their amended merger agreement unless Coherent receives a revised proposal from Lumentum by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on March 17, 2021.

Lumentum to acquire Coherent for its photonics and laser expertise

Tuesday, January 19, 2021  Lumentum, Mergers And Acquisitions  

 Lumentum agreed to acquire Coherent in a cash and stock transaction valued at $5.7 billion, with Coherent stockholders receiving $100.00 per share in cash and 1.1851 shares of Lumentum common stock for each Coherent share they own. The combination will create a leading photonics company with significant positions in the growing market for photonics, an expansive global customer base and a well-diversified revenue mix. The transaction value...

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II-VI expands manufacturing in California

II‐VI is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Santa Rosa, California, with a plan to double over the next five years its manufacturing capacity of optical filters for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instrumentation and 5G optical access networks.

The rapid growth in PCR testing for COVID-19 and the ongoing buildout of the 5G optical access infrastructure are simultaneously driving the demand for optical filters with high performance and reliability, necessitating sustained multiyear investments in production capacity. II-VI initiated the buildout of recently secured manufacturing space in Santa Rosa, and began procuring manufacturing equipment, including coating chambers, to double manufacturing capacity over the next five years.    

“We would like to thank the inventors, designers, manufacturers, and operators of PCR test systems whom, we estimate, enabled hundreds of millions of PCR tests that helped mitigate the global spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Chuck Mattera, Chief Executive Officer, II-VI Incorporated. “We were proud in 2020 to focus on our contributions to the global PCR testing capacity with our state-of-the-art filter coatings capabilities. Now, in 2021, we are doubling down on our pledge to support the growth of PCR testing over the next five years. "

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-to-double-manufacturing-capacity-of-optical-filters-for-pcr-instrumentation-and-5g-optical-access-over-a-five-year-investment/

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II‐VI develops VCSEL module for driver monitoring systems

II‐VI introduced its vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) flood illuminator modules for driver and occupancy monitoring systems in vehicles.

II-VI said its new VCSEL flood illuminator modules emit higher optical power and with a narrower spectral width than infrared LEDs currently used in existing driver monitoring systems, enabling substantial improvements in system performance. The infrared light emitted from II-VI’s flood illuminator modules can be modulated to frequencies greater than 100 MHz, making them ideal for 3D time-of-flight cameras for driver and occupancy monitoring systems. The modules are expected to be AEC-Q102 certified for automotive applications in the second quarter of calendar 2021.

“Our new VCSEL flood illumination modules integrate VCSEL chips, photodiodes, and diffuser optics, achieving a greater level of vertical integration and value for our customers,” said Dr. Julie Eng, Sr. Vice President, Optoelectronic & RF Devices Business Unit. “We leveraged our in-house 6-inch GaAs technology platform to successfully scale production of our VCSEL arrays for consumer electronics, and we look forward to ramping production of flood illumination modules for in-cabin sensing in automotive as the demand grows.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-unveils-vcsel-flood-illuminator-modules-for-driver-and-occupancy-monitoring-systems-in-vehicles/

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II-VI intros double-junction VCSEL arrays for 3D sensing

II‐VI introduced its double-junction vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays for next-generation world-facing 3D sensing applications.

II-VI’s new VCSEL arrays are based on a double-junction technology that doubles the power output per VCSEL emitter and improves the power conversion efficiency to 56%, compared with 46% in existing single-junction technology. The company says this can be leveraged for a number of differentiating benefits, including higher output power to sense farther and wider, reduced battery power consumption, and smaller size to achieve lower cost and to enable more inconspicuous designs.

II-VI’s double-junction VCSEL arrays emit at 940 nm, and their steep slope efficiencies enable very short pulses of very high peak powers. The VCSEL arrays are designed for low-cost non-hermetic packaging and, like the single-junction arrays, can be reliably and cost-effectively scaled in total power by increasing the number of emitters per chip. They can also be produced in high volume on II-VI’s vertically integrated 6-inch platform.

“We have developed over the years strong partnerships with our customers, closely collaborating on the development of long-term technology and product roadmaps aimed at providing breakthrough solutions and continuously elevating user experience in 3D sensing,” said Dr. Julie Eng, Sr. Vice President, Optoelectronic & RF Devices Business Unit. “A few years ago, we successfully scaled our vertically integrated GaAs optoelectronics technology platform from 3-inch to 6-inch, which enabled us to shorten our development cycles and introduce new products to meet aggressive market windows. We are now once again evolving the platform, this time with a leap to double-junction technology that we believe will unlock exciting new use cases, such as farther depth of sensing in world-facing applications and seamless integration into consumer products for AR and VR applications.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-unveils-high-power-and-high-efficiency-double-junction-vcsel-arrays-for-next-generation-3d-sensing/

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IDL2020: 60th anniversary of the laser

Saturday, May 16th marked the annual International Day of Light (IDL2020) as well as the 60th anniversary of the first demonstration of a laser.

The first laser was built by Theodore H. Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories and successfully fired for the first time on May 16, 1960. The development was based on theoretical work by Charles Hard Townes and Arthur Leonard Schawlow.

II-VI, which has been making precision optics for CO2 lasers for nearly 50 years, commemorated IDL2020 by supporting UNESCO as an official Gold Sponsor of the IDL, and by releasing three videos on the topic.

IDL 2020 – 5 Enlightening Facts about CO2 Lasers

IDL 2020 – Fuzhou Exhibit Hall Grand Opening

IDL 2020 – II-VI Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Laser

https://www.lightday.org/

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