Qioptiq Ltd has secured a multi-million pound contract to supply a major NATO Defence Force with its SniperVIPIR-2 Thermal Weapon Sight.

18th March 2008, Leading international designer and manufacturer of optical solutions, Qioptiq, announced today that it had completed its acquisition of Point Source Ltd, a specialist producer of fiber optic laser delivery systems and lasers.

Point Source, based near Southampton in the UK, employs 70 people and had revenues of £12 million (US$22m approx) in 2007. It specializes in fiber optic laser delivery systems and lasers for commercial applications in biotechnology and semiconductor manufacturing.

Qioptiq announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire Point Source last month – the deal is now complete following normal closing conditions.

Qioptiq CEO, Benoit Bazire commenting on the completion said: “ We are delighted that the acquisition has gone through successfully. We will now be working on fully integrating the company into the Qioptiq Group so that we can make full use of Point Source’s excellent laser capabilities.”

Point Source becomes part of Qioptiq’s Optical Systems Division headed by Group VP, Volker Brockmeyer. The Division focuses on advanced optical system solutions for the strong growth markets of IT & Communications, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Industrial Manufacturing and Microptics.



About Qioptiq:

The Qioptiq Group is a leading international organisation of world-leading optics companies with locations throughout Europe, Asia and the USA.

The Group has an enviable reputation spanning over 100 years for providing advanced optical systems, equipment, modules and components for a diverse range of civilian and defence applications.

Qioptiq’s manufacturing operations offer some of the most advanced capabilities in optical system and module design, build and manufacture. This capability extends from complex optical components to complete turnkey optomechanical solutions in visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavebands.

The Qioptiq Group employs over 2,300 people and generated revenues of
US$335 million in 2007.     

For further information visit: www.qioptiq.com
                                                


About Point Source:

Point Source is the world leader in Flexible Laser Technology for precision optical instrumentation, based at Hamble, UK, where it employs 70 people in its state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and test facility.

The company offers a comprehensive range of single-mode laser to fiber couplers, fiber-coupled lasers (UV, visible and near-IR) and fully-customised OEM solutions designed with very high reliability for the most demanding applications.

Point Source sells direct from its UK-base, via a sales office in Singapore, and through distributors in Japan.

For further information visit: www.point-source.com



For further information, please contact:

Richard Nelson, Kingswood Marketing (Qioptiq Group PR Consultancy)
Mobile: +44 (0)7795 422211
richard@kingswoodmktg.com

or

Rachel Owen, Freshwater Technology (Point Source PR Consultancy)
Tel: +44 1794 521156
Mobile: +44 (0)7775 658840
rowen@freshwater-uk.com

Qioptiq Limited, based in North Wales, announced it has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to supply high performance, low cost objective lenses for the Thermal Weapon Sight II programme, by BAE Systems.

The objective lenses were developed to fit onto an optical sighting system, which produces a thermal image of the outside world.  The system then relays the image to the user through the eyepiece.  

Qioptiq also supplies BAE Systems with the high performance eyepiece for the Thermal Weapon Sight II.

The contract was awarded on cost and performance together with the introduction of new design concepts and manufacturing processes. The TWS Programme will span a period of four years, and will be for quantities in excess of 150,000 units.

The Thermal Weapon Sights, which utilise the latest in uncooled technology will be used by United States combat troops in operational theatres for target acquisition, observation and surveillance purposes.

David Marks, Managing Director Qioptiq Limited said: “Qioptiq’s site at
St Asaph is a centre-of-excellence for the design and manufacture of complex optical systems used by all branches of the armed forces.  This contract demonstrates a successful collaboration between Qioptiq and BAE Systems and gives an excellent base to work together on other product developments in the future.”
                                  
Notes to Editors:

About Qioptiq:

The Qioptiq Group is an international network of world-leading optics companies with locations throughout Europe, Asia and the USA.

The Group has an enviable reputation spanning over 100 years for providing advanced optical systems, equipment, modules and components for a diverse range of civilian and defence applications.

Qioptiq’s manufacturing operations offer some of the most advanced capabilities in optical system and module design, build and manufacture. This capability extends from complete turnkey optomechanical solutions in visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavebands, to complex optical components.

The Qioptiq Group employs over 2,200 people and generated revenues of US$288 million in 2006.     

In the UK, Qioptiq specialises in developing and producing complex optical modules and components for applications including aerospace, defence and night vision operation. Its most important products include optical modules for cockpit head-up and helmet mounted displays and infrared optical modules and night vision equipment. In Singapore, the company develops and produces high-precision optical components and modules that include those for night-vision equipment and medical applications.

For further information visit: www.qioptiq.com

Press contacts:
                            
Alan Jensen                                      Richard Nelson        
Tel : +44 (0)1745 588002             Tel: +44  (0)7795 422211    
Fax : +44 (0) 1745 584258           Fax: +44 (0)1483 292744

Over S$23million has been invested in new Plant

The final touches are being carried out on Qioptiq Singapore’s new 200,000 sq. ft. facility. The exterior is nearly complete and workers are currently building out the interior space. The comany anticipates completion in April 2008.

The move from Qioptiq’s existing Singapore siteinto the new location will be done in phases to minimize disruption to production. It will begin in April and should be completed by June.

After 30 years in its current facility, the company is anxious to move to more spacious quarters to aid day to day operations and business expansion. The company will also have new clean rooms in the purpose built site in Tractor Road, Singapore. This will mean the company can add class 100, class 1,000 and class 10,000 capabilities in so doing will enable the company to meet the contamination control needs of its growing precision sub-assembly business.

The new facility will significantly enhance the company’s capabilities at Qioptiq Singapore. Not only will we bring all functions under one roof, but it will streamline the flow of production yet still provide room for any future growth.

Qioptiq Singapore welcomes visitors to its new location at No.8 Tractor Road Singapore 627969. Existing email addresses remain unchanged. However, our individual new telephone and fax numbers will be announced shortly once the telecommunications infrastructure is finalised.