Vancouver-based nLight Corp. has acquired a majority interest in Optotools GmbH of Heilbronn, Germany.
Both companies are high-power semiconductor laser suppliers, and have worked together for more than one year, said Scott Keeney, nLight president and CEO.
He expects the partnership will help nLight expand into Optotools' niche market of industrial customers. Optotools is growing rapidly, he added, though he declined to share specifics.
"We continue to grow in the industrial market and Germany leads the world in those applications, especially in lasers," Keeney said. "We wanted to formalize the (Optotools) partnership further and really make the m part of the team."
Optotools has about 10 employees working in Germany at one facility. The acquisition will not mean job cuts at other nLight sites, Keeney said.
German investor, Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn GmbH and Co. KG, owns the remaining shares of Optotools and will act as a partner with nLight.
nLight also recently announced the release of the Liekki Application Designer 4.0. The design tool can be used for high-power applications in simulating and optimizing fiber amplifiers and fiber laser systems. A demo version is at www.nlight.net.
nLight is headquartered in Vancouver with operations in Hillsboro and 10 other countries, including sites in Europe, Asia and in Australia.
