Application Fields
Our custom optical solutions are deployed across diverse industries. Each project begins with understanding the unique optical challenges of the application environment.
Agriculture
Modern agriculture increasingly relies on optical sensing to monitor crop health, optimize yields, and reduce resource waste. Our optical components are at the heart of multispectral imaging systems deployed across farmland worldwide.
Multispectral Imaging Lens for Crop Health Assessment
Background
The global precision agriculture market is expanding rapidly, driven by the need for data-driven farming. Multispectral cameras mounted on drones, satellites, and ground vehicles capture data beyond the visible spectrum — enabling farmers to detect disease early, assess nutrient levels, and map field variability with unprecedented accuracy. NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) analysis has become standard practice across large-scale farming operations in the US Midwest and European agricultural regions.
Optical Challenge
Agricultural optical systems must operate in harsh field conditions — dust, moisture, temperature extremes from -20°C to 50°C, and prolonged UV exposure. Lenses must maintain high transmission efficiency across specific spectral bands (400-1000nm for VIS-NIR) while resisting environmental degradation. Chromatic aberration must be minimized at target wavelengths (particularly 660nm red and 850nm NIR) to ensure accurate vegetation index measurements.
Our Solution
We co-develop custom lens assemblies optimized for specific spectral bands, selecting glass materials with high transmission in the target range. Our designs incorporate hardened anti-scratch coatings, sealed housing compatibility, and materials selected for long-term outdoor stability. Each assembly is validated under simulated field conditions before delivery.
Key Specifications
- Spectral range: 400-1000nm (VIS-NIR), customizable per application
- Operating temperature: -20°C to 50°C
- Environmental protection: IP67 rated housing compatibility
- Coating: Broadband AR optimized per spectral band
- Distortion: <1% across full field of view
Greenhouse Environmental Monitoring Optical Module
Background
The Netherlands leads the world in greenhouse agriculture, with over 10,000 hectares of high-tech glasshouses producing tomatoes, peppers, and flowers year-round. These facilities rely on continuous optical monitoring of plant health, light distribution, and microclimate conditions. Spectral sensors track PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation, 400-700nm) levels and detect early signs of nutrient deficiency or pathogen stress before visible symptoms appear.
Optical Challenge
Greenhouse optical modules must operate continuously in high-humidity environments (80-95% RH) with frequent temperature cycling and exposure to fertilizers and pesticides. Optical windows must resist chemical corrosion while maintaining >90% transmission in the PAR band. Condensation on optical surfaces must be prevented without active heating that would distort local temperature readings.
Our Solution
We manufacture sealed optical modules with hydrophobic anti-fog coatings on all external surfaces. Housing materials are selected for chemical resistance to common greenhouse agents. The optical design prioritizes uniform transmission across the 400-700nm PAR band with minimal spectral distortion. Modules are delivered with custom mechanical interfaces for integration into existing greenhouse sensor networks.
Key Specifications
- Spectral range: 400-700nm (PAR optimized)
- Humidity tolerance: 0-95% RH non-condensing
- Chemical resistance: Fertilizer and pesticide exposure rated
- Transmission efficiency: >90% across PAR band
- Maintenance interval: 12 months minimum
Livestock Health Monitoring Optical System
Background
Precision livestock farming is gaining adoption across North American and European cattle, swine, and poultry operations. Optical systems combining thermal imaging and visible-light cameras enable non-contact health monitoring — detecting fever, respiratory issues, and behavioral anomalies without stressing animals. Early disease detection reduces antibiotic use and improves herd health outcomes.
Optical Challenge
Livestock monitoring optics must operate in barn environments with high dust loads, ammonia exposure, and wide temperature swings. Thermal imaging lenses (8-14μm LWIR) require Germanium or Chalcogenide glass elements that are expensive and fragile. The optical assembly must maintain calibration accuracy despite vibration from animal movement and ventilation systems.
Our Solution
We produce ruggedized LWIR lens assemblies with protective diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on Germanium elements. Housing designs incorporate positive-pressure air purging to prevent dust ingress. Each lens is calibrated and delivered with test reports documenting MTF performance across the full field of view. We support integration with common livestock analytics platforms.
Key Specifications
- Spectral range: 8-14μm (LWIR thermal)
- Operating temperature: -10°C to 50°C
- Dust protection: Positive-pressure purged housing
- Coating: DLC on Germanium elements
- Calibration: MTF test report included per unit
Fishery
The marine environment presents unique challenges for optical systems. We engineer underwater imaging solutions that maintain clarity and reliability in the most demanding aquatic conditions — from aquaculture monitoring to deep-sea research.
Underwater Imaging Lens for Aquaculture Monitoring
Background
The global aquaculture industry, particularly in Norway, Chile, and Southeast Asia, increasingly relies on underwater imaging systems to monitor fish health, feeding behavior, and cage integrity. High-resolution cameras deployed inside fish cages capture real-time footage that feeds into AI-driven analytics platforms, enabling operators to detect disease symptoms, estimate biomass, and optimize feed distribution without physical handling of the stock.
Optical Challenge
Underwater optical systems face extreme environmental demands. The lens assembly must operate at depths of 10-50 meters under sustained hydrostatic pressure, withstanding saltwater corrosion and biofouling. Optical performance must remain stable across the visible spectrum (400-700nm) in low-light conditions typical of underwater environments. The housing design must prevent fogging and maintain optical clarity over extended deployment periods of 6-12 months without retrieval.
Our Solution
We co-developed custom underwater lens assemblies with clients, selecting specialized glass materials optimized for seawater transmission characteristics. The mechanical housing incorporated a multi-stage sealing system with pressure-equalization design. Anti-reflective coatings were optimized for the underwater light environment, and the housing geometry was designed to minimize biofouling accumulation on the optical window.
Key Specifications
- Spectral range: 400-700nm (visible)
- Operating depth: 10-50 meters
- Pressure rating: 6 bar sustained
- Housing material: Marine-grade titanium alloy
- Deployment duration: 12 months without retrieval
Sonar-Compatible Optical Sensor Housing
Background
Commercial fisheries and oceanographic research institutions across the EU, Japan, and Australia deploy autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with multi-modal perception systems. These vehicles combine optical imaging with sonar mapping to perform seabed surveys, locate fish schools, inspect subsea infrastructure, and monitor marine ecosystems. The optical component must work in concert with acoustic sensors to provide complementary data streams.
Optical Challenge
Integrating optical sensors alongside sonar transducers in a compact AUV payload creates significant design constraints. The optical window must not interfere with acoustic signal propagation, and the lens barrel must be acoustically transparent or positioned to avoid creating reflection artifacts. The entire assembly must maintain alignment under the vibration and shock loads experienced during AUV deployment and recovery from vessel-mounted cranes.
Our Solution
We engineered an integrated optical-acoustic sensor housing that positions the lens assembly within an acoustically quiet zone relative to the sonar array. The housing geometry was validated through computational fluid dynamics and acoustic simulation to ensure minimal interference. Our precision machining process achieved the tight tolerances required for optical-acoustic alignment in a compact form factor.
Key Specifications
- Integration: Optical + forward-looking sonar
- Acoustic interference: <-40dB reflection
- Vibration rating: 10G operational shock
- Form factor: 80mm diameter cylindrical housing
- Material: Anodized aluminum with ceramic coating
Coastal Surveillance Optical System
Background
Maritime nations across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific deploy coastal optical surveillance systems to monitor fishing vessel traffic, detect illegal fishing activities, and track marine environmental conditions. These systems combine high-resolution telephoto lenses with pan-tilt-zoom mechanisms to provide continuous visual coverage of coastal waters extending 20-50 kilometers from shore.
Optical Challenge
Coastal surveillance lenses must deliver high-resolution imaging over extreme distances while operating continuously in corrosive, salt-laden air. Atmospheric haze, sea spray, and rapid weather changes demand optical designs with exceptional contrast and resolution at long range. The lens must maintain focus accuracy across temperature ranges from -5°C to 45°C and resist salt crystallization on optical surfaces.
Our Solution
We developed a long-range telephoto lens optimized for maritime atmospheric conditions. The optical design incorporated specialized coatings that resist salt deposition while maximizing contrast in hazy conditions. The mechanical housing featured active desiccant chambers and heated optical windows to prevent condensation. Our production process ensured consistent optical performance across the full production batch for fleet-wide deployment.
Key Specifications
- Focal length: 200-800mm continuous zoom
- Effective range: 20-50km in clear conditions
- Resolution: Compatible with 4K sensor arrays
- Environmental protection: IP67, salt spray rated
- Operating temperature: -5°C to 45°C
Industrial
Industrial automation relies on precise optical systems for quality inspection, measurement, and process control. We design machine vision optics that deliver consistent performance in demanding manufacturing environments.
Machine Vision Lens for Automated Inspection
Background
Automated optical inspection (AOI) systems are deployed across electronics manufacturing, automotive production, and pharmaceutical packaging lines throughout North America and Europe. These systems use high-resolution cameras with precision lenses to detect defects, verify assembly completeness, and measure component dimensions at production line speeds. The optical quality directly determines inspection accuracy and false rejection rates.
Optical Challenge
Machine vision lenses must deliver edge-to-edge sharpness with minimal distortion across large sensor formats (up to full-frame 35mm). Chromatic aberration must be controlled to sub-pixel levels to ensure accurate color-based inspection. The lens must maintain performance under continuous vibration from production equipment and resist contamination from coolant mist and metal particulates common in machining environments.
Our Solution
We manufacture low-distortion machine vision lenses with apochromatic correction for multi-wavelength inspection applications. Housing designs incorporate sealed lens elements to prevent internal contamination. Each lens is delivered with a calibration certificate documenting distortion maps and MTF performance at specified working distances. We support custom mechanical interfaces for integration into existing AOI platforms.
Key Specifications
- Distortion: <0.05% across full field
- Sensor compatibility: Up to 45MP full-frame
- Working distance: 50mm-2000mm, application-specific
- Sealing: IP54 rated against coolant and particulates
- Documentation: Calibration certificate per unit
Semiconductor Inspection Optical System
Background
Semiconductor fabrication and PCB assembly require optical inspection systems capable of resolving features at the micron and sub-micron scale. As chip geometries shrink and PCB trace densities increase, the optical systems used for defect detection, alignment verification, and dimensional measurement must deliver ever-higher resolution. Leading semiconductor foundries in the US, EU, and Asia deploy these systems at every production stage.
Optical Challenge
Semiconductor inspection optics operate at the limits of optical resolution, requiring numerical apertures (NA) of 0.5 or higher with diffraction-limited performance. Working distances are often extremely short (5-20mm), creating tight integration constraints. The optical system must maintain performance in cleanroom environments while resisting contamination from process chemicals. Vibration isolation is critical at these resolution levels.
Our Solution
We produce high-NA microscope objective lenses and telecentric lenses for semiconductor inspection applications. Our designs achieve diffraction-limited performance with Strehl ratios >0.95 across the field. Lens elements are manufactured from low-thermal-expansion glass materials to maintain focus stability in temperature-controlled cleanrooms. We support custom mounting interfaces for integration into wafer probers and PCB AOI systems.
Key Specifications
- Numerical aperture: 0.3-0.7, application-specific
- Resolution: <1μm at specified working distance
- Telecentricity: <0.1° chief ray angle
- Cleanroom compatibility: ISO Class 5 rated
- Thermal stability: <0.5μm focus shift over 20-30°C
Laser Processing Optical Assembly
Background
Industrial laser systems for cutting, welding, marking, and additive manufacturing are deployed across automotive, aerospace, and job shop manufacturing globally. The beam delivery optics — including focusing lenses, beam expanders, and scanning optics — determine process quality, speed, and repeatability. High-power laser applications (1kW-10kW+) demand optics that can withstand intense thermal loads without degradation.
Optical Challenge
High-power laser optics must transmit >99.5% of incident energy while absorbing minimal heat that could cause thermal lensing or coating damage. At 1μm wavelength (fiber lasers), fused silica and specialized coatings are required. The optical assembly must maintain beam quality (M² <1.1) and focal position stability despite thermal cycling. Contamination from process spatter and fumes must be prevented.
Our Solution
We manufacture laser-grade focusing lenses from high-purity fused silica with ion-beam-sputtered (IBS) anti-reflective coatings rated for high-power operation. Each lens is tested for laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) at the client's operating wavelength and power level. Housing designs incorporate protective windows and air purge ports to prevent contamination. We support both fixed-focus and variable-focus configurations.
Key Specifications
- Wavelength: 1064nm (fiber laser) or 10.6μm (CO₂)
- Power rating: Up to 10kW continuous wave
- Transmission: >99.5% per surface
- LIDT: >15 J/cm² @ 1064nm, 10ns pulse
- Beam quality: M² <1.1 maintained
AI & Robotics
Intelligent robots need to see and understand their environment. We design optical modules for robot vision systems that enable navigation, object manipulation, obstacle avoidance, and environmental mapping.
Stereo Vision Module for Autonomous Navigation
Background
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in warehouse logistics, last-mile delivery, and service robotics rely on stereo vision for real-time depth perception and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). Companies like Amazon, Ocado, and European logistics operators deploy thousands of AMRs that navigate dynamic environments using optical perception as their primary sensory input.
Optical Challenge
Stereo vision modules must deliver precise depth accuracy across the robot's operational range (0.3-10m typical) while maintaining a compact form factor for integration into mobile platforms. The two lenses must be precisely matched in focal length, distortion, and transmission to ensure accurate disparity calculation. The assembly must withstand continuous vibration and occasional impacts during robot operation.
Our Solution
We produce matched stereo lens pairs with individually characterized distortion maps delivered as calibration files for the client's vision pipeline. Our assembly process ensures baseline accuracy within ±0.05mm and angular alignment within ±0.02°. Lens designs are optimized for the specific working distance range of each robot application. We support both global shutter and rolling shutter sensor interfaces.
Key Specifications
- FOV: 60-120°, customizable per application
- Depth range: 0.3-10m
- Baseline accuracy: ±0.05mm
- Angular alignment: ±0.02°
- Vibration rating: 10G operational shock
Collaborative Robot (Cobot) Vision System
Background
Collaborative robots (cobots) from manufacturers like Universal Robots, Techman, and Franka Emika are deployed alongside human workers in manufacturing cells across Europe and North America. Safety-rated vision systems enable cobots to detect human presence, adjust speed accordingly, and stop before contact. These optical systems must meet functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62443) for personnel protection.
Optical Challenge
Cobot vision optics must operate reliably in shared workspaces with varying lighting conditions — from bright overhead lighting to shadows cast by human workers. The optical system must maintain consistent performance for safety-critical detection functions while supporting the cobot's primary task vision (pick-and-place, assembly verification). Size and weight constraints are tight for arm-mounted configurations.
Our Solution
We design dual-function optical modules that combine wide-angle safety monitoring with narrow-angle task vision in a single compact assembly. The optical design incorporates high dynamic range (HDR) capability to handle extreme lighting variations. We support functional safety documentation requirements and provide failure mode analysis for the optical subsystem. Modules are delivered with custom mounting brackets for specific cobot models.
Key Specifications
- Safety FOV: 120° wide-angle monitoring
- Task FOV: 30-60° narrow-angle precision
- Dynamic range: >100dB HDR capability
- Safety compliance: ISO 13849 PLd documentation support
- Weight: <200g for arm-mounted configuration
UAV Payload Optical System
Background
Commercial drone operators across North America and Europe deploy UAVs equipped with high-resolution optical payloads for infrastructure inspection (power lines, wind turbines, bridges), aerial surveying, and precision agriculture. The optical payload determines the quality of deliverable data — whether it's thermal anomalies on a solar farm or centimeter-accurate topographic maps.
Optical Challenge
UAV optical payloads must balance resolution, weight, and size within strict SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) constraints. Every gram of payload weight reduces flight time. The optical system must maintain image stability despite UAV vibration and wind-induced motion. For mapping applications, geometric accuracy is critical — lens distortion must be precisely characterized and corrected.
Our Solution
We manufacture lightweight optical assemblies using aluminum housings and optimized lens designs that minimize element count without sacrificing image quality. Each lens is delivered with a precise distortion calibration file for photogrammetric processing. We support both fixed-focal-length and zoom configurations, with optional image stabilization interfaces. Our designs prioritize weight reduction while maintaining optical performance.
Key Specifications
- Weight: <300g including housing
- Resolution: Compatible with 20-61MP sensors
- Distortion calibration: Per-unit characterization file
- Vibration isolation: Integrated damping mount
- Power consumption: <2W for zoom variants