____________________________________________________________________________________ Lightpath Technologies
Since its inception in 1985 , Lightpath Technologies Ltd ( Lightpath ) has been a renowned leader in optics and photonics solutions , catering to blue-chip customers across sectors such as industrial , defense , telecommunications , testing and measurement , and medical . With expertise in designing , manufacturing , and distributing a wide range of optical and infrared components , including molded glass aspheric lenses , infrared lenses , thermal imaging assemblies , fused fiber collimators , and the revolutionary Black Diamond chalcogenide-based glass lenses , Lightpath has remained at the forefront of innovation . The company ’ s unwavering commitment to excellence and cutting-edge technology has solidified its position as a trusted provider of advanced optical solutions , driving progress in the field . Sam Rubin , President and CEO , retraces the company ’ s journey .
“ Lightpath has been in the field of optics and photonics for nearly 35 years . Over the years , it underwent various changes , particularly between the 1990s and 2000s , but consistently focused on optical components such as isolators and lenses . For many years , Lightpath was the market leader in precision molded glass lenses , a technology we developed from scratch . In the last four years , since myself and others have joined the company , we have been transitioning Lightpath from a pure component manufacturer to more of a solutions and system provider . This shift is driven by changes in the industry and the maturing of technology . In the past , Lightpath produced lenses sold to other optics companies because such systems were difficult to design , especially considering the small size of the industry back then . But , as the technology becomes more widespread and used in multiple applications and industries , the supply chain structure is evolving and needs to continue to do so . Not every customer is an optics expert with a PhD and the required equipment , thus creating an opportunity for Lightpath to provide value-added solutions . Historically , the company transitioned from making lenses for tens of dollars to subassemblies for hundreds of dollars , and now to cameras worth thousands of dollars . Therefore , this shift represents a drastic change in our business model ,” he begins . A leading innovator in the industry , Lightpath puts significant effort into the ground-breaking solutions it provides . “ When developing our strategy for creating solutions , like any company , we needed to understand the value we provide . We didn ’ t reflect merely on what we wanted to sell , but rather on why anyone would buy from us – and the key reason is always value . For us , it meant focusing on the few core technologies that allow us to develop solutions better than our customer base could develop themselves or find elsewhere in the market . Thus , we identified infrared imaging as the best starting point . Within this field , we have a few technologies that play key roles in enabling and differentiating our solutions , empowering us to develop the best infrared imaging systems available . These technologies range from vertically integrated processes , such as making our own glass and very unique types of materials , to advanced lens fabrication
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