___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Polytec
In a quiet forest in Missouri, biologist Dr. Rex Cocroft listens to plants- not through a microphone, but with a laser. Using a Polytec laser vibrometer, he studies how tiny insects called treehoppers communicate by sending vibrations through stems and leaves. These signals are inaudible to humans, yet they reveal complex communication networks hidden in nature’ s silence.
That ability to make the invisible visible is at the heart of Polytec, a family-owned German technology company that has been shaping the field of optical metrology since 1967. With a mission to help researchers and engineers measure what truly matters, Polytec develops instruments that transform light and motion into insight, enabling better products, smarter processes, and a deeper understanding of the physical world.
“ Our systems are designed to capture what traditional sensors can’ t, whether it’ s vibration, surface texture, or material composition,” explains Michael Frech, President of Polytec.
“ By using light as our probe, we deliver precision without contact, allowing our customers to test, validate, and optimize in ways that were previously impossible.”
From laboratory precision to industrial power
Wherever accuracy meets complexity, optical measurement offers decisive advantages. In manufacturing, contact-based sensors struggle with heat, vibration, or delicate materials. In research, non-contact systems enable high-frequency or microscopic measurements without interference.
Polytec’ s expertise spans four main product areas- vibrometry, surface metrology, velocimetry, and process analytics- each solving a different class of measurement challenge. Across industries from automotive and aerospace to consumer electronics, bioengineering, and nanotechnology, these technologies help engineers turn uncertainty into confidence and data into decisions.
manufacturing-today. com 121