SUSS MicroOptics bets on freeform optics

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Published on 24 May 2019

SUSS MicroOptics is setting up an excellence center for the manufacturing of wafer-level optics (WLO) in order to meet the increase in demand for precision optics applications. According to the company, high volume applications in consumer markets especially in automotive, mobile phones, lighting and high-end cameras have emerged.
The excellence center will be part of 800 m2 of new cleanroom space currently build in Neuchâtel and certified for the main markets targeted by SUSS MicroOptics. The goal is to enable volume manufacturing from pilot production all the way to high-volume production in Europe and in particular in the city of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, famous for its watches manufacturing facilities.
Dr. Rolando Ferrini, Section Head MicroNano Optics & Photonics at CSEM has been appointed in charge of linking wafer-level R&D lines to volume manufacturing, explains: "finding synergies between the huge technological developments in wafer-level micro-optics, which have happened in Europe in the last decade, mostly funded by European H2020 grants and regional funds, positions today Europe as a leader in bringing freeform micro-optics to higher volumes: it is now or never to create volume manufacturing capabilities in Europe in this strategic field, which is foreseen to have strong impact in several application domains."