Press Release Source: Bookham, Inc.
Bookham New Focus(TM) Takes Leading Optical Technology Into New Market
Wednesday November 10, 11:20 am ET
SAN JOSE, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 10, 2004 -- Bookham, Inc. ("Bookham") (NasdaqNM:BKHM - News), a leading provider of optical components, modules and subsystems, has taken a significant further stride in its strategy of market diversification and the leveraging of its core optical competencies across markets by launching a revolutionary new line of optical filters for the life sciences industry.
The Clarity(TM) line of fluorescence filters from the Bookham New Focus division, in collaboration with the company's Thin Film Products group, marks the first transfer of the Bookham industry-leading thin-film optical-filter technology from the telecommunications market into the life-sciences market. The filters' superior contrast and exceptional reliability are unmatched by the older technologies currently used by life-sciences vendors.
"Optical filters are widely used in life science analytical and diagnostic instruments for fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, DNA sequencing, microarrays and other fluorescence applications," said Steve Turley, Bookham Chief Commercial Officer. "The introduction of these filters further enhances the Bookham New Focus position as an experienced supplier to the life-sciences market, with multiple tier-1 OEM customers for filters as well as for other products such as optomechanics. The ability to deliver a range of highly differentiated and technically advanced enabling products, like the Clarity(TM) fluorescence filters, for this market will greatly benefit life-sciences OEMs."
With their exceptional signal-to-noise performance, or contrast, Clarity(TM) filters enable rapid fluorescence measurements and higher instrument throughput, and therefore greater productivity for OEMs and their customers.
Bookham New Focus also supplies the life-science industry with low-noise detectors, ultra-stable optomechanics, high-performance optics, precision lasers and OEM photonics subassemblies.
These filters are the latest additions to the Bookham New Focus photonics tool chest. Photonics products manipulate light -- the flow of photons -- just like electronic products manipulate electricity -- the flow of electrons. Photonics represent a key enabling technology in a variety of industries, including semiconductor IC processing, biotechnology, oil well recovery, industrial sensing and telecommunications.
Notes for editors
(1) Optical filters select a specific optical signal or color and filter out undesired colors ('optical noise'). Based on a revolutionary filter technology for ultra-dense, highly complex films, Clarity(TM) filters deliver both high transmission and high blocking in a single filter and are backed by a 5-year warranty* on standard filters. Ultra-dense coatings make Clarity filters insensitive to both heat and humidity, and there is no epoxy in the optical path that can auto-fluoresce or degrade.
(2) Since 1990, Bookham New Focus products have been providing innovative photonics to the semiconductor, defense, industrial, research, life sciences, and telecommunications test-and-measurement industries. The New Focus product portfolio includes tunable lasers, opto-electronics, opto-mechanics, optics, motion-control systems, and advanced photonics tools and subsystems. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California, and has been a division of Bookham since March 8, 2004. |
