Qioptiq celebrates over 40 years of successfully providing optics for avionic platforms

Past, Present and Future!

Qioptiq has a respected international reputation for the design and manufacture of optical modules for Head-Up, Head-Level, Head-Down and Helmet-Mounted displays. Optical modules for these systems have been designed and manufactured at our UK facility for more than 40 years with Qioptiq now fulfilling over 50% of the world’s demand for HUD optical modules.

Helmet-Mounted Displays

With world class capability in design, coupled with international award winning technical achievement, Qioptiq has demonstrated repeatedly an ability to convert technical innovation into producible cost-effective designs. Our facilities provide solutions to meet the individual requirements of civil and military customers for cockpit displays and laser protection.

Qioptiq have a highly skilled and motivated group of engineers who are customer focused. We can provide the optimum design solution that accomplishes all of the project objectives by discussing and understanding every aspect of a project’s requirements with the customer. This approach delivers a final solution that is both technically proficient, and suitable for volume production.

Outstanding expertise in optical and mechanical design, optical coating and holography has earned the company a worldwide reputation for innovation and excellence. It has a complete in-house capability to process the full range of optical materials and to design, fabricate, polish, coat and mount optical elements. This manufacturing capability includes state-of-the-art, volume optical processing, vacuum deposition coatings, mechanical processing, assembly and test.

Qioptiq has the largest, most comprehensive and modern Ultra Precision Machining Cell (UPMC) facility in Europe. We produce aspheric lenses and hybrid optics. A key technology area within Qioptiq is the vacuum coating section where the next generation of coatings and dielectric combiners is already in production. Having delivered over 12,000 combiner elements, the company is a leader in holography and operates the most productive facility in the world for defence application holograms.

Head-Up and Head-Down Display Optics

To meet the ever increasing demand for brighter, lighter and more compact display modules, Qioptiq has fully exploited the use of plastic technologies for both optical element and lens housing requirements and pilot display visor coatings.

The company offers a total capability in HUD optical modules from initial design through to volume production. Qioptiq has designed and manufactured over 18,000 Head-Up and Head-Down Display optics for more than 30 aircraft types. In the military market these currently include the C130, C17, F16, F18, F22, Mirage, Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Harrier, AV8B, Hawk and Tornado.

Qioptiq HUD optics modules are in service with regional airlines in Europe, the USA and executive jets worldwide. For helmet-mounted applications, the company has designed and manufactured a variety of optical modules to satisfy the increasing demand for lightweight, compact displays. These advanced systems include airborne applications such as Tiger, for rotary wing and Eurofighter for fixed wing.

Qioptiq has the total capability to provide the most innovative and focused optical solutions to today’s technological challenges. This strategic approach has made Qioptiq the preferred choice for a wide variety of prime contractors and military establishments around the world. The full product range is supported by a complete in-house Integrated Logistic Support capability, embracing the company-wide target of total customer satisfaction.

About Qioptiq
Qioptiq, an Excelitas Technologies Company, designs and manufactures photonic products and solutions that serve a wide range of markets and applications in the areas of medical and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, defence and aerospace, and research and development. Qioptiq benefits from having integrated the knowledge and experience of Avimo, Gsänger, LINOS, Optem, Pilkington, Point Source, Rodenstock, Spindler & Hoyer and others. In October 2013, Qioptiq was acquired by Excelitas Technologies Corp., a global technology leader focused on delivering innovative, customized solutions to meet the lighting, detection and other high-performance technology needs of OEM customers. The combined companies have approximately 5,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia, serving customers across the world.

Visit www.qioptiq.com and www.excelitas.com for more information.