Trade.Information

Company Name: Ocean Optics

Company Type: Supplier of solutions for optical sensing

Company Profile

Ocean Optics is a leading supplier of solutions for optical sensing – fundamental methods of measuring and interpreting the interaction of light with matter. We enable diverse applications in medical and biological research, environmental monitoring, life science, science education, and entertainment lighting and display. Our extensive line of complementary technologies includes spectrometers, chemical sensors, metrology instrumentation, optical fibers, and thin films and optics. Recognized as the inventor of miniature fiber optic spectroscopy, we’ve sold almost 100,000 spectrometers worldwide since 1992. Ocean Optics is part of the Halma Group of safety and detection companies, a United Kingdom-based multinational corporation with 2003 sales of nearly $550 million.

Spectroscopic techniques supported include:

• UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy
• On-line spectroscopy
• Spectroradiometry
• Color spectroscopy
• Raman spectroscopy
• Fluorescence spectroscopy
• Fiber optic chemical sensing
• Spectral modeling
• Spectral imaging

Background

Ocean Optics began in 1989, when University of Florida researchers developed a fiber optic pH sensor as part of an instrument designed to study the role of the oceans in global warming. They soon formed Ocean Optics, Inc., and their ingenious work earned a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. While designing the pH-monitoring instrument, the researchers wanted to incorporate with their sensor a spectrometer small enough to fit onto a buoy and were surprised to discover none existed. So, they built their own. In 1992, the founders of Ocean Optics filled a substantial need in the research community and changed the science of spectroscopy forever by creating a breakthrough technology: a miniature fiber optic spectrometer nearly 1,000 times smaller at 1/10 the cost of previous systems.

By April 1992, just 30 days after the successful completion of Phase II of the SBIR grant, Ocean Optics, Inc. introduced the S1000 -- "The World's First Miniature Fiber Optic Spectrometer." As a result of the dramatic reduction in size and cost of optical sensing systems, applications once deemed too costly or technologically impractical using conventional spectrometers were not only feasible, but practical.

Now almost 15 years later, we've placed almost 100,000 systems worldwide and enabled thousands of different applications -- from cancer detection and color matching to plasma monitoring and particle size analysis. Our spectrometers have been specified everywhere from research vessels in the Gulf of Mexico to the Mars rover.

Markets Served

Ocean Optics has developed a diversified set of manufacturing arts that are essential to components in four key photonics segments: Optical Sensing, Optical Networking, Display Optics and Biophotonics. Primary markets include consumer electronics, process control, environmental monitoring, life sciences and medical diagnostics. Our systems have been used everywhere from in vivo to the ocean floor; on the Mars Rover and the Mir space station; and in Florida's orange groves and South America's rain forests.

Major Products/Services

• Fiber optic UV-VIS-NIR spectrometers ranging from miniature, modular systems to process analyzers
• Low-cost Raman spectrometers for process control and other applications
• Fiber optic chemical sensors for measuring oxygen and pH
• Patterned dichroic optical filters and precision coatings for display and telecommunications applications
• Optical fibers, assemblies and probes
• Optical networking products, including A/R coatings, spectrum analyzers and optical filters for DWDM

Locations

Ocean Optics is headquartered in Dunedin, FL., and has a full-service sales office in The Netherlands, Germany and China -- all supported by a worldwide network of distributors. Manufacturing facilities are located in Orlando, FL., and Largo, FL.

About Company

Ocean Optics is a diversified photonics technology firm and a global leader in optical sensing. With full-service locations in the United States, Europe and Asia, we serve a wide range of markets, including process control, consumer electronics and medical diagnostics.

Hot Careers

Be part of a flexible, forward-thinking work environment that encourages skilled, highly motivated professionals to put their ideas to work in developing and supporting the most innovative line of photonics technologies on the market. Check out an up-to-date listing of rewarding career opportunities at Ocean Optics.

Locations

Ocean Optics is growing by the minute! We now have three Sales, Service and Support locations (one in the USA, two in Europe and one in China) and two manufacturing facilities. 

Have You Heard?

There's always something exciting happening at Ocean Optics. Whether it's the introduction of a new product or a key move into a new market area, the latest company developments are highlighted in up-to-the-minute news releases.

Corporate Customers

Ocean Optics products are used in thousands of applications across a wide range of markets. Here's a partial list of our corporate clients.