|
News & Press Releases
A winning strategy to fill jobs, spur N.Y. economy
Rochester Business Journal, October 12, 2012
Stefan Sydor Optics in Chili owns at least $4 million worth of new high-tech equipment, an investment it completed last year to better meet its global customers' changing needs for precision optics. Since then, business has continued to climb and the company wants to expand, but the shortage of skilled workers is hampering its growth.
As a longtime partner of Sydor Optics, Monroe Community College is grappling with a different challenge: It is not producing enough graduates to fulfill the workforce demands of advanced manufacturing employers in the region, despite its accelerated job-training programs and the steady increase in enrollment in its optics program over the past two years.
Now, with $14.6 million in federal funds for a new statewide job-training initiative that MCC will lead, the tide is about to turn. Read the entire article
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, October 19, 2011 - For the fifth year in a row Sydor Optics has been named to INC 5000's list of the nation's fastest-growing private firms, ranked at number 2359. Located in Rochester, NY, Sydor Optics' growth contributes to Rochester's recognition by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top 10 Cities for new job creation.
"Our growth is driven by our customers. Optics is central to technology advances in every industry. Manufacturing is alive and well in America and we're pleased to be building a workforce that can compete on a global scale," states James Sydor, President of Sydor Optics.
Optics manufactured by Sydor Optics include: precision glass wafers, windows, colored glass filters, mirrors and plate beamsplitters and are used in applications from 3D movie production to debris shields to microfluidics.
"My father founded this company on optics to advance astronomy. Today's innovation will come from biomedical and consumer advances and I'm pleased to be a part of them," explains Sydor.
Founded in 1964, Sydor Optics is a precision optics manufacturer based in Rochester, NY producing precision, flat-surfaced, parallel & wedged optics. Sydor Optics specializes in double-sided grinding and polishing of optics. Products include: colored glass filters, glass wafers, lightpipes, machined glass components, mirrors, optical flats, plate beamsplitters, prisms, wedges and windows.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, October 10, 2011 - Sydor Optics, a manufacturer of precision, flat glass optics, has just completed the last stage of a $4.5M investment in equipment targeted to increase capacity and improve upon capabilities for producing wafers, windows, filters and other plano optics. The investment, which included 14 new PR Hoffman double-sided grinding and polishing machines, several Zygo and Tropel interferometers, a Haas Mini Mill and a robotic arm, will position Sydor to address the growing demands of their customers.
Applications as diverse as 3D movies, debris shields for high energy lasers and wafers for DNA sequencing are fueling demand for optics made by Sydor Optics. Industries like telecom, entertainment, biomedical, military and research & development are also strong markets for Sydor Optics.
President James Sydor states, "Our customers' growth has fueled our expansion. We always want to be out ahead of their need for tighter tolerances, higher quality and faster delivery. The robotic arm for example, helps keep up with this demand. It allows Sydor Optics to bevel over 6,000 optics per month for a single project. The people and equipment we have added are really bringing in some amazing results."
This phase of the expansion included a significant jump in quality control to measure optics up to 450mm in diameter. New hires like Quality Assurance Manager Mark Graupman help Sydor Optics keep its exceptional delivery record. Metrology like the Corning Tropel MSP300 interferometer increases the size of glass wafers they can measure in an unrestrained state up to 300mm diameter. This allows for simultaneous measurement of the front and back surfaces and thickness variation in a single measurement. Their new Zygo 18" interferometer measures transmitted wavefront apertures up to 18" to match the size capability of their large double-sided grinders and polishers.
/ * / * / * / * /
Optics industry growing in Rochester
Democrat & Chronicle, October 3, 2011
Sydor Optics a key contributor to Rochester Optics industry job growth.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, August 15, 2011 - As part of our latest expansion, Sydor Optics has installed a Fanuc M-10iA robotic arm along with a Haas Mini Mill 2 CNC vertical mill to aid us in beveling large volume projects. With the need to bevel over 6,000 optics per month for a single project, we have invested in this robotic arm to load and unload the Haas Mini Mill 2 to perform the beveling operation with more accuracy and in much less time than manual operation. The best part is the machine works night and day without interruption. The robot, "ACE", takes optics from a storage rack and places them on a regrip station for optimal alignment then loads them into the mill.
This allows us to keep accepting more of the large volume projects that have made us competitive over the past 10 years.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, August 1, 2011 -
In our ongoing commitment to great sales and service, Sydor Optics welcomes Bob Gutzmer and Kelly DeYager. Bob Gutzmer joins us in purchasing. We are moving from segregated purchasing duties/people to a single point of contact responsible production consumables, supplies, optical materials, tooling and subcontracting coating services. He is a former US Marine with 4 years' experience at the Pentagon scheduling aircraft for VIPs.
Kelly DeYager joins the sales team to assist our customers in quoting, ordering and materials selection. Kelly's customer focus has developed over her 11 years experience at companies like Eastman Kodak and JML Optical.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, April 18, 2011 -
Sydor Optics expands metrology capabilities with the addition of two new interferometers. The Corning Tropel MSP300 interferometer increases the size of glass wafers Sydor Optics can measure in the free-state, unrestrained, to 300mm diameter. This allows Sydor to simultaneously measure the front and back surfaces and thickness variation in a single measurement. Sydor can now measure sub-aperatures and site layouts as defined by their customers.
To match the capability of their large double-sided grinders and polishers to process even larger parts, Sydor has added a new Zygo interferometer to measure apertures up to 18" for transmitted wavefront.
/ * / * / * / * /
Schumer Urges the President to Get Tough With China on Rare Exports
YNN, January 18, 2011
Senator Schumer visits Sydor Optics to understand impact of rare earth elements on the Optics industry. Watch YNN's News Coverage
/ * / * / * / * /
Local Optics Company Kicks Off Conference With Clam Bake
WXXI, October 27, 2010
2010 is the 50th anniversary of the laser, and the Laser Science and Frontiers in Optics conferences joined forces this week. To kick it off, Sydor Optics hosted their biggest ever clam bake for the optics community. Hear the WXXI interview.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, October 20, 2010 - Sydor Optics Completes First Half of $4M Expansion to Meet Increasing Customer Demands.
Sydor Optics has just completed the first half of its acquisition of $4M in double-sided polishing and metrology equipment. This expansion will allow them to meet customers' increasing volume and size demands. Sydor Optics can now manufacture custom flat optics up to 740 mm in diameter, with equipment that includes:
-
11 PR Hoffman 5400 double-sided machines
-
2 PR Hoffman 1500 double-sided machines
-
2 Haas Mini Mills
-
2 Zygo interferometers with 12” and 18” capabilities
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, June 8, 2010 - Sydor Optics sponsors local artists' work in Benches on Parade to welcome visitors to the Optics Capital of the World.
The bench, located in the west end of the Rochester International Airport, is named Optifabulosity, and takes the guise of a traditional telescope observatory and telescope. Underwritten by Sydor Optics and conceptualized by artists Chris Pallace and Kevin Serwacki, the bench declares Rochester to be the Optics Capital of the World. Kids and adults alike are able to look through the telescope and see images of galaxies, nebulas and other astronomical splendors taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The cool telescope was constructed by John Etter, a CNC operator at Sydor Optics, and Russel Raimondi, mechanical engineer at Sydor Instruments.
Check out Optifabulosity the next time you pass through the Rochester International Airport.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, April 10, 2010 - PR Hoffman names Sydor Optics largest owner of their equipment in North America.
Sydor Optics adds three additional PR Hoffman 5400 double-sided machines to keep up with customer demand. This adds much-needed capacity along with additional ability to grind & polish large optics in the 24" diameter range. Also purchased is another PR Hoffman 1500 double-sided polisher for polishing thin optics down to 0.150mm thick.
Sydor Optics continues to develop the largest capacity to manufacture plano-parallel optics using double-sided equipment in the US.
John Albright, General Manager of PR Hoffman says, "Sydor Optics is now the largest owner of PR Hoffman machines in the world."
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, March 15, 2010 - Sydor Optics announced they have made additional capital expenditures of $1.2 million on additional double-sided machines.
Based on rising demand for precision parallel optics Sydor Optics has placed orders with PR Hoffman of Carlisle, PA for 2 more 5400 double-sided polishing machines and 1 more 5400 double-sided grinding machine. Equipment to be delivered between May 1 and September 15 of this year. Two of these machines, one grinder and one polisher, are custom designed to process large parts to approximately 660mm in diameter.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, December 18, 2009 - Sydor Optics announced the completion of its class 10,000 clean room which houses its automated, precision cleaning system. Included in this room are two spin rinse dryers used for glass wafers and a smaller, manual ultrasonic cleaning system for small production parts and runs.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, May 1, 2008 - Sydor Optics announced they have completed the relocation of their final satellite operation, the CaF2/MgF2 laser optics fabrication shop, into their newly expanded facility in Rochester, NY. The laser optics shop, previously located in Fairport, NY, moved into the company's headquarters located at 31 Jet View Drive in Rochester, NY on March 26, completing the consolidation of all operations.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, January 3, 2008 - Sydor has made some significant investments in double-side grinding and polishing machines, as well as expanding their metrology capabilities. 2008 equipment additions consist of a new PR Hoffman 5400 Polisher, enabling Sydor to double-side process flat-surfaced optics measuring over 19” in diameter. Further enhancing their metrology capabilities, Sydor has also purchase a Zygo NewView 7000 3D optical profiler.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, October 28, 2007 - Sydor Optics, specializing in the fabrication of precision flat-surfaced parallel and wedged optics, announced they have received recognition from the Rochester Business Alliance and KPMG LLP, ranking them #37 on the Rochester Top 100 List. The Top 100 program ranks the area's fastest growing privately held companies on a yearly basis.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, August 23, 2007 - Sydor Optics, Inc. has secured a place on the inaugural Inc. 5,000 list which celebrates the fastest-growing private companies in America. Sydor Optics, Inc. No. 1,707 on the list. Sydor experienced a three-year sales growth of 210.9%. The Inc. 5,000 is an extension of Inc. magazine's annual Inc. 500 list.
/ * / * / * / * /
ROCHESTER, NY, June 25, 2007 - Sydor Optics has moved into a larger, more efficient facility. Once the move is completed a building expansion will commence to add 12,000 square feet to the existing 28,000 square feet. This expansion will house our laser optics facility currently located in Fairport, NY.
|
|
