For 25 years, DIOPTIC has stood for innovative solutions in the field of optical inspection and measurement systems. We are not only celebrating this special anniversary with pride, but also with another milestone: the move into our new company building. Jean-Michel Asfour, CEO of DIOPTIC GmbH, looks back on the company’s history.
A Look Back at the Beginnings of DIOPTIC
The journey began in 1999, when Jean-Michel Asfour used his research in the field of medical diagnostics at Böhringer Mannheim as the starting point for founding DIOPTIC GmbH. “The demand for optical measurement technology was so great that I couldn’t keep up on my own. So, I founded DIOPTIC and immediately hired Klemens Bardelang, our first employee,” recalls Jean-Michel Asfour.
The company started with optical measurement technology for medical diagnostics and opened up to other markets and sectors with its own website and its first trade fair participation at Optatec 2002 in Frankfurt, Germany. DIOPTIC quickly developed in the direction of diffractive optics. An important milestone was the cooperation with Bayer Innovation GmbH, where DIOPTIC developed a CGH-based reading and writing system for holographic security features. “From this point onwards, we became more successful in our public image and received more and more exciting orders,” says Asfour.
25 Years of Technological Excellence
Today, after 25 years, DIOPTIC is still a reliable partner when it comes to optical systems and solutions for industry and science. We support our customers not only in the development of optical measurement systems, but also in technology consulting and the development of new optical processes—especially in the fields of medical technology, automotive, and optical manufacturing. We also develop, produce and sell our own inspection systems and infrared lenses. We are the market leader in diffractive optical elements for the interferometric surface inspection of aspheres.
Our strength lies above all in our customer-specific approach: If a customer has a challenge where there are no commercially available solutions, we develop the right system. This commitment has not only steadily expanded our expertise but has also consolidated our position as a leading provider of innovative optical solutions.
A small core of dedicated employees has grown into a strong team of around 50 professionals who work every day to redefine the boundaries of optics. In order to provide our growing team with the necessary space, we moved into our new company building this year.
New Building as a Sign for the Future
The new company building has not only enabled us to create new space for our growing team, which was previously spread across two locations. It also allows us to continue growing with new innovative solutions and set standards in terms of sustainability. The new building offers attractive workplaces with state-of-the-art building technology, an optimized production environment, and an inspiring atmosphere for our team. “This building reflects our vision: we are shaping the future of optics,” says Asfour.
Together with our partners, customers and the entire team, we want to continue to shape the next 25 years successfully – always with the aim of mastering the challenges of our customers with innovative solutions.
