34 Optical Lens Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for optical lens as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 34 optical lens manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked optical lens companies as of November, 2024: 1.JML Optical Industries, 2.Allentown Optical, 3.Ross Optical.
Table of Contents
What Is an Optical Lens?
An optical lens is a lens made of optical glass.
It is a device that uses refraction to focus, scatter, and shape light. They are widely used in cameras, telescopes, microscopes, medical equipment, and other optical devices.
Uses of Optical Lenses
Optical lenses are devices that use refraction to focus, scatter, and shape light and are used in a variety of applications. The purpose is to manipulate the properties of light to achieve a desired result, such as magnification, vision correction, or focusing light onto a sensor or film.
1. Cameras
In cameras, lenses are used to focus light onto a sensor or film to create an image. The focal length of the lens controls the magnification of the image, while the aperture controls the amount of light entering the camera. There are different types of lenses suitable for different types of photography: portraits, landscapes, sports, etc.
2. Telescope
Telescopes use lenses to collect and focus light from distant celestial objects to observe stars, galaxies, planets, and other celestial bodies. Telescopes can use a single lens or a combination of lenses to achieve the desired magnification and resolution.
3. Spectacles
In spectacles, lenses are used to correct vision impairments such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The shape and curvature of the lens determines the degree of refraction required to correct a particular vision problem. High quality lenses can provide clear, sharp vision with minimal distortion and aberration.
4. Medical Equipment
In medical equipment, lenses are used in endoscopes, laparoscopes, and other instruments that allow doctors to see clearly inside the body. By optimizing the shape and curvature of the lens, it is possible to provide a wide field of view or to focus on a specific part of the body. They are used in medical imaging technologies such as endoscopes and operating microscopes.
5. Communications Field
In the telecommunications field, lenses are used in optical fiber to transmit and receive information via optical signals. Lenses are used to focus and collimate light, ensuring that signals are transmitted with minimal loss and distortion. High-quality lenses are essential for high-speed data transmission and reliable communication.
Principle of Optical Lens
Optical lenses work by refracting, or bending, light rays as they pass through the lens. The degree of refraction depends on the shape of the lens and its material composition. Convex lenses (converging lenses) are thicker in the center than in the periphery and converge incoming light rays to a single point. On the other hand, a concave lens, also called a diverging lens, has a thinner center than its periphery and diffuses incident light rays.
The degree of light refraction also depends on the refractive index of the lens material. Different materials have different refractive indices, which determine the degree of refraction of light that passes through them. For example, glass has a higher refractive index than air, so light passing through a glass lens will be bent more than light passing through an air lens.
The refraction of light in optical lenses is described by Snell's law. This law states that the angle of incidence of a ray of light entering a medium is proportional to the angle of refraction as it passes through the medium. The amount of light refracted, or refracted, depends on the difference in refractive index between the mediums. The refractive index is a measure of how much light bends when it enters a particular medium compared to air.
The shape and curvature of the lens is also important in determining the degree of aberration that enters the image. Spherical aberration refers to the fact that light rays passing through different parts of a spherical lens do not converge at the same location, resulting in a blurry image. Chromatic aberration is a phenomenon in which different colors of light have different refractive indices, resulting in color blurring and blurred images.
To suppress these aberrations, lenses are often designed with complex shapes and multiple elements. This is called "lens correction" or "optimization. In addition, high-quality lenses are made of materials with low dispersion and high transparency, such as high-quality glass or special plastics.
Types of Optical Lenses
There are various types of optical lenses. Therefore, different optical lenses can be used for different purposes. Below are the types of optical lenses.
1. Convex Lens
The central part is thicker than the peripheral part and is used to focus light rays to a single point. Commonly used in cameras, telescopes, magnifiers, etc.
2. Concave Lens
The center portion is thinner than the peripheral portion and is used to diverge light rays. Commonly used in glasses to correct myopia.
3. Cylindrical Lens
A lens with a curved surface in one direction and a flat surface in the other. Used to correct astigmatism in which the cornea is irregularly curved.
4. Aspheric Lens
The surface is aspherical to reduce distortion and improve image quality. Used in high-end camera lenses and telescopes.
5. Spherical Lens
Spherical lenses are lenses with a symmetrical curved surface centered on the center. It is the most commonly used lens in optical applications such as cameras, telescopes, and eyeglasses.
6. Aspheric Lens
Aspherical lenses are lenses with an aspherical surface. These lenses are used to compensate for spherical aberration that occurs with spherical lenses. Aspherical lenses are often used in high-end camera lenses to obtain sharp images with minimal distortion.
List of 34 Optical Lens Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
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- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- Germany
- Lithuania
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OPCO Laboratory, Inc.
OPTICAL DOMES AND LENSES
Manufacturer Overview
OPCO Laboratory, Inc., established in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1976 is a manufacturer of optical solutions that are used in scientific and industrial applications. Their product portfolio includes Ruled Diffraction Gratings, Beamsplitters, Lenses/Domes, Precision Mirrors and Windows, and prisms. The company's products are used in industries including Life Sciences, Analytical, Spectroscopy, Defense, Aerospace, and Semiconductors. The company's team includes scientists, engineers, and technicians and they provide customized services and for product design and manufacturing.
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Thorlabs, Inc
Optical Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
Thorlabs, Inc, established in Newton, NJ in 1989, is a manufacturer of photonics equipment for research, manufacturing, and biomedical applications. Their product portfolio includes optical components, for use in imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy applications, spectrometers and analyzers used for research and industrial applications, fiber optic components and photomultiplier tubes, and imaging devices that capture and measure light signals for diverse applications in scientific research. The company has sales offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, China, and Brazil.
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JML Optical Industries
ASPHERICAL LENSES
Manufacturer Overview
JML Optical Industries, established in 1972 and based in Rochester, New York, USA, is a manufacturer of optical components and systems for various applications using Nanotechnology. The company offers a diverse range of products, including precision lenses, optical filters, and imaging systems. These solutions provide benefits such as enhanced clarity, improved light transmission, and precise imaging, supporting applications in industries like aerospace, medical devices, and scientific research. The precision lenses provide accurate focus and magnification, while optical filters enhance light quality for specific wavelengths that cater to the unique needs of diverse applications.
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Rocky Mountain Instrument Co.
Cylindrical Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
Rocky Mountain Instrument Co. is a manufacturer of precision optics with a long history of experience in the optics and coatings industry. The company is based in Colorado, United States and is founded in 1957. The company products include optical components, high power coatings, and optical assemblies. The company specializes in precision optics that operate in the widest range of wavelengths from deep UV to far IR. RMI optics and coatings products are designed, manufactured, and tested.
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ProPhotonix
Red Laser Modules
Manufacturer Overview
ProPhotonix, established in 1951, and headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, is a manufacturer of LED illumination products and laser diode modules. The company’s products are used in various applications, including industrial, medical, and scientific sectors. The LED solutions provide benefits such as energy efficiency, a long lifespan, and precise control of light output. Laser diode modules offer optimal-performance, stability, and precision for applications like machine vision, alignment, and medical equipment. These products find application in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and research. The products’ uniqueness and optimal quality ensures enhanced productivity and precision in various industries.
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Ross Optical
Steinheil Triplets
Manufacturer Overview
Ross Optical is based in Texas, USA, and is a manufacturer of optical assemblies and components that was established in 1983 as a subsidiary of the Precision Optics Corporation. The company offers custom optics such as aspherical lenses, complex assemblies such as optical systems, and standard optics such as beamsplitters. It also offers a range of specialized coatings including Rmax and anti-reflection coatings. The company's products are mainly used by clients in the automation, defense, and aerospace industries.
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Materion Advanced Materials Group
FLUORESCENCE FILTERS
Company Overview
Materion Advanced Materials Group, established in 1931, is a manufacturer of advanced materials based in the United States. The company specializes in producing a diverse range of quality materials tailored to industries such as aerospace, defense, electronics, and healthcare. The materials play a pivotal role in enabling cutting-edge technologies and applications. La Materion's aim is to empower industries with advanced materials that enhance performance, reliability, and sustainability. The company has a comprehensive portfolio and provides technical support.
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Swiss Jewel Co.
Hemisphere Lenses
Company Overview
Swiss Jewel Company, founded in 1920 and headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision synthetic sapphire, ruby, and glass components. The company's product line includes sapphire windows used for cryogenic view ports, jewel bearings used in precision instruments, and sapphire tubes used in the manufacture of light guides. It also works with other materials, including ceramics, silicon nitride, and fused silica, and welcomes clients to discuss custom optical component or mechanical component design and production.
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Alpine Research Optics
Optical Lens
Company Overview
Alpine Research Optics (ARO) is a manufacturer and distributor of laser optical components that was established in Boulder, Colorado in 1991 before its acquisition by Mississippi-based PFG Precision Optics in 2011. The company produces various laser optical components including polarizers, beam splitters, mirrors, filters, and lenses. It also offers custom optics tailored to client specifications and use cases. Its products are used in consumer electronics, biotechnology, semiconductor processing, and OEM laser repair. ARO provides optomechanical design and assembly, as well as thin-film coating of optical substrates for unique customer projects.
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Applied Diamond Inc
CVD diamond
Distributor Overview
Applied Diamond Inc, founded in 1992 and located in Wilmington, Delaware, is a supplier of cutting tools and diamond membranes. The company’s broad range of products includes diamond detectors, diamond optics, diamond plates, diamond heat spreaders, and diamond beam position monitors. These products are used for radiation detection and measurement, high-power laser systems, wear-resistant surfaces, efficiently dissipating heat, and precisely monitoring and controlling particle beam positions. The company’s products cater to industries such as scientific research and instruments, semiconductor manufacturing, high-power lasers, radiation detection, and aerospace.
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Hangzhou Shalom Electro-optics Technology Co., Ltd.
Optical Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
Hangzhou Shalom Electro-optics Technology Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of industrial electro-optical products founded in 2010 and based in Zhejiang, China. The company produces various optics, substrates and crystals for use in the industrial sector. Its products include scintillation crystals for nuclear detection, infrared (IR) lenses for thermal imaging cameras, and crystals used in laser systems. The company's products are mainly used by clients in the laser and photonics, nuclear, and biological imaging sectors. It also offers engineering support for customers with unique projects.
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Ecoptic
Optical Cylindrical Lens
Manufacturer Overview
Ecoptic, founded in Changchun, Jilin in 2000 is a manufacturer of precision optical components, such as spherical mirrors, aspheric mirrors, and filters. The company's product portfolio includes Optical Cylindrical Lenses, Optical Dome, Optical Mirrors, Optical Prism, and Optical Spherical Lenses. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, New Product Design and Development and Custom Manufacturing.
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UNI Optics Co., Ltd
Optical Glass Plano-Concave Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
UNI Optics Co., Ltd, established in 2008 and located in Fuzhou, China, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in optical components and assemblies. The company’s product portfolio includes custom-made optical components such as lenses, prisms, windows, and filters, along with various coating designs. These products find applications in automation, metrology, life sciences, lasers, semiconductor, military, and medical equipment. UNI Optics employs an ISO9001:2015 quality management system and serves clients globally including North America, the Middle East and Africa, South America and Asia.
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Chineselens
Optical Lens
Manufacturer Overview
Chineselens Optical Components Manufacturing is a manufacturer of custom precision optical components based in China. The company's capabilities include but are not limited to spherical lenses, prisms, beam splitters, and custom coatings. They offer a wide range of material processing capabilities and have passed ISO 9001:2015 certification. They also provide custom and pre-engineered laser collimating lenses for R&D and engineering development, and relative applications with different diameters, focal lengths, coatings, and mounting sizes. Their services include design, fabrication, coating, and assembly of optical components, and supplying components to over 30 countries from their site in Jiangsu.
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Shanghai Optics
Optical Lens Assembly
Manufacturer Overview
Shanghai Optics, established in China, is a custom manufacturer of optical components and a custom designer and engineering provider of optical components, lenses, and assemblies. The company produces its own range of products that include stock microscope objectives, fixed focal length lenses, stock IR lenses, and megapixel lenses used in applications such as scientific and laboratory equipment, smartphones, cameras, and other requirements from OEM customers around the world. The company's services include full production at high and lower volumes, prototyping, free quotes, and custom product design consultations.
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Foctek Photonics, Inc.
Optical Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
Foctek Photonics, Inc., founded in 2002 and headquartered in Fujian, China, is a manufacturer of optical components and related products. The company develops and produces precision optical components, precision optical lenses, and special custom optical lenses. Its precision optical lenses include 3MP and 5MP HD zoom security surveillance lens, 20MP machine vision lens, and ADAS lens. These products are used in precision instruments, medical, and automation equipment. The company holds ISO/TS16949 and ISO14001 certifications covering quality and environmental management.
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Qinhuangdao Intrinsic Crystal Technology Co., Ltd. .
Spherical lenses
Manufacturer Overview
Qinhuangdao Intrinsic Crystal Technology Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of infrared (IR) crystal materials that was established in 2008 in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China. The company primarily produces IR crystal materials such as zinc selenide, germanium, and silicon, which are used for making optics and sensors. It also offers optical lenses, coatings, and custom crystal production services for unique projects. The company’s products are commonly used in the manufacture of optical instruments and infrared imaging equipment, as well as in photoelectric applications.
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CRYSTECH Inc.
Lense
Manufacturer Overview
Crystech Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of optics and crystals for the electro-optic industry that was established in Qingdao, China, in 2001. The company produces nonlinear optical crystals such as BBO and KTA, laser crystals such as Nd:YVO4 and CTH:YAG, and Q-switch crystals including DKDP and RTP. It also offers the tunable solid-state laser crystal Alexandrite, which is commonly used in scientific and industrial applications. The company’s products are mainly used in the medical and industrial sectors, as well as in research institutions.
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CeNing Optics Co.,Ltd
Optical Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
CeNing Optics Co. Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturer of precision optical components that was established in 2004 in Fuzhou, Fujian, China. The company’s product lineup includes optical prisms such as penta prisms and right angle prisms, and optical lenses such as doublets and achromatic lenses. It also offers optical beam splitters, optical wave plates, and optical polarizers for ensuring lasers emit linearly polarized light without reflections. The company’s products are mainly used by clients whose operations heavily utilize optical communication, optical metrology, and optical imaging.
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HG Optronics.,INC.
Double-Convex Lenses
Manufacturer Overview
HG Optronics.,INC., established in 2008, is a chinese-based manufacturer of laser crystals,nonlinear crystals and optical components used in industrial and scientific research.. The company offers various optics including optical lens, prisms, windows, mirrors, and filters as well as polarization optics, waveplates, and cylindrical lens. It also offers various crystals including laser, window, NLO, diffusion bonded,and magneto-optical crystals. The company is also a service provider offering processing services involving cutting, grinding, polishing, coating, and diffusion bonding as well as coating service using EB, IBS and IAD coating techniques.
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Hunan Dayoptics, Inc.
Double Convex Lens
Manufacturer Overview
Hunan Dayoptics, Inc. is an OHSAS 18001-certified manufacturer of optical components and parts that was established in 2005 in Changsha, Hunan, China. The company offers optical lenses such as plano-convex and bi-concave models, optical prisms such as penta or right angle types, and optical crystals such as KTP and Nd:YAG for creating lenses for medical equipment. It also offers custom design and development services for unique projects. The company’s products are commonly used in the laser, defense, and communication industries.
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Artifex Engineering GmbH & Co. KG
Optical Lenses
Company Overview
Artifex Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, a company established in 2001 and based in Emden, Niedersachsen, is a manufacturer and supplier of measuring instruments and optical components. Its specialization is manufacturing measuring instruments such as optical power meters, trans-impedance amplifiers, integrating spheres, and pulsed laser diode drivers. It also manufactures optical components, including beamsplitters, optical filters and lenses, polarization optics, laser lighthouses, and composite optics. The company has obtained ISO 9001:2015 certification. Its manufactured products are utilized for industrial and metrological industries across Germany and the UK.
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EKSMA Optics, UAB
ZINC SELENIDE (ZNSE) LENSES
Company Overview
EKSMA Optics, UAB, established in 1983 and based in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision optical components, optical systems, and similar products. The company fabricates optical components, nonlinear and laser crystals, and electro-optics and laser electronics. It also produces laser line components, opto-mechanical components, and optical systems. It uses electron evaporation, ion assistance deposition, thermal evaporation, and advanced ion beam sputtered technologies for the deposition of coatings on optical and crystal elements.
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Daheng New Epoch Technology,Inc.
Product Assembly Lenses
Company Overview
Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc. is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of optical components and systems that was established in Beijing in 1987 as a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The company produces optical modules such as fiber collimators, optical components such as beam splitters, and optical systems such as laser marking systems. It also offers optical subsystems such as optical coherence tomography systems, as well as design and engineering services for unique projects. The company’s products are commonly used in the biomedical, scientific research, and defense sectors.
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DG optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
Optical lenses
Company Overview
DG Optoelectronics Co. Ltd., established in 2012 and headquartered in Jiangsu, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of optics, imaging, and photonics technology. The company specializes in optical components, lenses, and optomechanical equipment, serving original equipment manufacturers (OEM) with stock and custom solutions. Its products include optical glass materials, spherical and aspheric lenses, and optical coatings like antireflective film and spectroscopic film. These products are used in optical imaging, machine vision, and medical devices industries. The company also offers optical components utilizing substrates and coatings optimized for ultraviolet, visible, or infrared wavelengths.
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Chineselens Optics Co., Ltd
Optical Lens
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Jiangsu Youli Optics Spectacles Co., Ltd.
Optical Lens
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SXET
Optical Lens
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JIANGSU HONGCHEN OPTICAL CO,LTD.
Optical Lens
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Kingsview Optical
Optical Lens
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Allentown Optical
OPTICAL LENSES
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Fairfield Crystal Technology, LLC
Lithium Fluoride
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Chonghong Industries Microwork Ltd.
Optical Lenses
Distributor Overview
Chonghong Industries Microwork Ltd., established in 2004 and headquartered in China, is a distributor of components made from industrial sapphire, ruby, and glass materials. The company’s products include sapphire and ruby nozzles, custom components, and silicon carbide substrates, catering to semiconductors, aeronautics, and optical sectors. It specializes in components, primarily single crystal sapphire and ruby materials, for OEMs across the fluidic, metrology, and chemical industries. The company also offers Zirconia Ceramic, Alumina Ceramic, and Carbide materials. Additionally, it provides custom services such as orifice fittings, kitting, and tubing assemblies facilitated by an on-site Class 10,000 clean room.
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Optical Lens Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JML Optical Industries |
8.7%
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| 2 | Allentown Optical |
6.1%
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| 3 | Ross Optical |
6.1%
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| 4 | OPCO Laboratory, Inc. |
6.1%
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| 5 | Kingsview Optical |
5.2%
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| 6 | Materion Advanced Materials Group |
5.2%
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| 7 | Applied Diamond Inc |
5.2%
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| 8 | CRYSTECH Inc. |
4.3%
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| 9 | CeNing Optics Co.,Ltd |
4.3%
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| 10 | DG optoelectronics Co., Ltd. |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the optical lens page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- Materion Advanced Materials Group: 3,700
- Daheng New Epoch Technology,Inc.: 150
- Ecoptic: 120
Newly Established Company
- UNI Optics Co., Ltd: 2008 (16 years ago)
- HG Optronics.,INC.: 2008 (16 years ago)
- Ecoptic: 2004 (20 years ago)
Company with a History
- Materion Advanced Materials Group: 1931 (93 years ago)
- ProPhotonix: 1951 (73 years ago)
- Rocky Mountain Instrument Co.: 1957 (67 years ago)
Optical Lens Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
- OPCO Laboratory, Inc.
- Thorlabs, Inc
- JML Optical Industries
- Rocky Mountain Instrument Co.
- ProPhotonix
- Ross Optical
- Materion Advanced Materials Group
- Swiss Jewel Co.
- Alpine Research Optics
- Thorlabs Inc.
- Applied Diamond Inc
Global Distribution of Optical Lens Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
11 | 61.1% |
China
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5 | 27.8% |
Germany
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1 | 5.6% |
Lithuania
|
1 | 5.6% |
List of Optical Lens Products
32 products are listed.
A -Kay Corporation Co., Ltd.
Can be mounted on optical products as it is
30+ people viewing
Create lenses, mirrors, prism, and filters that can be mounted on optical products. Rod shapes, sirindrical shapes (, toroidal shapes) are also pos...
A -Kay Corporation Co., Ltd.
Supports as an aspherical lens compatible with micro -square lenses (square lenses)
30+ people viewing
■ Characteristics ・ It supports not only molding, but also a small amount of cutting as an aspherical surface lens, grinding non -sphere lens, etc...
Taisho Kogaku
Compatible with complex special shapes and small diameter optical lenses and special shapes
30+ people viewing
A combination of spheres and plane can be made and complex shapes by joining. Various optical thin films can be applied.
Fiblab Co., Ltd.
Continuous output and pulse output can also be used for long -operated distance collection light lens
20+ people viewing
■ Characteristics ・ It is possible to change the light integration position by adjusting the incident side lens. In the case of HE-NE laser, light...
Basler
Telecentric lens
30+ people viewing
■ Features ・ Ideal for high -precision measurement -Telescent trick lenses with the same optical magnification are ideal for high -precision measu...
Basler
Single focus lens premium
80+ people viewing
■ Features ・ Ideal for computer vision applications ・ By conducting thorough tests, we ensure compatibility with BASLER camera. Regardless of ima...
Kita Nippon Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
Excellent beam position accuracy light device lens array
20+ people viewing
■ Overview ・ Realization of the lens is assembled by assembling the refractive index distribution type lens (GI lens) on a glass substrate with V ...
