Ocean Optics - a Halma PR news blog

Rob Randelman takes helm at Dunedin-based photonics manufacturer

Dunedin, Florida (October 5, 2007) – Ocean Optics, leading spectroscopy and photonic instruments manufacturer, has promoted Rob Randelman, Ph.D. to the position of company President.  Randelman’s appointment follows the move of former President and company founder, Mike Morris, to the position of Vice Chairman for the company.

Randelman joined Ocean Optics in 2006 as Vice President, Sales & Marketing and has been instrumental in driving the company’s continued sales and profit growth.  He has directed the expansion of the company’s geographic presence, which included the establishment of a full sales and service facility based in Shanghai, China. 

Prior to Ocean Optics, Randelman served as Director of secure electronic payment technology company, VeriFone, where he directed a $40M services division.  His career also included management stints with Hewlett Packard and Exxon.  Before progressing to industrial management positions, Randelman worked in miniature fiber optic sensor and spectrometer research.  He earned Doctorate and Master of Science in Engineering degrees in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University (Bethlehem, Pa.) and dual undergraduate degrees in Physics and Chemistry from Ursinus College (Collegeville, Pa.).

“Having been on both the academic side and the technology management side during my career, I feel like I bring a unique perspective to Ocean Optics,” said Randelman.  “I’m looking forward to using that experience to help the company continue on its successful track and look for ways to better serve our end users.”

Photonics Leader Expands Purchasing Options in North America

Dunedin, Florida (September 14, 2007) – Ocean Optics, developers of the world’s first miniature spectrometer, have opened a new online shop at www.oceanoptics.com/shop.html.  Developed to provide added convenience and value to customers and prospective customers, Ocean Optics’ Online Shop features a broad inventory of spectroscopy equipment and gear.

With a full range of equipment including light sources, fibers, patch cords, quantum dots, cuvettes and more, Ocean Optics’ Online Shop provides customers with in-stock and ready-to-ship accessories and gear for endless spectroscopy applications and workflows. 

“We wanted to bring a higher level of convenience to our customers,” states company President, Rob Randelman. “For those already familiar with our products, online shopping made sense.  We’re confident that our customers will find it to be an excellent complement to our services and customer care efforts.”

The Online Shop can be accessed directly at www.oceanoptics.com/shop.html and is featured on the company’s home page.

Photonics manufacturer helps others screen consumer products for suspected lead and heavy metals
Dunedin, Florida (August 29, 2007) – Ocean Optics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of spectroscopy and photonic instruments, has announced a new program intended to provide manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer products with a simple, low-cost, screening tool for testing of lead and heavy metals using Ocean Optics’ state-of-the-art laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system. With recent news reports of lead and heavy metal presence in consumer products, Ocean Optics is offering the low-cost-per-item test as a public service. 

Rob Randelman, President of Ocean Optics, said: “Ocean Optics takes product safety very seriously. We want to not only assist our customers in determining the safety of their products, but we also want to encourage companies to be proactive towards these issues, without the concern of significant up-front investment. We have technology that can give a fast, clear result; this could be one step to help keep dangerous products from being used by consumers, like our families and friends.”

Unlike traditional ‘rub tests’, Ocean Optics unique LIBS system is not susceptible to being fooled by an overcoat of non-lead paint.  A laser is used to ‘burn’ away a small area of the object under test, causing a plasma to form which is then analyzed for the key elements of interest, primarily lead or other metals, but virtually any element can be detected.  The entire test takes less than 30 seconds. 

Ocean Optics LIBS systems are used in a wide variety of other applications, such as RoHS screening, gem origin determination, and elemental determinations in mixed powders.  The results of this test are intended to be used as a screening tool, guide or advisory of the safety of the paint or construction of an individual product.  Ocean Optics is offering the screening for $100 USD per test to help those companies or agencies who are unable to invest upwards of $50,000 USD for their own dedicated system.

More information can be obtained at the company’s website at http://www.oceanoptics.com/products/libstest.asp or by contacting an application scientist at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Dunedin, Florida on 727-733-2447.

Ocean Optics Spectrometer selected for NASA LCROSS Mission to search out lunar water.

Dunedin, Florida (August 16, 2007) – Ocean Optics has custom-engineered a spectrometer for an upcoming NASA mission to the moon’s south pole.  The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will carry the Ocean Optics equipment, affectionately dubbed “ALICE,” to help analyze the makeup of the lunar craters, with the goal of locating water below the moon’s surface. 

Working closely with Aurora Design & Technology (Clearwater, FL), the company developing the reflectance viewing optics for the mission, a highly-sensitive Ocean Optics QE65000 Spectrometer was used as a platform to custom-build a spectrometer to meet NASA’s exacting specifications.  Ocean Optics’ technology is able to achieve up to 90% quantum efficiency (defined as how efficiently a photon is converted to a photoelectron) with high signal-to-noise and rapid signal processing speed.

The LCROSS mission will send a rocket crashing into the moon at more than twice the speed of a bullet, in order to study the resulting ejecta cloud.  The impact is expected to generate a 2.2 million-pound plume of matter, which another spacecraft carrying ALICE will fly through, looking for signs of water and other compounds.  ALICE will measure the reflectivity of the plume as it rises into the sunlight, enabling scientists to distinguish between water vapor, water ice, and hydrated minerals (such as salts or clays) with molecularly bound water.  With a wavelength range of 270-650 nm and an optical resolution of less than 1.0 nm, ALICE will be able to identify ionized water (visible at 619 nm), OH radicals (visible at 308 nm) and other organic molecules containing carbon, with a high degree of accuracy.  The unit’s back-thinned detector makes the most of the available light, a critical feature as the measurements will be taken from the dark region of the moon where light is scarce.

Water hidden deep in the moon’s craters could mean drinking water or even the ability to break down the hydrogen and oxygen molecules into rocket fuel, laying the foundation for the moon as a staging point for further space exploration.

To survive the harsh conditions of the lunar mission, ALICE was designed to withstand extreme temperature ranges as well as significant shock and vibration.  All of the materials, optics and mounting hardware were selected with these hazards in mind.  Additionally, several electronics modifications were made to accommodate conversion of the communication ports from USB to RS-422 and of the power supply from 5V to 24V.

With only 12 weeks to first prototype, ALICE has successfully passed pre-flight testing.  It has cycled from -50° to +70° C with very little change in spectral performance and passed flight qualification testing at 15g RMS vibration and over 200g shock. 

LCROSS is slated to launch in October, 2008 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.  The spacecraft will orbit the Earth twice prior to striking the lunar south pole in January 2009.  This is the second NASA collaboration for Ocean Optics.  A unit designed around the company’s HR-Series spectrometers will be part of the 2009 ChemCam Mars mission to study rock and soil composition on the red planet.

About Ocean Optics
Headquartered in Dunedin, Fla., Ocean Optics (www.oceanoptics.com) is a leading supplier of solutions for optical sensing - fundamental methods of measuring and interpreting the interaction of light with matter.  With branch offices in Asia and Europe, the company has sold more than 90,000 spectrometers worldwide since 1989.  Ocean Optics’ extensive line of complementary technologies including chemical sensors, analytical instrumentation, optical fibers, thin films and optics is also used for diverse applications in medical and biological research, environmental monitoring, science education, and entertainment lighting and display. The company is part of the Halma group of safety and detection companies.

About Aurora Design Technology
Aurora Design & Technology (www.AuroraDesignTech.com) provides the technology industry with high-quality domestic outsourcing for optical, mechanical, software and system designs.  Aurora Design & Technology specializes in working with customers to solve the most demanding application problems.

Dr. Jason Eichenholz to lead internal and collaborative applications research
Dunedin, Florida (June 18, 2007) – Optical sensing and spectroscopy manufacturer Ocean Optics has appointed Jason M. Eichenholz, Ph.D., to the position of Vice President of Research and Technology. 

In his new role, Eichenholz will continue to strengthen Ocean Optics’ established leadership position in the optical sensing and spectroscopy markets.  He will direct all internal and external research activities, with an emphasis on collaborative projects in industry and academia.  His research work will carry over into new product and applications development for the company’s line of miniature fiber optic spectrometers, optical sensors, sampling accessories, light sources, fibers, probes, thin films and optics. 

“This position requires a unique blend of knowledge and experience in research and development, science, engineering, applications, and business” said Ocean Optics President Mike Morris. “Dr. Eichenholz’s background will be a strong asset in driving our enhanced R&D and product development focus.”

Eichenholz’s background spans over 15 years of active laser and photonics research and product development.  Most recently, he served as Director of Strategic Marketing for Newport Corporation, designing the marketing and technology strategy for the company’s largest market segment, scientific research and development.  In addition to analyzing market trends for all of Newport’s product lines including lasers, photonics components, and spectroscopy instruments; Eichenholz established several external partnerships to enhance and support corporate, government and academic research programs.

Over the course of his career, Eichenholz has authored more than 30 papers and been granted six US patents relating to solid-state lasers, displays, and photonics devices.  He holds memberships in SPIE, IEEE-LEOS, and OSA, currently chairing the OSA Laser Science and Engineering Technical Group and serving on the OSA Science and Engineering Council.  Eichenholz earned Doctorate and Master of Science degrees in Optical Sciences and Engineering from the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics and Photonics/CREOL (Orlando, Fla.) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics (Optics concentration) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.).

Agreement gives PRG DISTRIBUTION exclusive rights in the European Union, United Kingdom, Russia, Africa and the Middle East

Dunedin, Florida (April 4, 2007) – SeaChanger by Ocean Optics has named PRG DISTRIBUTION the master distributor for SeaChanger Color Engine products in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In Europe, PRG DISTRIBUTION will represent SeaChanger in the countries of the European Union, plus the United Kingdom and Russia.

The SeaChanger Color Engine by Ocean Optics is an ESTA Award-winning lighting technology that creates millions of rich, reproducible colors using patented dichroic filtering.  The unit installs into ETC Source Four™ Ellipsoidals and provides smooth, quiet color transitions across a wide color palette, with white-to-full saturation color transitions in less than one second.  Spot and wash versions are available to suit any application in theatrical, architectural and landscape lighting.

“We are extremely pleased to bolster our presence in Europe and other parts of the world through this partnership with PRG DISTRIBUTION,” said Phil Buchsbaum, Vice President of the Thin Films Division of Ocean Optics, originator of the SeaChanger by Ocean Optics product line. “PRG is one of the world’s leading suppliers of entertainment technology, and will be a great ambassador for SeaChanger. Their expertise and enthusiasm will serve our overseas customers well.”

PRG DISTRIBUTION will handle the full range of SeaChanger Color Engine products and accessories, including the spot and wash versions of the color changer, as well as accessories such as extended yokes and replacement filter wheels. “PRG DISTRIBUTION’s strong presence will help us bring SeaChanger to a different segment of the entertainment technology market,” said Philip Norfolk, Commercial Director for PRG. “Customers will benefit from our hands-on experience with the product line.”

PRG Distribution is located at 20-22 Fairway Drive, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 8PW, United Kingdom. For information, contact Matt Hallard at +44 (0)20 8575 6666, Fax +44(0)20 8578 0811 or mhallard@prg.com.

To learn more, visit the SeaChanger website at www.SeaChangerOnline.com, call 727.545.0741, or e-mail SeaChanger@OceanOptics.com. 

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Three day program offers insight into maximizing the latest technologies and applications in education, scientific research, and industry

Dunedin, Florida (March 15, 2007) – Expert spectrometer guidance geared to specific application needs, interaction with other industry professionals and hands-on testing of the newest field-portable technology are all on tap at Ocean Optics’ Customer Forum 2007, April 23-25.  The program, being held in St. Petersburg, Florida, is intended to provide intensive coverage of the latest technologies, applications and solutions in photonics.  The schedule includes a varied selection of educational sessions, roundtables and field experiments.

The forum is designed to promote a better understanding of miniature spectroscopy, with an optional pre-forum boot camp for those new to the industry, and sessions that range from choosing a spectrometer to fit a given application to getting the most from Java-based spectrometer operating software and programming packages.  In addition, OEM & Distributor roundtables will facilitate discussion of successful spectrometer integration in analytical instruments. Business and research applications of in-situ and non-invasive optical sensor systems will be also be explored.

The highlight of the program will be hands-on opportunities, working one-on-one with Ocean Optics Applications Scientists and Engineers, as well as test driving new product in field experiments.  Customers will have daily access to technical experts in the on-site lab, to learn how to maximize their use of Ocean Optics systems.  Attendees are encouraged to bring non-hazardous, application-specific samples to try.  The company will also debut its newest field-portable technology, the Jaz family of smart sensing Ethernet instruments.  A series of field experiments will allow customers to test out the measurement capabilities of this new system in locations not previously accessible with traditional technology.

For more information, and to register, visit www.OOICustomerForum.com, email CustomerForum@OceanOptics.com, or phone 727-450-5335.

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Ling Sun to lead local team in support of Pacific Rim customers and distributors

Dunedin, Florida (January 25, 2007) –  Optical sensing and spectroscopy manufacturer Ocean Optics has appointed Ling Sun, Ph.D. to head up its newly established Shanghai, China office, Ocean Optics Asia.  As Director of Asia Operations, Sun will provide a regional approach to the sales and service of the company’s optical sensing, display optics, and biophotonics technologies in the rapidly expanding Asian market.

In this new role, Sun will lead a team of application, sales and software engineers, supporting the company’s distributors and customers in the Pacific Rim.  She is responsible for bringing Ocean Optics’ miniature fiber optic spectrometers, optical sensors, sampling accessories, light sources, fibers, probes, thin films and optics to new applications and markets. 

Prior to accepting this position with Ocean Optics, Sun spent more than 2 years as the lead engineer for Ocean Optics products at BAS Japan (Tokyo, Japan), a local distributor for Ocean Optics. 

“With a regional team in place, we will be better positioned to bring Ocean Optics technologies to customers throughout Asia,” said Sun. “Our high-level customer service brings together product experience and technical expertise, enabling both customers and Ocean Optics to take advantage of the power of optical sensing.”

Originally from the Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China, Sun earned a doctorate in Material Sciences from the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan) in 2004 and a Master of Science Degree from Saitama University (Saitama-shi, Japan) in 2000.  Before moving to Japan to further her education, Sun worked as a newscaster for science and technology programs at Sichuan TV (China), and as a teaching assistant at University of Chengdu Physical Education (Chengdu, China). She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Sichuan Normal University (Chengdu, China) in 1989.

For more information, visit www.oceanopticschina.cn, or call +86 21-5206-8686.  Ocean Optics Asia is located at: 137 Xianxia Road, Suite 1801, Changning District, Shanghai 200051 PRC, China.

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