Newsletter | January 22, 2026

01.22.26 -- SPIE Photonics West Day 2: Startup Challenge Winners & Prism Awards Revealed

SPONSOR

Micro-Mold® Solutions

Accumold’s unmatched Micro Molding expertise comes from 40-years of experience and 7,000+ completed projects. Our Capability Scalability Sustainability®, allows us to succeed and exceed expectations on the toughest projects. Our processes are honed into a precise science, driven by a passion to improve and innovate. Contact us…we’re ready to meet your challenge.

FROM THE EDITOR

Photonics West concludes today at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, capping an extraordinary week that brought together the global photonics community. After yesterday’s prestigious Prism Awards ceremony, celebrating the year’s most innovative photonics products and the SPIE Startup Challenge finals highlighting emerging entrepreneurs, today’s final exhibition day offers remaining opportunities to connect with industry leaders and explore innovative technologies.

 

The five specialized exhibitions – Photonics West, Quantum West, AR|VR|MR, Vision Tech, and BiOS – continue through this afternoon with live product demonstrations and networking opportunities across 1,200+ exhibitor booths. Technical sessions persist throughout the day, with notable presentations including discussions on academia-industry partnerships and advancements in quantum sensing platforms. The Vision Tech Expo features final sessions on topics ranging from AR/VR optical metrology to advanced imaging systems, emphasizing the rapid evolution of intelligent vision technologies powered by AI and machine learning.

 

Today also marks the conclusion of over 100 technical conferences spanning six application areas, where researchers presented breakthrough findings in topics from multiphoton microscopy to quantum-enabled materials. The Career Hub's Job Fair remains active for professionals seeking new opportunities, while the Expo Stages deliver their last industry sessions covering silicon photonics, co-packaged optics for data centers, and workforce development in emerging technologies. As Photonics West 2026 draws to a close, attendees depart with valuable connections, technical insights, and inspiration from a week that showcased photonics as the foundation for tomorrow's transformative technologies.

FEATURED ATTENDEE

Turnkey Fluorescent Microscope Demonstration

Explore a turnkey fluorescent microscope, demonstrating integrated optical subsystems that deliver diffraction-limited imaging and scalable, reconfigurable solutions for diverse microscopy applications.

SPONSOR

Alluxa Custom Optical Filter Solutions

Alluxa specializes in high‑performance thin‑film optical coatings, offering advanced custom and OEM filter development. Leveraging our proprietary SIRRUS™ deposition technology and materials expertise, Alluxa delivers precision filters for demanding requirements, including complex spectral profiles, tunable solutions, stress‑optimized designs, and ultra‑steep edge performance without prohibitive costs. Our engineering team embraces challenging projects and collaborates with customers to create filter designs tailored to unique application needs. Visit www.alluxa.com to learn more.

NEWS

Universal Photonics Celebrates a Century of Surfacing at Photonics West

Universal Photonics Incorporated (UPI), global leader in advanced surfacing materials and process solutions, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.

LUMIBIRD Showcases Compact Nanosecond Optical Parametric Oscillator

LUMIBIRD introduces a new compact nanosecond Optical Parametric Oscillator: the Q-OPO. Powered by Continuum technology, it is a natural extension of the Q-smart family towards tunability.

Coatings On Large Optics For Laser Fusion And Petawatt Systems

LASEROPTIK offers coatings made by IBS (ion beam sputtering) on large substrates up to diameter 550 mm or equivalent rectangular shapes.

Introducing The World´s Best Compact Clockwork For OEM Integration

Menlo Systems is proud to announce the release of the OFC Engine, the world’s best compact frequency comb designed specifically for OEM integration.

High-Power Diode Lasers: From Advanced Chips To Industrial Testing

FBH has continued successful field trials of its SAMBA laser head, demonstrating metal 3D-printing of test structures directly at an industrial partner’s site.

PoliSpectra 27 Compact Hyperspectral Imager

PoliSpectra® 27 is a compact, lightweight push broom hyperspectral imager built for high volume OEM integration.

Single-Frequency DBR & DFB Lasers, High-Power Tapered Amplifiers

Modulight announces the introduction of a new portfolio of single-frequency DBR and DFB lasers and high-power tapered amplifiers designed to meet the needs of broad range of advanced applications.

North American Coating Laboratories Launches NACL Tactical Division

North American Coating Laboratories announced the official launch of NACL Tactical, a dedicated division focused on delivering rugged, mission-ready optical coatings for defense, military, and more.

MKS Announces Ophir SWIR Beam Profiler For Analyzing Large Active Areas

MKS introduces the Ophir SP403P SWIR Beam Profiler, delivering large-area, high-resolution beam diagnostics without ITAR restrictions for advanced SWIR applications globally.

ALIO Launches Thrusight-Theta, An Ultra-Low-Profile Rotary Stage

ALIO launches ThruSight-Theta, an ultra-thin rotary stage delivering cog-free precision, large through-aperture access, and compact integration for photonics, life sciences, and semiconductor tools.

Accumold Brings Micro Molding Precision To Photonics West

Accumold will exhibit at SPIE Photonics West 2026, the premier event for lasers, biomedical optics, optoelectronics, and technologies supporting biophotonics, quantum, and vision applications.

Performance, Technology & Quality In Next-Gen Laser Interferometers

Multiple technological innovations make the Qualifire product line the most advanced phase-shifting interferometer available.

Let's Connect at Photonics West 2026

Discover photonics solutions shaping the future of AI, quantum science, biotech, and advanced manufacturing.

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