International technology group Schott has been named Supplier of the Year 2007 by Uvex Group subsidiary Laservision. Schott supplies optical glass filters to Frth, Germany-based Laservision for use in…
International technology group Schott has been named Supplier of the Year 2007 by Uvex Group subsidiary Laservision. Schott supplies optical glass filters to Frth, Germany-based Laservision for use in its high quality laser protection windows and eyewear. “We have been cooperating closely since 1975”, said Peter M. Bura, managing director of Laservision GmbH & Co. KG. at the presentation of the award in March 2008. “Over the many years, the laser market has developed extremely quickly and so has our portfolio of suitable protection solutions. Schott has been supporting our success for more than three decades as a very reliable, flexible and innovative partner,” he added. As high power lasers are increasingly being used in industrial and medical applications, quality is becoming more important in vision protection. “All laser protection solutions produced by Laservision with Schott glass filter components meet the requirements of the European DIN EN 207, DIN EN 208 and DIN EN 60825, as well as the US ANSI standard”, said Norbert Nuss, key account manager for Advanced Optics at Schott AG. Compared to plastic filters, glass filters do not bleach and the material is far less susceptible to scratching. “Especially in North America, our customers expect the ratio of glass to plastic to shift from 1:10 to 1:5”, said Mr. Nuss. “Plastic might be lighter and cheaper, however, we are seeing an increase in demand for optical glass filters, due to greater safety awareness and stronger safety regulations. In addition, more and more high power lasers are now being used all around the world”, he explained. Schott supplies shortpass filter glasses, such as KG 3 and KG 5, (especially for the 1064 nanometer wavelength of Nd:YAG-Lasers), as well as filters with longpass and bandpass characteristics often refined by using coatings or tempering processes.