G&H
Shaping A New Paradigm In Photonics Technology

In his landmark article “The quantum theory of radiation,” published in 1917, Einstein established the groundwork for laser technology. The first extensively commercialised lasers appeared in the 1960s, after years of development, and were utilised for a variety of applications ranging from science to surgery. Since then, lasers’ unique capacity to create a narrow, focused beam of light has enabled a variety of different applications, such as barcode scanning, DNA sequencing, and semiconductor chip production. More recently, the NASA rover Curiosity utilised laser-enabled technology to blast rocks on Mars, allowing scientists to examine compounds in the resultant vapours is one of the unique applications. Despite the fact that the laser business has grown continuously since the 1970s, innovation and revenue growth have stalled in recent years. However, the industry may be on the verge of a new era of innovation, with lasers increasingly combining with optics and sensors to enable even more advanced applications. These integrated devices, many of which are currently in development in a variety of industries, have the potential to resurrect the laser business and become the primary source of value. Spearheading the innovation in photonics technology is G&H, a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK, with operations in the USA and Europe. “We work with OEM customers worldwide, providing optical systems, assemblies and components for demanding applications, often for deployment in harsh environments,” - Mark Webster, CEO of G&H.

We strive to push the boundaries of our capabilities and manufacturing efficiency; passing on the benefits to our customers by providing high quality, durable and cost-effective assemblies and components

G&H’s excellent optical engineering and manufacturing capabilities enable efficient OEM system development and supply. The company’s experience in optical systems, subsystems, and components stretch from research through prototype development to volume manufacture in aerospace and defence, industrial and telecom, life sciences, and biophotonics.

As a catalyst for innovation and efficient manufacturing, its capabilities include a remarkably broad spectrum of photonic technologies: crystal growth, optical materials electro-optics, active and passive fibre optic components, precision optics, opto-mechanical and medical systems, and active and passive fibre optic components.

Established in 1948, G&H manufactured scientific optical components and crystalline materials at the time. With global sales of acousto-optics, crystal optics, and precision optics, these skills are still very much at the heart of the company’s current operations. Over the years, G&H has evolved from a craft-based optical engineering company rich in practical optical manufacturing skills to a high-technology photonics corporation through an acquisition programme of best-in-class companies in individual technological areas. Today, G&H is a major supplier to OCT system makers, with a focus on ophthalmology and dermatology. The company develops and manufactures crucial components for medical laser systems, including varicose vein and prostate treatment laser surgery, as well as the expanding cosmetic industry of tattoo removal. This could encompass diagnostic oesophageal and cardiovascular systems in the future. In addition, for the aerospace and defence, industrial, life science, and scientific research sectors, the firm today serves as a supply chain partner, delivering systems and components based on a wide range of photonic technologies.

G&H has a solid position in terms of intellectual property (IP). The company views mature and intelligent IP management as a critical aspect of its business. The company keeps track of all of its active patents as well as the product portfolios to which they pertain. G&H currently files and gets between five and ten new patents per year. It intends to maintain that level by taking a proactive strategy to develop new business-focused ideas, with a well-defined IP process for disclosure and selection of its inventions, as well as considerable incentive payments for our employee inventors.

G&H considers continuous improvement central to this evolution across every facet of its business. The company’s ability to offer technologically leading customised solutions and expertise in photonics engineering and manufacturing has enabled them to meet customers’ need for short lead times, on-time delivery, and quick reaction to a demand or design changes as their customers’ requirements change. “We strive to push the boundaries of our capabilities and manufacturing efficiency; passing on the benefits to our customers by providing high quality, durable and cost-effective assemblies and components,” - Mark Webster, CEO of G&H. To further strengthen its position, it has embarked upon a worldwide deployment of the G&H Operating System which was built to advance lean manufacturing principles in all of the company’s sites to drive customer satisfaction and operational excellence. In the longer term, G&H views the potential in optical systems for line-of-sight satellite communications. It was with this in mind that it acquired the Greek space technology start-up Constelex in 2013 and since integrated into the company’s Systems Technology Group (STG). The company has established solid working relationships with a number of primes and will continue to push for the provision of whole subsystems and components. This expansion will be followed by life sciences and specialist industrial sector growth, particularly in fibre optics, with the recruitment of numerous additional highly experienced business development employees in the UK and the United States has been critical to growth. “Space applications play to our strengths because it’s a hostile environment where you need to deal with radiation and high temperature fluctuations, and the systems are not readily repairable” - Mark Webster, CEO of G&H.