Discover Germany | Special Theme | Optatec
What is responsible for sharp pictures in cinema? German technology Innolite GmbH, based in Aachen, is an expert in producing machines used to fabricate plastic and metal optics by means of ultra-precise diamond turning. Innolite, as a Fraunhofer spin-off, today works closely together with local and international research facilities and other experts in this field. One outstanding example for machines developed here is the ILCentric, used for lathe centring of mounted lenses.
ing machineries that allow the fabrication of high-quality optic lens systems is one of Innolite’s specialities.
initial and today’s core business is on the one hand ultra-precision mould making for replicating plastic optics, on the other hand direct manufacturing of metal optics. Innolite closely cooperates not only with the Arburg, the world leading manufacturer of injection moulding machines, but also with the IKV, the Institute of Plastics Processing at RWTH Aachen. After an already successful start, in 2011 Innolite started developing and constructing its first ultra-precision machines.
A start-up with close connection to Germany’s best technical university
Clustering experts for the usage of light and laser technology
Innolite GmbH was founded in 2008 as a Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology spin-off. The institute itself has more than 30 years of experience in all fields of production technology. Innolite in contrast has specialised even further: The
Only recently, Innolite moved to the Innovation Center Digital Photonic Production, a part of the Photonics Cluster at the RWTH Aachen. The Innovation Center unites 25 industry and five science partners specialised in researching and devel-
TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN
Every projector – either digital or analogue – needs lenses to project pictures onto the broad screen. Manufacturing them is a tricky process that needs high-end machinery. Lenses for cinema projectors are only one example of ILCentric’s multiple areas of application. A bit less spectacular but none the less important are, for example, medical technology, metrology or sensor technology that need optical lenses as much as more traditional instruments like microscopes or binoculars. Develop74 | Issue 39 | June 2016