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OPTRA was founded in 1980 to pursue funded
research and development in the general area of electro-optical
instrumentation and advanced research in precision measurements using electro-optics. Early focus on federal agencies was quickly
expanded to include R&D for the private sector.
With the advent of
the SBIR program, OPTRA committed significant resources to the
development of products and product lines. R&D and production are
now equal components of the OPTRA organization.
Today, OPTRA provides a unique
blend of innovative new products together with contractual R&D services.
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A summary of major achievements over 25 years include:
- Founded
by 3 researchers to conduct break-through electro-optics research, 1980.
- First
commercial products ship in 1985: OPTRALITE™ and OPTRAMETER™.
- Production
begins of LE-3000, a laser-based extensometer unique for its non-contact
measurement, 1989. Over 40 systems delivered to state-of-the-art material
science laboratories worldwide.
- Applies
for Nanotechnology patent for laser diode interferometric encoder system,
1990.
- Produces
a unique non-contact velocity sensor (VS-2000) applying Doppler phase
shift principles for the production facilities of a Fortune 500 manufacturer,
1993.
- Produces
a unique laser triangulation level sensor for the production facilities
of a Fortune 500 chemical manufacturer, 1993.
- Completes
cleanroom manufacturing facility, 1996, which signifies a concentrated
effort to grow through product development.
- Begins
volume manufacturing of sensor products in 1997.
- Lands multi-year JSLSCAD Department of Defense subcontractor award for
spectrometer development on the next generation chemical agent detection
equipment, 1997.
- Launches NanoGrid® and NanoScale® products,
1998.
- Announces
NanoGage™ 100, 1999.
- Ships
2000th sensor, November 1999.
- Ships
3000th sensor, April 2000
- Ships 4900th sensor, August 2000
- Introduces Autofocus® product, 2002.
- Introduces OP-FTIR, 2004.
- Transistions JSLSCAD to production, June 2004.
- Laser Event Recorder selected as "Breakthrough Product" by Aviation Week, November 2004
- Introduces Laser Event Recorder product, 2005.
- Ships 25th JSLSCAD sensor, January 2007.
- Ships 40th NanoGage sensor, July 2007.
- Passes $7m in lifetime product revenue, August 2007.
- Ships 500th NanoGrid sensor, September 2007.
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