Optimax Systems, Newsletter Q3 2003

Click on the following links to learn what's new at Optimax this summer!

Enjoy,

Rick Plympton
VP Sales

Optimax Systems, Inc.
6367 Dean Parkway
Ontario, NY 14519-8939

Toll Free Phone:	877.396.7846
Phone:	585.265.1066
Fax:	585.265.1033

The International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology

SPIE’s 48th Annual Meeting

Optimax will again be participating in SPIE’s Annual International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology to be held August 3 – 8 at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. We will be located in Booth #404.

SPIE’s Annual Meeting is the industry’s longest running event, highlighting the latest trends and technology developments in remote sensing, optical engineering, materials and devices, image processing, and more. Optimax will be emphasizing the ability to make prototype (custom) optics in 1 week. Stop by our booth and see what’s new at Optimax!

For more details on registration as well as a list of exhibiting companies, please visit:
www.spie.org/conferences/programs/03/am

Optimax Profile

Optimax will be profiling a variety of individuals in upcoming newsletters. Our goal is to get you better acquainted with some of the personnel who directly interface with you for your custom optics requirements.

Optimax Employee Profile…

Rick Plympton – VP Sales

Rick’s career at Optimax began in 1996, where he directly managed the sales and marketing activities as well as the QA department. Optimax has since grown to about 75 employees in a 40,000 sq. ft. facility. Rick is an energetic guy with a “stand-up” desk in his office.

Rick has extensive precision lens assembly experience from Melles Griot, Optical Systems where he worked as an assembly/test technician, and later as QA Manager. Rick went on to work as a Sales Engineer at Melles Griot’s corporate facility in Irvine, CA followed by a few years of field sales support in the United States and Europe.

Rick received Degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science, and Engineering Science from the Finger Lakes Community College. He then went on to acquire a BS in Optics and an MBA from the University of Rochester. He also sits on the Board for the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC).

Rick enjoys adventurous travels, especially in Central America. Whether it’s running, tennis, rock climbing or foozball, he is competitive, but his ultimate goal is to have fun! Congratulations are also sent out to Rick and his wife Lisa, who are proud parents of a baby girl! Cecelia Rose Plympton was born on Saturday, June 7, 2003.

Rick's focus is to provide the leadership and vision to position Optimax as America’s largest prototype optics manufacturer.

Let’s Get Technical!

Optimax personnel were among the many presenters of technical papers at the recent Optifab Meeting held in Rochester, NY, May 20-22, 2003.

Optimax authors selected the following topics for presentation:

Mike Mandina – President
“The Business of Precision Optics Manufacturing: Photonics in the Rochester Region”
<Click on Link to Mike’s Paper>

Rick Plympton – VP Sales
“Radius Tolerancing"
<Click on Link to Rick’s Paper>

Joe Pinto – QA Manager
“Transmission Spheres: More Than Just a Reference Surface”
<Click on Link to Joe’s Paper>

Brandon Light – Process Engineer
“Centration Errors: That’s Great But…”
<Click on Link to Brandon’s Paper>

Optimax Supports NASA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPTIMAX PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN NASA PROGRAM

Ontario, NY – June 10, 2003 – Optimax Systems, Inc. of Ontario, NY is fast becoming America’s most reliable optical component supplier; employing 75 people in a 40,000 sq. ft. facility on Rochester’s east side. Continued investment in computer controlled machining equipment and engineering research for manufacturing process improvements is securing their position as a key supplier for many NASA programs. One such program is Mars Rover.

NASA’s Mars Rover Program
With a recent launch, NASA has embarked on a program to expand the search for water on the planet Mars. The Rover is in essence a 300 lb. “mobile laboratory” capable of traveling up to 110 yards in a 24-hour timeframe. The main purpose of Rover is to explore the planet surface for water, which will provide scientists valuable information as to the environmental conditions that may have once fostered life on the planet.

Mars Rover (Shown Right)

Optimax manufactured lenses for 8 of the 10 cameras located on each Mars Rover. The optics in these cameras are of precision quality and will be used for position sensing, and near and far field vision for maneuvering the Rovers.

The first Rover named “Spirit”, launched on June 10, 2003 and the second Rover, "Opportunity” is scheduled to embark on June 25, 2003. Both Rovers are planned to land on Mars in January of 2004.

For more information about the mission see:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/

For more information regarding Optimax Systems, Inc. please contact:

Rick Plympton – VP Sales
Tel: 877-396-7846 x206
Fax: 585-265-1033
e-mail: sales@optimaxsi.com
www.optimaxsi.com

Optimax Supports the US Military

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPTIMAX PROVIDES DOMES FOR VIPER STRIKE MISSILE PROGRAM

Ontario, NY – June 15, 2003 – Optimax Systems, Inc. of Ontario, NY is a key supplier of domes for the Viper Strike Missile program through Northrop Grumman.

Viper Strike is a new variety of small missile that can be carried and deployed by the new Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Performance testing of the Viper Strike Missile was conducted at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico March 29 and 30 with great success. The Hunter UAV combined with the Viper Strike Missile has proven to be a powerful combination, which will provide the US Army with an armed UAV that has significant precision strike capability.

Hunter UAV (shown Right)

Optimax has been requested on two different occasions to provide quick delivery for the manufacture of 10 or more Viper Strike Missile Domes within 1 week from receipt of purchase order.

Optimax is fast becoming America’s most reliable optical component supplier; employing 75 people in a 40,000 sq. ft. facility on Rochester’s east side. Continued investment in computer controlled machining equipment and engineering research, for manufacturing process improvements, is securing their position as a key supplier for many defense related programs.

Viper Strike is a derivative of
BAT – Brilliant Attack Munitions
(shown Above)

Many of the contracts that Optimax receives from military subcontractors are DO or DX rated by the Department of Defense (DoD). This means that the contractor (in this case, Optimax) is obligated to accept the rated order and assure that the item(s) are delivered in the timeframe requested. All DO-rated orders support programs that are designated by the Secretary of Defense as being "of the highest defense interest".

All DX-rated orders support programs that are designated by the President as being "of the highest national priority," and take precedence over all DO-rated orders and all unrated orders.

Optimax is receiving support from Wayne County and the Town of Ontario to enlarge the water supply system and reinforce the power grid to better equip Optimax to provide the most reliable service to our armed forces.