LightPath Technologies Announces Commercial Availability of First BlackDiamond-NRL Based New Infrared Glass, BDNL-4
- BDNL-4, a new BlackDiamond-NRL infrared glass material, is launched by LightPath Technologies, Inc. as a substitute for Germanium.
- The material exhibits a negative thermo-optic coefficient and is multi-spectral, suitable for SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR imaging bands.
- BDNL-4 provides passive compensation for temperature changes, making it ideal for optical systems in various applications.
- The material is expected to be in high demand due to its unique properties and the need for alternatives to Germanium and Gallium, impacted by export restrictions.
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The introduction of BDNL-4 by LightPath Technologies represents a significant advancement in the field of infrared optics. The material's negative thermo-optic coefficient is particularly noteworthy. This property means that the refractive index of the material decreases with increasing temperature, which allows for athermalization in optical systems. Athermalization is the process of designing equipment to be less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which is important for maintaining performance in varying environmental conditions.
From a materials science perspective, the ability to use BDNL-4 across different infrared bands (SWIR, MWIR and LWIR) indicates a high degree of versatility, which could lead to broader applications beyond just replacing germanium in infrared optics. The potential reduction in reliance on germanium is significant given the current geopolitical tensions and the fact that germanium is a critical material with supply chain vulnerabilities, especially considering China's export restrictions.
The Defense Logistics Agency's involvement in the development of BDNL-4 underscores the strategic importance of this material to the defense sector. The DoD's interest suggests that BDNL-4 could be integrated into various military technologies, particularly those requiring thermal imaging capabilities. For instance, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in military vehicles will benefit from optics that can maintain focus and clarity across different temperatures without manual adjustment.
As a defense industry analyst, I would highlight that the ability to source materials from 'friendly countries' is a significant advantage for LightPath and the US defense industry. This reduces the risk of supply chain disruptions, which is a critical consideration for defense procurement. The shift towards domestically produced alternatives like BDNL-4 could lead to increased resilience in the defense supply chain and possibly create a competitive edge for US-based defense contractors.
From a market perspective, the commercial launch of BDNL-4 by LightPath Technologies could disrupt the infrared optics market, traditionally dominated by germanium. The anticipated strong demand for BDNL-4 is likely to stem from its unique properties and the current geopolitical landscape affecting germanium supply. This could position LightPath as a key player in the market, potentially capturing a significant share from germanium-based products.
Furthermore, the diversification of applications for BDNL-4, such as in automotive ADAS and drones, opens up new revenue streams for LightPath. The company's strategic partnership with the DoD and exclusive licensing from the NRL may provide it with a competitive advantage and could be a catalyst for growth. This launch might also signal a broader industry trend towards finding alternative materials for critical technologies, which could have implications for other companies and industries reliant on materials with constrained supplies.
New Material is Critical to Industry Efforts to Replace Germanium in Infrared Optics
ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 4, 2024 / LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPTH) ("LightPath," the "Company," or "we"), a leading vertically integrated global manufacturer and integrator of proprietary optical and infrared technologies, today announced the commercial launch of its first new BlackDiamond-NRL infrared glass, BDNL-4, a key material in the chalcogenide glass series licensed from the US Naval Research Laboratories (NRL) as a substitute for Germanium.
BDNL-4 is a new material that exhibits a negative thermo-optic coefficient, an important attribute for making systems athermalized, enabling the design of devices that are unaffected by temperature changes. BDNL-4 is also a true multi-spectral material that can be used across SWIR, MWIR and LWIR imaging bands. As with all its Chalcogenide materials, LightPath offers antireflective and protective DLC coatings for the new BDNL-4 materials. Following years of development at NRL, BDNL-4 is licensed exclusively to LightPath.
To qualify BDNL-4, the manufacturing-readiness process and tests included extensive tests and measurements of a large number of samples from different production batches, in accordance with the plan for developing alternatives to Germanium set forth and sponsored by US Defense Department ("DoD") via the Defense Logistics Agency ("DLA"). BDNL-4 is being produced in the same facility utilizing the equipment LightPath uses to produce its BD-6 infrared chalcogenide glass.
"This is the first material from those developed at NRL to be made available as part of our partnership with the DoD to commercialize Germanium substitutes," said Sam Rubin, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath. "The Chinese export restrictions on Germanium acted as a key catalyst for BDNL-4 to be produced in the USA using raw ingredients commonly available from multiple friendly countries. By providing alternatives like BDNL-4 for use in optics, more Germanium will also be freed up for other industries such as semiconductors. Currently it is estimated that
"BDNL-4 not only replaces Germanium but offers advantages versus Germanium. By having a negative thermo-optic coefficient, that is the change of the optical index as a function of temperature, BDNL-4 enables optical designers to design optical systems that are optically and passively compensated for changes in temperature. This is important for example in airborne systems where today, changes in ambient temperature at different altitudes require refocusing the cameras to compensate for this, or even in some of the new automotive ADAS system utilizing thermal imaging, which must be able to operate in all temperatures vehicles might be used in.
"With the commercial launch we expect BDNL-4 will become an important material for thermal cameras in drones and other systems that must operate across a large range of temperatures. We expect to see strong demand for the material because of its unique properties and the solution it provides in light of export restrictions on Germanium and Gallium by China," concluded Rubin.
A full data set of specification is available for optical designers, including Zemax files and measurement data from LightPath.
About LightPath Technologies
LightPath Technologies, Inc. is a leading global, vertically integrated provider of optics, photonics and infrared solutions for the industrial, commercial, defense, telecommunications, and medical industries. LightPath designs and manufactures proprietary optical and infrared components including molded glass aspheric lenses and assemblies, custom molded glass freeform lenses, infrared lenses and thermal imaging assemblies, fused fiber collimators, and proprietary Black Diamond™ ("BD6") chalcogenide-based glass lenses. LightPath also offers custom optical assemblies, including full engineering design support. The Company is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with manufacturing and sales offices in Dallas Texas, Latvia and China.
LightPath's wholly-owned subsidiary, Visimid Technologies, was acquired in July 2023, and specializes in the design and development of customized infrared cameras, for the industrial and defense industries. Such customized cameras are often sold together with customized optical assemblies from LightPath.
LightPath's wholly-owned subsidiary, ISP Optics Corporation, manufactures a full range of infrared products from high-performance MWIR and LWIR lenses and lens assemblies. ISP's infrared lens assembly product line includes athermal lens systems used in cooled and un-cooled thermal imaging cameras. Manufacturing is performed in-house to provide precision optical components including spherical, aspherical and diffractive coated infrared lenses.
For more information on LightPath and its businesses, please visit www.lightpath.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "guidance," "plan," "estimate," "will," "would," "project," "maintain," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "prospect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "believe," "continue," "opportunity," "potential," and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the impact of varying demand for the Company products; the ability of the Company to obtain needed raw materials and components from its suppliers; actions governments, businesses, and individuals take in response to the pandemic, including restrictions on onsite commercial interactions; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; geopolitical tensions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the Hamas/Israel war; the effects of steps that the Company could take to reduce operating costs; the inability of the Company to sustain profitable sales growth, convert inventory to cash, or reduce its costs to maintain competitive prices for its products; circumstances or developments that may make the Company unable to implement or realize the anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of its current and planned business initiatives; and those factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or facts materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Contact:
Brian M. Prenoveau, CFA
MZ Group - MZ North America
LPTH@mzgroup.us
+561 489 5315
SOURCE: LightPath Technologies, Inc.
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