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Electro-Optics Technology, Inc.
Traverse City |
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| "[We
had] a strong technical advantage
for designing Faraday Isolators, specifically
designed for highpower lasers — a
perspective that I don't think our competitors
had." —David
G. Scerbak, President |
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| Electro-Optics Technology, Inc. |
| David G. Scerbak, President |
| Traverse City |
| Founded: 1987 |
| Primary Business: Manufacturing |
| Sites in Michigan: 1 |
| Sites Elsewhere: 0 |
| 14 Full-Time Employees in 2004 |
| 18 Full-Time Employees Expected in 2005 |
| www.eotech.com |
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Snapshot: A
manufacturer of components for high-power
lasers, Electro-Optics Technology, Inc.
(EOT) was initially funded with personal
savings. However, that was quickly supplemented
by revenue from a contract to design
a Faraday Rotator for a Silicon Valley
laser company. The company's success
stems from advanced technology and its
ability to provide product vision to
its employees.
Necessity Is the Mother of Invention: Electro-optic
products were originally the focus of
the company's efforts, but they took
too long to develop. At a previous employer
Scerbak received insight into how and
why a new laser component permanent magnet-based
Faraday Isolators was going to be increasingly
useful.
"So we proposed to design a new type
of Faraday Isolator for a company named
Quantel (later to become Continuum) that
was required by their laser system," says
Scerbak. "Fortunately they allowed us
to use the design rights for our own
purposes also. This evolved into a full
line of Faraday Isolator products for
high-power lasers."
Optical Elements: The clear turning
point for EOT came when the company moved
to Traverse City in 1992 after struggling
financially in Silicon Valley. In six
months, it secured a stable, cost-effective
supply of the key optical element used
in its devices.
"This coupled with a strong impetus of
design help from a newly hired local
area resident, Jim Niessink, enabled
us to provide cost-effective solutions
that were appropriate for the market," Scerbak
says. Laser manufacturers, including
Coherent, Spectra-Physics, Positive Light,
and Lightwave Electronics, then worked
with the company to rapidly incorporate
its product into their laser systems,
providing a stable stream of revenue.
Technological Advantage: This
has been a special strength for EOT,
according to Scerbak. "My experience
working at the Quanta-Ray division of
Spectra-Physics helped me understand
basic design issues for high power laser
components, as well as exposing me to
much of the high-power laser community," he
says. "This experience, followed by my
work at Lightwave Electronics, which
included Faraday Isolator design, gave
us a strong technical advantage for designing
Faraday Isolators, specifically designed
for high power-lasers — perspective
that I don't think our competitors had." Scerbak
says. When we moved to Traverse City
and hired Jim Niessink, he was able to
quickly assimilate these concepts and
rapidly design a complete family of products."
Community Service Works: EOT supports
limited community service during work
hours for salaried employees. For example,
employees have worked with the local
Michigan Technological Academy on student
projects later presented to the entire
company, hosted an open house for students,
and provided board direction, mentoring
and financial support to the academy.
Outsourcing Issues: Scerbak says
the biggest obstacle that EOT has had
to overcome is a stable supply of parts
and components that it does not manufacture
itself.
Optical Vision: The management
practices Scerbak are most proud of are "providing
product vision to an outstanding group
of highly motivated and responsible employees—and
then helping them make that vision a
reality."
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