Rochester Precision Optics expands New York optics and imaging manufacturing facility

In a move that strengthens its position inoptics and imaging, Rochester Precision Optics (RPO; Rochester, NY, USA), has joined with NY Empire State Development (ESD) and Monroe County to increase its investment in its current facility. RPO will invest $10.7 million to expand its Henrietta, NY facility, retaining 144 jobs and creating 151 new jobs. ESD has committed a $750,000 capital grant, while the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) provided a property tax abatement through its JobsPlus program.

RPO, previously known as Kodak Optical Imaging Systems, manufactures optical components and assemblies used in variety of commercial, military, and industrial systems. It specializes in glass molded aspheres utilizing developed at Kodak and has facilities in New Hampshire and in Shanghai, China.

The expansion was sparked because RPO is branching out into other related businesses. For example, it now makes molded plastic components and assemblies for its line of lenses and does assembly work in-house. Based on the company’s substantial growth, it has decided to expand its 64,500-sq-ft facility by adding an additional 43,000 sq ft of new space, including clean room space.

RPO’s business operation was once a unit of Eastman Kodak, which eliminated its Rochester-based optics manufacturing capabilities in 2005. RPO purchased its assets, relocated them to a new facility and rehired critical staff. ESD then provided RPO a $400,000 grant and inclusion into the Empire Zone Program in exchange for the creation of 75 jobs. RPO currently employs 144 people in Rochester.

SOURCE: Rochester Precision Optics

--Posted byVision Systems Design