Edmund Optics® (EO) believes more than ever that The Future Depends on Optics® and the world-changing innovations they enable. For 80 years it has been our mission to provide optical solutions to you, our customer, by manufacturing and supplying precision optical components to ensure a healthier, cleaner, and safer tomorrow.
On behalf of the Edmund family and our 1,150+ employees in 12 countries around the world – we are here for you!
Sincerely,
Marisa A. Edmund
Chairman of the Board and Chief Marketing & Sales Officer
Browse our timeline below to learn more about Edmund Optics® through the years.
After opening Edmund Salvage in Collingswood, NJ to sell surplus optics to his fellow optics enthusiasts, Norman Edmund puts a $9 ad in Popular Photography magazine to sell a "chipped edge lenses" kit for $1.50 (15 lens kit)
After a successful year, Norman launches the first Edmund Scientific catalog "for profit, fun, or study!" The catalog includes over 1,000 products from telescopes and binoculars to microscopes and individual prisms.
Edmund Scientific moves from Collingswood, NJ to its current location in Barrington, NJ with a store front, which becomes a big success!
A nationwide focus on space exploration leads Norman to offer physics, astronomy, and earth science products in the Edmund catalog. Telescopes and similar components would remain a focus of the catalog for decades.
Going to the World’s Fair? - Edmund exhibits at the World’s Fair held in Seattle, WA. The display includes panel diffraction gratings, twinkle lights, revolving grating wheels, rainbow design gratings, and tons of other products.
A loyal Edmund Optics customer and fan inspired by an Edmund Scientific Idea Book, designs and builds a unique fiber optic tree that is still operational to this day! View Video
To the Moon and Back Again - Jack Thompson of Westinghouse Aerospace purchases a 95¢ Barlow lens from Edmund Optics to be used on the Westinghouse color camera brought on Apollo 11 for coverage of the lunar landing.
A second generation begins at Edmund Scientific. Robert Edmund, current CEO, joins the Edmund Scientific team.
Edmund Scientific develops a 4¼" f/4 Newtonian Wide Field Reflector Telescope. Customers submit entries to name the new telescope. Grand prize is 2 of these new telescopes, “one for you, and one for the school or planetarium of your choice.” The original name was Astroscan 2001, a nod to Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Robert splits Edmund Scientific into two divisions: Edmund Scientific and Edmund Industrial Optics. Edmund Scientific concentrates on educational and hobby applications, while Edmund Industrial Optics on precision components for industrial applications.
Optics in Operation Desert Storm- To aid military forces fighting in the Middle East during Operation: Desert Storm, Edmund provides optical components for targeting systems.
Edmund Optics expands globally with the first global office in Tokyo, Japan (1995), followed by offices and facilities in Tucson, AZ (1998), UK (1999), Karlsruhe, Germany (2000), Singapore (2000), Shenzhen, China (2005), sales office in France (2005) and in Seoul, South Korea (2006), Akita, Japan (2008), and in Taichung City, Taiwan (2010).
Edmund makes it into American pop culture history. Bart Simpson, in the episode titled “Two Bad Neighbors” (1/14/96), brings a box of locusts from Edmund Scientific to his new next-door neighbor.
A third generation begins at Edmund Optics - Marisa Edmund, current Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, joins Edmund Optics.
The Introduction of Telecentric Lenses - Edmund Optics begins manufacturing custom multi-element lenses. With the addition of new manufacturing equipment Edmund Optics paves the way for imaging optics.
Edmund Optics acquires Plummer Precision (2000) and Saito Optics (2004). Edmund Optics is able to manufacture high precision spherical components, optical prisms, and high quality optical coatings, all with optical quality ensured by state-of-the-art optical testing.
With a focus on advancing Edmund Optics' manufacturing capabilities, Edmund Optics adds magneto-rheological finishing (MRF) and aspheric manufacturing to its growing toolbox. Edmund Optics can provide λ/20 accuracy optical flats, spherical optics, and high precision, spherical aberration corrected aspheres.
To offer additional service options to customers, Edmund Optics unveils Live Chat support in the Americas. Customers can now use phone, email, and live chat to contact the office. Live Chat continues to expand in Europe in 2011 and Asia in 2012.
Free Optics for Education- To support research in undergraduate and graduate optics programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at non-profit colleges and universities, Edmund Optics announces a global Grant Program. Each year, outstanding “Optics Superheroes” compete for 1 of 3 monetary prizes in each region.
Edmund Optics moves its Tucson, AZ location to a larger facility and adds optical and optomechanical research & development capabilities, along with expanding customer support, sales, applications engineering, and custom design services.
Edmund Optics is continually adding thousands of new products each year from optics to optomechanics to imaging. With over 28,900 optical components available, Edmund Optics is prepared to help its customers in each step of their application projects.
The innovative Cx Series Lenses with user-adjustable mid-section offer maximum flexibility through interchangeable accessories including filters, apertures, and liquid lenses. Their modular lenses were the silver winner for the Vision System Design Innovators Award.
Edmumd Optics expands into Silicon Valley with a new office offering business development, sales and applications engineering support to service the unique needs of the region
Edmund Optics Celebrates 75 years of optical innovation, from surplus sales to global optics leader
Edmund Optics' ruggedized Cr Series Lenses win the 1st Place Inspect Award
Edmund Optics aquires ITOS GmbH, specializing in polarizers and filters, to provide local manufacturing capabilities to European customers
Diamond Turning added to Edmund Optics' manufacturing capabilities, producing high precision optical components using machines equipped with diamond-tipped tool bits
Edmund Optics named Manufacturer of the Year by NJMEP (New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program)
Edmund Optics extends its optical exterise into the Laser Optics market with launch of new 164-page catalog and online resource guide
Edmund Optics' EUV Mirrors and Highly-Dispersive Ultrafast Mirrors are Laser Focus World Innovators Award winners
New office opens in Bangalore, India with technical support and full service website
Marisa Edmund, third generation owner of Edmund Optics, appointed as Vice Chair to Board of Directors
Edmund Optics acquires Quality Thin Films (QTF), strengthening and expanding its laser optics manufacturing capabilities
Robert Edmund appointed as SPIE Fellow, recognized for scientific and technical contributions in optics, photonics, and imaging
Edmund Optics opens second location in Tucson, AZ, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to assembly and advanced design
Dedicated Canadian website launched, providing pricing in local currency and toll-free customer support phone line
LT Series FFL Lenses with autofocus win Gold-Level VSD award
Edmund Optics expands in South Korea with move to larger facility to meet customer demand
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