The immense potential of Optorun
Optical thin film formation equipment is the core business of the Optorun Group. Barriers to new entrants are high because fabricating this equipment requires highly advanced technologies and other knowledge about forming thin films. Although Optorun has been operating for a relatively short time, having been established in 1999, the company ranks among the most respected members of the optical thin film industry because of its diverse array of expertise.
Opto-nanotechnology™ is at the heart of our operations. This is a field with immense potential. Optorun is one of only a small number of corporate groups able to meet a broad spectrum of requirements involving thin film formation. Our group’s strengths and other defining characteristics can be divided into three categories: technology, markets and strategies.
1. Technology
What types of technologies does Optorun have and why does this expertise give the company an edge over competitors?
Optorun is constantly taking on the challenge of creating innovative technologies that can create new opportunities in the optical thin film sector.
We started out in 1999 by succeeding in the development of the world’s most advanced optical thin film formation unit for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) signals. Only three companies in the world can manufacture this equipment, and we are the only one in Japan. Accomplishing this feat clearly demonstrated the very high level of our technology within the optical thin film industry. Now we are building on our core Opto-nanotechnology to aim for more progress involving optical thin film.
A service business model that supplies solutions centered on knowledge rather than products
Selling knowledge rather than products is the basis for our operations. This is why sales engineers play a prominent role in serving customers. Using this approach has enabled us to assemble a large customer base consisting of relationships rooted in trust. Sales engineers maintain close ties with client companies in order to understand their manufacturing and other activities. This information then becomes a valuable part of our R&D programs. To supply outstanding solutions, we leverage our film formation process expertise to enable customers to use optical thin film equipment for producing thin film in the best possible manner.
Sales engineers are a source of two key forms of value
2. Market breadth
In what directions are global markets for products that need thin films expanding?
The IoT is increasing growth prospects for the optical thin film market
The optical thin film equipment market is continuing to expand rapidly. Many products require these films. Digital cameras and smartphones are two major sources of demand for this equipment. In recent years, growth of the Internet of things is increasing the need to place sensors and other devices, lenses, and other items on objects in a multitude of fields. As a result, the number of applications for thin film technology is expected to increase quickly.
3. Strategy for growth
What are Optorun’s strategies for achieving medium and long-term growth?
Semiconductor optical fusion and the IoT will be key drivers of growth
Over the years, Optorun has helped create new markets by devising solutions that precisely match each customer’s requirements. We started by supplying solutions in the field of optical communications. Next, was digital consumer electronics like digital cameras and mobile phone cameras. More recently, we have expanded our solution expertise to include smartphones, tablets and other new products. We are determined to continue this process of expansion, anticipating opportunities for growth involving semiconductor optical fusion, biometric authentication for IoT applications, automobiles, virtual reality and augmented reality, and many other business sectors.
