Thales Optics Merges With Avimo Optical Imaging

Recent months have seen several major commercial shake-ups among the WOF membership. Thales Optics, based in St Asaph, together with their sister company Thales Space Technology at Bodelwyddan, have merged with Avimo Optical Imaging based in Prestatyn and the Avimo Thin Film Technologies operation based in Plympton - to form the HTO (High Tech Optics) - UK Group, to be based on the existing Thales Optics site at St Asaph, with potential annual sales of more than £50 million.

Avimo Optical Imaging will move from their present Prestatyn site to St Asaph by the end of April 2002, while Thales Space Technology will remain at Bodelwyddan for the time being.

In addition, a new coatings plant is planned for the St Asaph site, as part of a major new facility in North Wales for avionics and advanced optics.

Source: The Welsh Opto-Electronics Forum Newsletter October 2001