JDSU Consolidates Manufacturing; Releases Powerful New Pump Laser
Source/Type: Reported News

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

May 6, 2009... JDSU announced that it will be closing its gallium arsenide-based vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) fab in Louisville, Colorado USA, which formerly belonged to the acquired company, Picolight. Also in recent news, JDSU is making available its new 5100 series 450mW terrestrial pump laser for the undersea optical networking market. The news of the planned closure was revealed during the company's quarterly conference call. (Ref: Earnings Conference Call for Q3 of 2009).

JDSU announced the sale of its Shenzhen facility in February. Along with the fab closure, a company spokesman said that JDSU would also make unspecified staff cuts. The company hopes to save $35 million per year with closure. JDSU attempted to sell the Picolight fab, but did not find a buyer. The company's San Jose facility can also produce the VCSELs. So as a cost cutting measure, the company says it it will shutting down its former Picolight fab by September of 2009. The new laser is proof that the company has apparently not slowed the R & D and product development, which is the company's lifeblood.

The company boasts that the new pump laser has the highest power available for 980nm pump lasers on the undersea optical market. The lasers will reportedly power undersea optical amplifiers that are needed to transmit fiber optic signals along cables that span thousands of kilometers along the ocean floor, acting as critical trans-continental links for broadband communications. Company News Release

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