Farmington Hills’ Safety Technology Holdings Acquires UK Laser Company

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Safety Technology Holdings in Farmington Hills has acquired the United Kingdom's OpTek Systems. // Photograph Courtesy of OpTek

Safety Technology Holdings in Farmington Hills Friday announced it has acquired OpTek Systems, a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of laser processing equipment and provider of micro-machining and optical fiber processing services. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“OpTek’s innovative solutions and market leadership position complements our corporate portfolio well.” says Christopher J. O’Connor, president and CEO of Safety Technology Holdings. “By adding them to the STH family, we are able to enhance further our position in optical fiber solutions, giving us a deeper presence in this rapidly expanding market.”

OpTek was founded in 2000 and specializes in lasers, optics, and laser materials interactions with a high degree of automation. The company’s products include laser optical fiber processing and micro-machining equipment. It also is a supplier of complex optical fiber assemblies and laser processing services.

Mike Osborne, founder and CEO of OpTek, will continue in his current role post-closing.

“STH is a first-class, highly technical, and innovative organization with a long history of investing in niche market leaders,” he says. “They have the size and technical capabilities to build on our past success and to help to accelerate our growth plans. Their portfolio companies offer complementary services to our own, and we are excited about the many projects we will be able to pursue together. They are the perfect partner for us.”

Safety Technology Holdings is a portfolio company of United Kingdom-based private equity firm Bridgepoint and is a holding company with well-known niche test and measurement sector companies including vehicle safety company Humanetics Innovative Solutions, specialty optical fiber manufacturer Fibercore, and sensor manufacturer HITEC Sensor Developments.

“We have worked closely with the OpTek team for many years on a number of development projects and are excited for them to join us in the STH family,” says Chris Emslie, CEO of Fibercore.

“They have been an important partner for us and are highly respected for providing high-quality, innovative solutions at a competitive price point. Whether for datacom connections, fiber sensors, medical filters, or other highly technical systems, it is well known in the industry that OpTek is able to do things that are unmatched by even the biggest competitors.”