Docter Optics

We bring your vision of light to life

Docter Optics

Our mission, vision & values

Docter Optics develops and manufactures customised optical components and complex systems with high precision, volume and quality. We support our customers from the product idea through prototype construction to industrial series production.

Our solutions in glass and polymer make us an established OEM partner in the fields of medical technology, sensor technology, automotive, security and consumer electronics, among others.

Our team of specialists understands the physics of the materials we use, has expertise in optical design and, in particular, excellent experience in process engineering. With the help of this experience and various patented process technologies, we also offer support to young start-ups, for example in the design and optimisation of products, preparation for market entry and industrial production.

We bring your vision of light to life.

Responsibility

We take responsibility in our use of resources

For us, responsibility means harmonising our corporate goals with those of our customers, partners and employees. The sustainable use of our planet's limited resources is at the centre of our focus; we are actively implementing measures to protect the health of our employees and targeted activities to save materials, as well as continuously improving our carbon footprint.

Sustainability

Our daily actions are not only based on the conscious and sustainable use of resources. We also take responsibility towards our employees, invest in energy-saving technologies, use sustainable raw materials wherever possible and ensure that our waste is disposed of properly.

Added value

The modular structure of our five competence centres offers an exceptionally deep value chain - regardless of the material. This includes all development services, i.e. optical design, verification, prototyping, testing, qualification, tool and mould making as well as the associated documentation. Our team of specialists understands the physics of the materials we work with, has expertise in the design of everything from optical components to complex systems and, in particular, has excellent experience in process engineering.

Integrity & Compliance

Doing business in accordance with the law and internal rules: At Docter, we practice consistent, compliant behaviour and actively and jointly promote a compliance-compliant corporate culture. The Docter Optics Code of Conduct summarises the principles of compliant behaviour and serves as a guide for actions and decisions in everyday working life.

 

QM / QS

Optical quality is a measurable factor. We supply optical components and systems to customer specifications in first-class quality. However, our quality management goes far beyond this and is documented with QM certificates in accordance with ISO 9001, 14001 and 50001 as well as IATF in the automotive sector.

Innovations & technologies

Docter Optics sets standards in the volume production of highly complex optical and non-optical components.

Docter Optics is a pioneer in the volume production of highly complex optical and non-optical components made of glass and polymer. With an impressive range of specialised processes, we are revolutionising manufacturing technologies and enabling the production of products not only in small, but especially in very large quantities. This innovative spirit and the continuous integration of state-of-the-art technologies make Docter Optics an unbeatable partner for companies seeking precision, quality and performance in their products.

Patented production processes

Our patented production processes drive your innovations: We develop and manufacture innovative free-form moulds made of glass or polymer, supply ready-moulded precision optics for the latest markets and assemble complex, customer-specific optical systems for biometrics or the consumer market.

DOC3D®

The introduction of our patented glass moulding process, in which high-precision aspheres and free-form lenses with optical surfaces finished on both sides are produced from a glass precursor (Gob) in a fully automated process, forms the basis of our versatile and innovative production technologies.

DOCFast®

Using the ready-moulding process directly from the still-liquid glass, Docter Optics is also able to provide glass components for non-optical applications or with complex geometries for a wide range of industries.

DOCµTEC®

Finished, moulded, optical precision components with a surface accuracy of up to ±10 µm without post-processing in large quantities for new markets such as LIDAR, virtual reality and automotive projection.

DOCLight®

Our polymer lenses, manufactured in a fully automated multi-layer process, offer a reduced lens weight with extended design options for your optics in large-scale production.

In-house glass production

Using its own glass melting process, Docter Optics produces DOCTAN® glass specially developed for the demanding automotive environment. DOCTAN® is an exceptionally brilliant optical glass that offers outstanding performance in terms of thermal behaviour, strength and UV stability.

Special solutions for automotive lighting technology

Our solutions for automotive lighting technology range from multifunctional free-form components, TIR and slim-lens components, glass components for simplified assembly or coatings to improve UV and temperature management.

HeadLED®

Multifunctional free-form lenses with integrated cut-off line and minimal installation depth

DOCEdge®

Simplified installation of the component in the headlight

DOCResist®

Improved UV and temperature management for HID and LED projection spotlights

Express Glass Services

With our state-of-the-art machinery, which is unrivalled in the international competitive environment, we can produce an almost endless variety of individual glass products for you in a short space of time.

Here we present our machines and the processing options we can offer you in detail. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about our technical equipment, please do not hesitate to contact us anytime.

CNC-area

  • Processing of simple to complex (3D) semi-finished glass products
  • Programming / design / drawing creation via CAD/CAM possible
  • Production of small and oversized semi-finished products for cylindrical and plano optics up to 2550×650 mm as well as spherical blanks (convex/concave) for lenses
  • with a diameter of ~ 700 mm made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramics
  • Zoller tool presetter with interface to CAD/CAM
Overview of machines
  • 3-axis machining
    • DMG Mori DMC 850V
  • 5-axis simultaneous machining
    • DMG Mori DMU 50
    • DMG Mori DMF 260|7
    • DMG Mori DMF 180|7 linear
  • from 01/2024
    • DMC 85 Monoblock Ultrasonic
DMG Mori DMC 850V
  • 3-Axis Machining
  • Spindle Speed: 18,000 RPM
  • Travel X 850 mm, Y 520 mm, Z 475 mm
  • Max Workpiece Weight: 1000 kg
    • Control: Heidenhain TNC640
DMG Mori DMU 50
  • 5-Axis Simultaneous Machining
  • Spindle Speed: 15,000 RPM
  • Travel X 650 mm, Y 520 mm, Z 475 mm
  • Max Workpiece Weight: 300 kg
  • Control: Heidenhain TNC640
DMG Mori DMF 260|7
  • 5-Axis Simultaneous Machining
  • Spindle Speed: 8,000 RPM
  • Travel X 2600 mm, Y 700 mm, Z 700 mm
  • Max Workpiece Weight: 2150 kg
  • Control: Heidenhain iTNC530
DMG Mori DMF 180|7 linear
  • 5-Axis Simultaneous Machining
  • Spindle Speed: 8,000 RPM
  • Travel X 1800 mm, Y 700 mm, Z 700 mm
  • Max Workpiece Weight: 1500 kg
  • Control: Heidenhain TNC64
DMG MORI ULTRASONIC 85 mB C
  • 5-Axis Simultaneous Machining
  • Spindle Speed: 20,000 RPM
  • Travel X 935 mm, Y 850 mm, Z 650 mm
  • Max Workpiece Weight: 800 kg
  • Control: CELOS with Siemens 840D sl
  • Tool Changer with 3 Pallets

Water jet cutting

We offer comprehensive glass processing services, including CAD programming, design, and drawing creation. Our precise glass cuts for further processing are carried out using our Flow Mach2 1313 and INNOMAX MAXIEM 1530 machines. We have an impressive travel range of up to 2800×1500 mm and can work on workpieces with a maximum thickness of 250 mm.

Overview of machines
  • Flow Mach2 1313
  • INNOMAX MAXIEM 1530

Conventional services – grinding, drilling, chamfering

We offer glass processing services from simple to complex semi-finished glass products. Using CAD/CAM manufacturing capabilities, we produce cylindrical and flat optics (up to 2550×650 mm) as well as spherical lens blanks (diameter approx. 700 mm) from various types of glass. Our equipment includes a Zoller tool presetting device for precise manufacturing processes.

Overview of machines
  • Cylindrical grinding machines
    • Studer S30-1
    • TOS Hostivar 2Ud P2 500
    • BSKKR 25/630 BHU25
  • Drilling machines
    • Maxion BS 35 ST
    • Maxion BS 36
    • Optimum B34H
  • Chamfering machines (some can be used mobile)
    • LG 500 mobil
    • LG 800 mobil
    • Zeiss-Fasenmaschine
  • Discus grinding machines
    • Stankoimport M5
    • Kehren & Co RS 10
  • CNC surface grinding machine
    • Opto Tech SMP 801
Cylindrical grinding machine Studer S30-1
  • External cylindrical grinding of glass components according to customer specifications made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic
  • Workpiece diameter: 3 mm - 150 mm
  • Workpiece length: 400 mm
  • Angle accuracy: ±10′
  • Surface quality: Rq 0.6 – Rq 2
Drilling machines
  • Production of drill cores from different types of glass (e.g. optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic)
  • min./max. Diameter: 4mm / 142mm
  • Drilling depth max. 120 mm
Mobile bevel machines
  • Faceting round discs (Ø 15 mm – 400 mm) and blanks (15 mm - 400 mm)
  • Bevel size (min./max.): 0.1 mm - 5.0 mm
Discus grinding machines
  • Surface grinding of glass plates, cuts, prisms, round discs, rods, cuboids according to customer specifications made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic
  • Dimensions:
    • max. workpiece length 850 mm
    • max. workpiece height 450 mm
    • max. workpiece diameter 900 mm
  • Surface quality:
    • standard Rq 4-8

Conventional Services – Sawing

We offer precise glass cutting in various shapes and sizes from optical glass, fused silica, borosilicate glass and glass ceramic to meet our customers' individual requirements.

Overview of machines
  • Band saws
    • Jaspa LBS80
    • Jaspa LBS90
    • Mössner SF801
    • Steele 4222
  • Frame saws
    • Heckert FU
  • Internal hole saws
    • Meyer-Burger TS 23 (Retrofit)
    • Meyer-Burger TS 23 (Retrofit) with rotation unit
    • Almasch
  • Prism cutting machine
    • Carl Zeiss Jena
Band saws
  • Raw cuts of blocks, plates, prisms according to customer specifications made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic
  • max. travel distances: 1000×1000×800 mm
  • just straight cuts
  • Cutting 350 kg boules
Frame saws
  • Rough cutting of blanks, prisms, rods, cuboids according to customer specifications made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic
  • Max. height: 65 mm
  • Max. length: 410 mm
  • max. width: 350 mm
  • up to 10 cuts at the same time
  • Min. cutting width: 11 mm
Internal hole saws Meyer-Burger
  • Cutting prisms, round discs, rods, cuboids according to customer specifications made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic
  • Max. workpiece diameter on rotation unit: 200 mm
  • Max. workpiece length on rotation unit: 300 mm
  • Max. workpiece diameter without rotation unit: 70 mm
  • Max. workpiece length without rotation unit: 310 mm
  • Surface quality: Rq 2 as standard
  • Angle accuracy: standard ±30′
Prism cutting machine
  • Rough cutting of blanks, prisms, rods, cuboids according to customer specifications made of optical glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass or glass ceramic
  • Max. height: 60 mm
  • Max. length: 350 mm
  • max. width: 190 mm

History

We proudly look back on almost four decades of company history. During this time, we have overcome obstacles, mastered challenges and celebrated considerable successes as a team. The rich history of Docter Optics inspires us to continue to drive the market forward with sensational innovations and to boldly forge the path to the future.

These are the most important milestones in the history of Docter Optics:

2021

Start of series production of precision, blank-moulded glass components for free-form lenses (DOCµTec) for the latest DLP systems

2018

Docter Optics starts series production of PMMA components for the automotive market.

2014

Docter Optics commissions the Docter Optics Components GmbH plant in Neustadt an der Orla for the production of optical and technical components directly from the glass melting tank.

2008

Docter Optics equips the world's first standard full LED headlights in an SUV, the Cadillac Escalade Platinum, with free-form projection lenses and develops the Stilar 2.8/8 super wide-angle lens especially for 1.2″ sensor chip cameras.

2004

With DOC3D®, Docter Optics develops a new dimension for double-sided moulding of optical lenses and opens a new production facility in the Czech Republic.

1999

Docter Optics opens its new headquarters in Neustadt an der Orla, Thuringia.

1991

The VEB Carl Zeiss Jena plants in Saalfeld and Schleiz become part of Docter Optics.

1984

Docter Optics is founded in Wetzlar, Hesse.

Explore our Docter Optics technology service!

We offer tailored solutions for your needs. Whether you have questions regarding an industrial production or you need support with your product design, contact us right now. Our team is looking forward to assist you!