Melles-Griot
Melles Griot is a well-known company in the photonics field. It was founded in 1969 in Santa Ana, California. The company started as a distributor of other companies' products to later become a major manufacturer.
The founders aimed to offer a complete range of optical and opto-mechanical components for the R&D and OEM markets, promoted through a professionally written catalogue. Before the internet era, this catalogue, which could be mailed worldwide, provided the company with global exposure.
Recognizing the potential of the European market, Melles Griot opened its first European distribution center in the Netherlands in 1973. The company then started manufacturing its own products in 1979, with the opening of its first facility in San Marcos, California.
In 1981, the company expanded into the value-added manufacturing of optical systems with the acquisition of a custom optical factory in Rochester, New York. In 1988, Melles Griot enhanced its presence in the European market by opening sales offices in France, Germany, Sweden, and the UK.
The same year, the company was acquired by Barloworld Ltd as part of its scientific holdings. Today, Melles Griot is a market leader in providing enabling optical systems, vertically integrated from components through system design, manufacturing, and metrology.
