History of NKT Photonics

1891

Nordiske Kabel og Traadfabriker (today NKT) was founded by Prior in 1891 and has been a listed company since 1898.

Over the next 90 years the company grew into one of Denmark’s foremost industrial enterprises, with focus on cable production (electricity, power and telecommunication cables), but also active in the production of nails, screws and other hardware for the Danish market.

1980

NKT starts production of optical fibers in Denmark. In 1987 NKT and AT&T creates a joint venture under the name LYCOM. LYCOM later becomes part of Lucent Technologies, Lucent Technologies Denmark, the predecessor of OFS Fitel Denmark.

1997

The first Koheras low-noise single-frequency fiber lasers were introduced into the market

2000

NKT establishes several R&D companies. Among them are Crystal Fibre and Koheras (Ionas at the time) that would form the foundation of NKT Photonics.

NKT divests GiGA to Intel

The first commercial photonic crystal fibers were introduced into the market by Crystal Fibre

2003

The first SuperK supercontinuum white light lasers were introduced into the market.

2004

Crystal Fibre acquires UK start-up Blaze Photonics

2005

Acquisition of LG Laser GmbH and later establishing NKT Photonics GmbH

2007

Koheras merges with NKT Research

2009

Crystal Fibre – the largest commercial supplier of microstructured specialty fiber and Koheras – the leading company within low noise lasers and SuperK supercontinuum white light lasers, merge and become NKT Photonics.

Establishing NKT Photonics Inc.

2013

The first Koheras lasers are sent into space as part of ESA’s magnetic field mission, Swarm.

2014

Establishing NKT Photonics China

2016

German DTS specialists LIOS Technology becomes part of NKT Photonics

NKT Photonics acquires UK fiber laser manufacturer Fianium

2017

NKT Photonics acquires Swiss ultrafast laser manufacturer Onefive and pulsed laser diode specialists Advanced Laser Diode Systems, ALS.

2019

Opening of our US manufacturing site in Boston