Programme: Innovations and Competitiveness

Our company is applying for the purchasing of the following equipment:
-High-vacuum system for applying optical coatings for the ultraviolet UV, visible VIS and near-infrared NIR regions of the spectrum. Technical specifications: stainless steel vacuum chamber and dome-holders; pump system for high vacuum; electron beam-gun for evaporation of different materials, depending on the coating; controllable ion-source for achieving tough and dense optical layers; quartz-crystal system for controlling the coating process; fully-automated process for applying coatings; accessory equipment for coating preparation.
-Spectrometer for measuring and documenting the reflectance and transmittance of the applied coatings. Range of operation: UV, VIS and NIR regions of the spectrum.
We are expecting the following results:
-Reduction in the coating process duration for a single coating from 2 evaporations maximum per day, as presently done in cooperation, to 6 evaporations minimum per day. This leads to improvement in our production capacity. Presently, 24,2% of our realized sales are without coating.
-Minimal need for layer removal via re-polishing of the surface. This would increase the polishing capacity by about 4.5%. Decrease of the average cost of unit production by about 6%, due to reduction of rejects, material and labor costs. 
-Reduction in the number of RFQs, that we cannot quote on and increase of order quantity and financial value. 
-Increase of production volume from 17.7% during the first year of implementation to 26.7% during the third year.
-Increase in production capacity from 13 to 21.9% between the first and third years of implementation. 
-Increase in the ratio of coated/uncoated elements sold and enhanced efficiency of production. Presently the production of optical components totals at 36100 pcs. annually and could increase to 44000 pcs., should this project be realized.