SPIE Optifab 2025
ABTech exhibited at SPIE Optifab 2025 in Rochester, NY during the week of October 20. The show ran from Tuesday, October 21, through Thursday, October 23.
We set up our familiar 10 ft. x 10 ft. booth among many of our current customers, including Opto-Alignment, Trioptics, and OptiPro. Our spinning rotary display table attracted a lot of attention, with many visitors noting how it reminded them of the UltraSurf. We confirmed that our product is, in fact, used in that very machine.
Many of the people who stopped by were already familiar with ABTech as an OEM partner, recognizing our products and precision components used in their own systems. These discussions highlighted ABTech’s strength as a collaborative partner for both OEM and custom applications. Our air-bearing rotary tables, linear slides, and spindles support our role as a key provider of precision motion solutions in metrology and optics manufacturing.
While Optifab is an optics-focused event, we also showcased some of our one-off legacy systems, such as the Peak Nano GRIN film measuring and sorting machine and the NuStar Telescope manufacturing and grinding module. Many attendees were surprised to learn that ABTech’s precision technologies extend far beyond optics, supporting applications in diamond turning, toolholding, and engine assembly systems.
Though the exhibit hall was smaller—about a fifth the size of some of the other trade shows we’ve attended—Rochester once again proved itself the epicenter of the optics world. We met attendees from across the U.S. and Europe, especially Germany, many of whom have been attending Optifab for years. With Optatec in Germany coming up next year, excitement was already building for what’s ahead. While we plan to walk rather than exhibit at the show, ABTech will continue focusing on OEM and manufacturing events in the year ahead.
Every show has its hiccups, and we had a few of our own, but the smaller size worked to our advantage. The convention center staff was responsive and helpful, and were able to visit other booths, meet with contacts, and check in on several existing customers. The show also allowed us to secure new purchase orders, discuss upcoming projects, and strengthen relationships across our network.
With Rochester so close to our ABTech facility, Optifab is always a worthwhile trip — an opportunity to reconnect with the optics community, reinforce our role as a trusted precision partner, and even make a few unexpected connections along the way. We came home with plenty of new contacts, insights, and even a few resumes from students eager to build their careers in precision engineering.
Until the next show!
