Downtown Rochester was alive with conversation, the whir of precision machinery, and the buzz of innovation. SPIE Optifab 2025—North America’s largest optical fabrication conference and exhibition—brought together thousands of people from around the world to celebrate what’s new, what’s next, and what’s possible in optics manufacturing.
Over three days, 2,471 attendees explored the latest breakthroughs from 172 exhibiting companies and took part in 14 educational courses, a full slate of technical sessions, and hands-on demonstrations featuring the newest advances in automated optics fabrication.
AmeriCOM was proud to be at the center of it all with our booth, lineup of presenters, and Student Day sponsorship.
Nearly 400 high school and college students attended Optifab’s Student Day to explore careers in the optics industry.
Learning, connecting, and looking ahead
Optifab’s mix of exhibitions, hands-on demos, and technical talks made it a standout event. The plenary session—featuring AmeriCOM President Dave Shelton as one of the speakers—offered an in-depth look at the supply chain for infrared optical materials, addressing the real-world challenges and opportunities shaping the field’s future.
One of the week’s most inspiring moments came during Student Day on October 23. Sponsored by Monroe Community College’s (MCC) optics technology program, AmeriCOM, LaCroix Precision Optics, Optimax, and Universal Photonics, the event gave nearly 400 students and educators a behind-the-scenes look at the optical manufacturing world.
“Student Day was an extraordinary success,” says Dr. Alexis Vogt, Executive Director of Workforce and Higher Education at AmeriCOM and Professor of Optics at MCC. “The students absolutely loved it—it was inspiring to see so many professionals genuinely excited to welcome them into the field.”
AmeriCOM’s Justin Sigley and Jeff Iorio meet with students on Student Day.
Students use their optics scavenger hunt game board clues to seek out optics companies where they will ask questions and learn about career opportunities.
Students engaged with hundreds of optics companies, including Sydor Optics, to ask questions and take home optics swag.
AmeriCOM’s impact on display
AmeriCOM had a strong presence throughout Optifab, highlighting the organization’s leadership in both workforce development and advanced manufacturing.
Mike Pomerantz, AmeriCOM’s Director of Engineering, presented new research on deterministic polishing for high-volume spherical optics, aimed at achieving a 30% reduction in manufacturing costs through smarter automation and additive manufacturing.
“Automation doesn’t take jobs away—it elevates them,” Pomerantz says. “It lets skilled workers focus on more complex, creative tasks while boosting efficiency and precision.”
Meanwhile, one of Dr. Vogt’s two presentations, “Precision pipeline-building: America’s optics workforce,” resonated deeply with attendees. Her message was clear: as demand for skilled optics technicians surges, coordinated national training efforts are essential.
“As demand for skilled optics technicians continues to grow, building a strong national pipeline has never been more critical,” Vogt says.
Another AmeriCOM presenter, Chief Scientist Justin Sigley, shared cutting-edge research on optical loss measurements and fully automated optics fabrication, underscoring the breadth of AmeriCOM’s technical expertise.
A bright future
AmeriCOM is proud to be part of this vibrant, forward-looking community—supporting emerging technologies, nurturing new talent, and helping ensure that the future of optics is made right here in America.
AmeriCOM, along with LaCroix Optics and Optimax sponsored Student Day and provided students with backpacks for the industry swag they collected.