Ross Optical Blog: The Latest News & Research

Customer satisfaction rises again in 2015

We recently completed our 2015 customer survey and were pleased to find that customer satisfaction is once again on the rise, at 4.65 out of 5. Customers praised our responsiveness, design prowess, and range of components and coatings. We're thrilled with this feedback, but we know we can always do more for those we serve. Read on to learn how we've expanded our capabilities. 

SPIE Optifab is shaping up to be a great event in Rochester, N.Y. next week. The sold-out exhibition will feature optical fabrication equipment and technologies from around the world. The show is best recognized for its educational track, though.

ISO certification standards are tightening, particularly for manufacturers of medical devices. ISO certification audits can extend all the way up the supply chain. Choosing a medical OEM optics supplier that has a robust quality management system (QMS) in place makes these audits easier on your business. Here are four ways a disciplined approach can save you time, money, and frustration.

Ross Optical is known for doing what it takes to meet our customers' required timelines. Every summer, we shift our hours to fit our customers' schedules and give our employees much-deserved time with their families. Our annual Summer Hours will begin on Monday, June 1, 2015. Phone support is available Monday through Thursday from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm MST, closed on Fridays. We will resume regular business hours on Monday, August 17, 2015.

Since our start in 1988, Ross Optical has grown to be one of the most trusted suppliers of optical solutions for critical projects. Last month we surveyed our long-term customers to understand what keeps them coming back, even as competition in the optics supply industry has grown. Based on their feedback, we’d like to share five reasons our customers keep returning.

When Regular Optics Win

Engineers are invariably drawn to new technology. It is important to realize, though, that sometimes old ways are the best. This is particularly true when considering whether to use aspheric lenses in an optical design. We at Ross Optical have certainly embraced the recent advances in asphere fabrication, as evidenced by our range of aspheres. With that said, we also stock a huge range of hard-to-find, large-diameter, spherical doublets and triplets.

In our last post we explained the three top technical factors that can cause long lead times in optical manufacturing. It’s not all bad news, though. As an experienced partner in optical design and manufacturing, we know how to work with customers to minimize delays. In this article we explain two ways that Ross Optical can help reduce lead times… and two steps that you can take that will help us help you!

Advantages of Aspheres

Many optical designers have found aspheric lenses to be a favorable solution in situations where conventional spherical optics fall short. In applications such as medical devices and instrumentation, scanners, zoom and range-finding optical systems, and hand-held image capture devices, aspheres are often the key to more compact, higher performing optical designs.

As you may know, Ross Optical recently added a new inventory solution. Called vendor-managed or consignment inventory, this program gives customers on-demand access to our more than 1000 catalog optical components, as well as custom optics and assemblies.

Micro optics are enabling the development of ever-more compact, portable, and disposable optical systems. Especially for industries that require a high level of precision, one of the challenges of designing micro optics systems is achieving reduced size and weight without compromising quality and performance. Here are a few ways that a designer or manufacturer can improve the quality of your optical design: