SCHOTT, a global leader in advanced optics and specialty glass, announced the completion of a new manufacturing facility in Kulim, Malaysia, in a strategic move that underlines the expected growth in the AR industry. This development comes just a day after Meta unveiled its latest AR glasses prototype.
The new facility in Kulim will significantly increase Schott's production capacity for optical components vital for AR devices. The facility is expected to create approximately 400 engineering and manufacturing jobs.
“This new facility will significantly increase Schott's capacity to supply high-quality optical components to international high-tech industries, including Augmented Reality (AR),” the company said.
Schott's expansion is timely, in line with the industry's expectation of increased demand for AR lenses and optical components. The company's long-standing presence in Penang, Malaysia, where it has operated for 50 years, provided a strong foundation for this new venture. The Kulim facility complements the Penang facility, increasing Schott's ability to supply high-quality optical components to international industries.
The announcement comes on the heels of Meta revealing its 'Orion' AR glasses prototype, highlighting a significant industry move towards more immersive and compact AR experiences. For AR to become a mainstream technology, it needs to be built on technologies that can be produced at scale. Schott's expertise and visionary expansion in offering high-precision optics positions the company as a key supplier in this emerging market.
Schott is a long-time partner of Lumus, which produces unique waveguides for AR. The new facility is likely to be geared towards the type of manufacturing required to produce Lumus optics on a large scale. Meanwhile, Meta says the new Orion glasses rely on silicon carbide lenses instead of glass to achieve a wide field of view.
Schott's Advanced Optics business unit has a global manufacturing network with headquarters in Germany, North America, Switzerland and China; The expansion in Malaysia is a strategic addition to this network.