History of Optronik Berlin GmbH

1968 Foundation in 1968 by Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fleischer and Dr.-Ing. Peter Marx. The name Optronik represents the correlation of Optics and Electronics combined in the Optronik products. First product: The globally first digital luxmeter.

1972 First automatic and PC controlled goniophotometer for automotive lamps for Hella KG Hueck Co.

1975
Start of development of a range of spectrophotometers: ColorComp for repro applications in printing

1980 First spectrophotometers with flash illumination of sample Optronik establishes software department Miniluxmeter - handheld precision illuminance meter

1985
Start of sphere based spectrophotometer series Colorflash series measuring color over distance with a xenon light source

1986
Development of a range of online test systems for 100 % monitoring of headlamps in production

1987 SMS10H goniophotometer: First fully automated 5-axis goniophotometer for Robert Bosch GmbH Reutlingen

1988
Multiflash - an instrument for color measurement at metallic finishes

1989 Introduction of Teleflash offering the possibility to measure color from a distance of up to 6 m 1990 First release of AutoCon color measurement software (DOS version) First SNT10 DC power supply 1991 Scannerflash - color measurement for production control with traversing movement

1992
First SMS10C goniophotometer for BASt (Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen - Federal Highway Inspection Institution of Germany)

1995 FMS10 new tristimulus colorimeter system with four silicon detectors RMS10gse gonio-retroreflectometer with color temperature regulated projector RMM10-ECE "Reflex-Checker" - online retroreflectometer for production control with xenon flash source First Windows based software for goniophotometer operation

1996
LMS20 - luminance meter optimized for measuring luminance at licence registration plates with LED targeting device

1997 New Windows based AutoCon software for color measurement New integrating sphere design with interchangeable bulb holders for luminous flux measurement First SMS10S goniophotometer for large traffic signs and lighting displays Introduction of LC graphic displays

1998
Implementation of new digital motor controls for goniophotometer
Introduction of CAN-Bus interface
Optronik disposes of 5 different goniophotometer systems designed to meet the needs of various applications:
SMS10m, SMS10M, SMS10C, SMS10H, SMS10S
New release of goniophotometer operation software

2000 First release vv10dsp digital preamplifiers / photometric acquisition system for use with goniophotometer

Autumn 2000
Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fleischer - reaching in the meanwhile the age of 65 - sells the assets of Optronik GmbH to X-Rite, Incorporated a major global supplier of color and light measurement systems. Optronik's product portfolio fits into the corporate strategy to become the global market leader in both business fields: color and light. In 1995 X-Rite already had acquired the assets of Labsphere Inc. North - Sutton, New Hampshire, the world's largest manufacturer of integrating sphere systems for light measurement. Dr. Fleischer remains with Optronik in different functions, first as director of the business unit Optronik, later as scientific consultant.

2002 New generation of SMS10C goniophotometers with fully automatic and PC controlled test table Release of Carflash robot online multiangle spectrophotometer

2003
IGA GmbH takes over marketing responsibility for Carflash
Dr. Katrin Kobe joins Optronik to take over responsibility for the operations in Berlin
Development of Glossflash online gloss meter that can be also used as optional accessory for online color measurement

2004
Release of new generation of vv10dsp preamplifiers designed for state of the art automotive light sources including HID, incandescent and sophisticated pulse width modulated LED sources

Optronik starts development of LightCon software - a modern solution to control goniophotometer systems and accessories, for data storage and evaluation.

2010
Munich-based Instrument Systems GmbH takes over the Optronik light measurement division of X-Rite Inc., effective January 1, 2010 and establishes its second R&D and production facility in Germany. With this move, the world leader in LED measurement technology has extended the company portfolio with products and technologies for automotive and general lighting applications. In the combination of traditional photometer, goniophotometer technology as well as Instrument Systems' expertise in spectroradiometry Optronik can offer its customers a unique product portfolio meeting today's and tomorrow's requirements in light measurement. The Optronik color measurement division remains with X-Rite and is relocated to X-Rite's subsidiary GretagMacbetch GmbH in Martinsried - Germany.

Optronik - almost forty years of innovation in light measurement technology
Our philosophy is to look upon a customer as partner and to transfer the customer's requirements into reality.