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History

Anchored in the history of Jena’s optical industry since 1886

Our experience in crystal growing, especially of CaF2, has been associated with Jena for well over 100 years.

  • 1886 – First use of fluoride by Ernst Abbe in optics at Zeiss in Jena -> apochromats
  • 1904 – Ernst Abbe supports the new building of the Mineralogical Institute at the University of Jena by setting up a laboratory for crystal growing
  • 1930 – Start of the cultivation of optical crystals (from melts according to Krystopoulos, Bridgemann and from aqueous liquids) in a laboratory of the Zeiss factory.
  • 1958 – Start of crystal growing of CaF2 in Eisenberg for VEB Carl Zeiss Jena -> CaF2 blanks Ø 250 mm
  • 1961 – Start of industrial production of synthetic optical crystals in the factory in Eisenberg/Thuringia: CaF2
  • 1973 – Foundation of a technical centre for crystal production: cultivation of BaF2, SrF2, MgF2.
  • 1986 – Industrial crystal growing in Jena (high quality & large quantities)
  • 1996 – Takeover of the crystal growing plant in Eisenberg by Schott Spezialglas
  • 1997 – Part of an EU project to develop CaF2 crystals for use in 193 nm applications
  • 01/1998 – Foundation of SCHOTT® ML
  • 10/1998 – Takeover of the crystal growing plant in Eisenberg from Schott Spezialglas
  • 2000 – CaF2 for ZEISS objective Starlith® 1100 for the stepper ASML PAS 5500/1150C for the 𝜆 =193 nm.
  • 2001 – SCHOTT® ML is renamed SCHOTT® Lithotec AG
  • 2001 – Opening of a third crystal growing facility in Jena
  • 2003 – Awarded the Stifterverband Science Prize: In close collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB (Prof. Georg Müller’s team), SCHOTT Lithotec (now Hellma Materials) achieved a breakthrough in the growth of the “perfect crystal.”
    Through the use of complex computer simulations, over 70 growth parameters were optimized to produce calcium fluoride crystals of world-leading purity and size for the semiconductor industry (lithography below 100 nm). This success secures the company’s position as a global supplier to the chip industry.
  • 08/2003 – Consolidation of all CaF2 capacities in one factory
  • 2010 – Foundation of Hellma Materials