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
08/2003 – Consolidation of all CaF2 capacities in one factory
