Safran Optics 1 expands production and engineering capabilities

September 30, 2019

Safran Optics 1’s expansion of its Bedford, New Hampshire facility reflects the company’s successes during the past three years in winning multi-year programs and contracts for products that help in efforts such as the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. 

 

A groundbreaking ceremony on September 23 marked the go-ahead for a two-story, 15,000-square-foot building addition, creating more floor space for production and engineering, providing a larger stockroom and shipping/receiving areas, and an expanded employee cafeteria.

 

Joseph Bogosian, the President and CEO of Safran Optics 1, recognized the company’s workforce for its efforts and accomplishments that contributed to historic achievements. He noted the healthy order backlog and the accompanying 120 percent employment increase to today’s total headcount of 186 persons. “We’ve been hitting new records in revenue, and profits” said Bogosian at the groundbreaking event, adding additional growth is envisioned for Safran Optics 1 over the next several years.

 

According to Bogosian, the increasing demand from a growing list of customers for the company’s Enhanced Clip-On Thermal Imager (ECOTI) – which easily attaches to existing night vision devices for additional viewing capabilities – is one of the key drivers of the Bedford facility’s expansion, along with a more robust product portfolio. 

 

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who stated: “It’s really exciting to see how far you’ve come – and the excitement of where you can be tomorrow. You really serve as a model of what we're trying to promote all across the state.”

 

Speaking at the groundbreaking celebration, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan told Optics 1 employees: “You are helping us in being safe by strengthening our armed forces and homeland defenses. You are role models for what a highly talented, educated, hardworking New Hampshire workforce looks like.”

 

Safran Optics 1 is a global leader in the design and production of high-performance systems and subsystems for defense and civil applications. Its products include laser rangefinders, markers, visual augmentation systems, precision north finding and inertial navigation systems and targeting solutions.