History

2020–2011

2020

  • New Managing Director: Bettina Steuber has been appointed besides Christoph Sieber to Managing Director effective February 1, 2020.

2019

  • Investment of Pinova
  • Anniversary 125 years Sill Optics
  • Personnel extension to 245 employees

2018

  • Investment asphere production

2017

  • Investments of € 3 million to increase the capacity for precision optics and aspheres
  • Personnel extension to 225 employees
  • Recertification according to DIN EN ISO 9001: 2015

2016

  • Staff expansion to 210 employees
  • Static continuation of internal education: 5 new trainees for precision optics

2015

  • Extension of the production for large precision lenses 
  • Optical measuring MFU for asphers

2014

  • 120 years Sill Optics festive evening with about 300 guests and employees with Lasershow attraction
  • Capacity expansion for lenses up to 500 mm diameter and Aspheres
  • Contactless measuring technology with optical sensor
  • Stitching interferometer up to diameter 300 mm

2013

  • Move to the new production of mechanical parts
  • New CNC lathes installed
  • Enhanced capacity and measuring technology for precision aspheric lenses

 2012

  • Extension of the production of precision aspheric lenses
  • Structural work of 2nd Expansion of the production area
  • Expanded the field of vacuum technology for AR coating of precision lenses

 2011

  • Christoph Sieber strengthens the management board of Sill Optics
  • Recertification according to ISO 9001: 2008
  • Start extension building of the production

2010–2001

2010

  •  Recertification according to ISO 9001: 2008

2009

  • Relocation in new building with administration, assembly and quality assurance

2008

  • Recertification according to ISO 9001:2000

2006

  • Start of work for a new building for more service

2005

  • Recertification according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000

2004

  • 110th anniversary
  • Acquisition of Optolyth Optik

2003

  • Award of the SPD Unternehmerpreis 2003 for creating and maintaining job positions
  • Setup of our own coating department

2002

  • Recertification according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000
  • "Jobstar" award of the Region Nürnberg

2001

  • Extension by 300 m2 for our locksmith and maintenance shops
  • Move of management and assembly department into the technology center
  • Expansion of sales department

2000–1991

1999 

  • Acquisition of new company premises in Wendelstein - Industrial area
  • Move of production into the new technology center
  • Recertification according to DIN EN ISO 9002

1998

  • Expansion of precision manufacturing up to diameters of 650 mm

1996

  • Certification according to DIN EN ISO 9002

1995

  • Invest in CNC technology for grinding, polishing and centering of lenses

1994

  • Reprivatisation
  • 100th anniversary 

1990–1980

1989

  • Takeover by Melles Griot

1986

  • Invest in Syncro Speed technology
  • Establishment of in-house department for optical computations and design
  • Production of Scan objectives

1982

  • Orientation toward customer specific applications

1978

  • Startup of marketing in the USA

Vor 1980

1970

  • Development of Profile-Projection objectives

1966

  • Integration of the companies Roeschlein and OHG into J. E. Sill by Hannes Horr
  • This expanded manufacturing capacity for optical components allowed us to produce lenses according to customers' specifications

1964

  • Acquisition of the company Roeschlein in Bad Kreuznach

1959

  • Purchase of optical tools from OHG in Osterode

1950

  • Extension of production to allow for precision manufacturing of movie projection objectives and magnification objectives

1948

  • Manufacturing for Correctal eyeglasses and industrial illumination objectives

1934

  • Renaming to "Optisches Werk Julius Ernst Sill"

1923

  • Relocation of production to Wendelstein
  • Setup of production for mirrors, large lenses and projection objectives

1912

  • Installation of glass melting furnaces for creating preforms

1902

  • Extension of production and relocation to the "Nägeleinsmühle"
  • Production of lenses for Laterna Magica and for illumination was introduced

1894

  •  Foundation of a glass grinding mill by Julius Ernst Sill within the "Schwabenmühle" in Nuremberg
  • The grinding machines for spectacle glasses, magnifying glasses and reading glasses were powered by the water power of the river Pegnitz