Photo by Marlies Amling
Many of the photographs of
the new Leica Camera AG headquarters at Leitz Park in Wetzlar show two other
buildings and many might have wondered what the companies are in such close
proximity of Leica.
The building immediately to
the left is Weller Feinwerktechnik and the company of Viaoptic GmbH to the left
of it.
The location of these two
companies so close to the Leica Camera headquarters is no accident. They are both closely connected to Leica
Camera. Their Chairman of the
Supervisory, Board Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, bought both companies through his
capital management company ACM.
Weller Feinwerktechnik
Uwe Weller Feinwerktechnik
develops designs and produces premium mechanical products in the company’s
state of the art production facilities.
With their own galvanic
surface technology and assembly operation, they are able to offer their clients
from the strategic fields of precision optics, medical equipment and
transportation sophisticated solutions from a ‘one-stop shop’.
In 1994, Uwe Weller took over
Leica Camera AG’s machining division, thus laying the foundations for the
company in its present form.
In 1997, the business then
merged with his father’s company, Günther Weller Feinwerktechnik, which
specialized in precision turned parts for the automotive supplier industry. The
merged operation subsequently moved into the production facility on
Wilhelm-Loh-Straße.
In 2005, the mechatronics
division of Leica Microsystems in Weilburg was integrated into the business,
followed in 2006 by the machining division of the Zeiss-Hensoldt Group in
Wetzlar. Both operations were at that time manufacturing their products in
leased premises in Wetzlar.
In early 2009, by relocating
to the new facility at Am Leitz Park, the company was able to combine every
manufacturing division and technology ‘under one roof’.
In May 2009, the new surface
technology division began operations at the site on Wilhelm-Loh-Straße.
Uwe Weller Feinwerktechnik
GmbH
Am Leitz-Park 3
35578 Wetzlar
Germany
Phone:+49 6441 90190
Viaoptic GmbH
Viaoptic is a leading
supplier of plastic optical and mechanical components, technical injection
molded parts and injection molding tools.
They are optimally equipped
to react to customer requirements in development, tool design, injection
molding, surface coating and assembly.
Viaoptic has over 30 years of
experience and history. Viaoptic in its
current form has been situated in Wetzlar since 2002. They moved to their brand new building «Am
Leitz-Park» in the beginning of 2009, which offers greater opportunities for
growth in the future.
Their customers are
specialized in automotive industry, optical sensors, telecommunication, medical
industry, lightning and optical industry. Their products are used in several
different applications for light optics and imaging optics. Typical products
include e.g. barcode scanner, LED illumination optics etc..
Viaoptic is an independent
medium-sized company, supported by a broad-ranging network of partners.
Both companies are not just
financially connected to Leica. They do
a large amount of work for Leica camera.
Especially Weller Feinwerktechnik does almost all mechanical
preproduction work for Leica Camera as well as Leica Microsystems.
Viaoptic GmbH
Am Leitz-Park
35578 Wetzlar
Germany
Phone:+49 6441 90110
CW Sonderoptic GmbH
Also located at Leitz Park is
CW Sonderoptic GmbH. It was founded in
2008 to design, manufacture and market Leica-branded cine lenses for film,
television and commercial production. The “CW” stands for “Cine Wetzlar”, a
reference to both the company’s mission and legacy.
Dr. Andreas Kaufmann,
majority owner and chairman of the supervisory board of Leica Camera AG,
started CW Sonderoptic to design and develop what became the Leica Summilux-C
and Summicron-C cine lenses. The concept behind these lenses was originally
conceived by photographer and filmmaker Christian Skrein along with Hollywood
rental house owner Otto Nemenz.
The dream for the set of
Leica Summilux-C lenses was for them to be the most advanced cinema lenses yet
created in regards to size, performance, mechanical precision, and optical
tolerance. To create such a design they brought in legendary cine lens designer
Iain Neil. Together they determined the specifications and features of the
lenses and began production with the first sets delivering in early 2012.
Under the guidance of
Managing Directors Gerhard Baier and Erik Feichtinger, CW Sonderoptic continues
to develop and manufacture new and innovative products for cinematographers all
over the world.
CW Sonderoptic GmbH
Am Leitz-Park 1
35578 Wetzlar
Germany
Phone:+49 6441 90110
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