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Jenoptik manufactures micro-optics for the semiconductor equipment industry in a state-of-the-art production environment.
After around two and a half years of construction, the Jenoptik Group has completed its largest single investment in recent history and officially inaugurated its new factory (or “fab”) in Dresden. By expanding its production and research and development capacities for innovative micro-optics, Jenoptik is supporting production technologies with state-of-the-art, high-precision sensors for high-performance chips, e.g., for applications in AI.
The new Jenoptik fab in Dresden was officially opened on May 6, 2025 in the presence of customers, partners, construction stakeholders, neighbors, and representatives from business, politics, and government agencies of the Free State of Saxony and the City of Dresden. Together with the Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, and the Lord Mayor of the City of Dresden, Dirk Hilbert, Jenoptik President & CEO Dr. Stefan Traeger and Site Manager Dr. Andreas Morak pressed the symbolic start button, which opened the fab with a short light show. Additionally, Jenoptik has invited around 200 employees from its micro-optics business in Dresden and Jena to a joint employee celebration to mark the opening the following day.
“We are proud that we have completed this largest single investment in the company’s recent history, at just under 100 million euros, on schedule. In a challenging environment with constantly rising prices and scarce resources, this is an outstanding achievement. Our thanks go to everyone involved in the construction, our employees, and everyone who made this possible,” said Dr. Stefan Traeger, CEO of JENOPTIK AG.
Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer emphasized: “The opening of the new Jenoptik factory in Dresden is a strong signal for innovation and cooperation in ‘Silicon Saxony’. The fact that the world-renowned Jenoptik Group has now consolidated its production of special micro-optics and sensors for the semiconductor equipment industry here means additional positive effects in terms of employment and value creation. At the same time, the new factory will contribute to the further successful development of the semiconductor ecosystem here, which is unique in Europe. This will not only strengthen the Saxon economy, but also benefit Germany and Europe as a whole – through greater European sovereignty and technological independence in a key industry.”
“The opening of Jenoptik fab will give a further boost to the microelectronics location. Dresden and Silicon Saxony are leaders precisely because companies and research institutions here represent cutting-edge technologies along the entire value chain of the semiconductor industry. The state capital Dresden is proud to have been supporting Jenoptik, such an innovative and globally active company based in East Germany, in its growth for many years now. The fact that the largest investment project in the company’s history is being implemented here in Dresden underscores the great confidence in the location,” said Dresden’s Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert about Jenoptik’s investment.
The new fab will make Dresden a major location for Jenoptik’s micro-optics activities. “We deliberately chose one of the most important locations for the semiconductor industry in Germany and Europe, where many global companies and research institutions in the industry are present,” said Dr. Stefan Traeger at the opening ceremony.
Demanding manufacturing environment
The new high-tech fab now employs almost 100 people in an extremely demanding manufacturing environment. Production takes place exclusively in ISO 5 and ISO 3 clean rooms, which meet the highest requirements for vibration-free operation and temperature stability. The locations previously distributed across the City of Dresden are now united under one roof. The new location offers significantly expanded production capacities for technologically highly sophisticated micro-optics and micro-optical sensors. These are mainly used in systems for semiconductor lithography and inspection, but also in systems for laser material processing, for example.
Jenoptik invested just under 100 million euros in the new site, which has a total net floor space of 11,000 sqm, including 2,000 sqm for clean room production. In addition, significant investments were made in state-of-the-art production equipment, some of which was relocated and some of which was expanded.
High environmental standards
In addition to demanding manufacturing conditions, the fab also meets high environmental standards: Jenoptik is in the process of achieving the “KfW 40 Standard” and “LEED Gold Standard Certification”, which are very comprehensive and strict building criteria in terms of sustainability. Recycled materials were used in the construction, a photovoltaic system has been installed on the roof, and an energy-efficient building shell as well as a cooling and heat recovery system were installed alongside intelligent control technology. In addition, a central chemical system ensures economical consumption.
Photonics as a growth driver
Jenoptik has been active in Dresden since 2007. In addition to Dresden, Jenoptik also manufactures its high-precision and micro-optics at its sites in Jena and Triptis (polymer optics) in Thuringia, in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, and in Jupiter (Florida) and Huntsville (Alabama), USA. The Group employs around 4,600 people worldwide.
Maximum precision in the smallest space
Micro-optics and micro-optical sensors are characterized by maximum precision in the smallest space and a very flat design. They direct light using micro- and nanostructures and, unlike conventional optics, are manufactured using a lithography process similar to that used in semiconductor production. In addition to chip manufacturing, they are used in other, primarily technological manufacturing processes that require highly accurate and/or very flexible positioning of light for process steps, such as laser material processing, or quality assurance, including inspection processes.
The semiconductor equipment industry is the most important area of application for the micro-optics manufactured at the Dresden site. Micro-optical sensors enable, for example, the precise positioning of wafers during lithographic processes in chip manufacturing. Areas of application include both DUV (deep ultraviolet) and EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography.
