The optical dome manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of advanced optical systems, enabling applications from aerospace navigation to underwater exploration. These hemispherical or hyper-hemispherical components protect sensitive optics while maintaining high transmission across specific wavelengths. Among the key players in this field, CNGEIR stands out as a leader in infrared-focused optical domes, leveraging decades of expertise. This article explores CNGEIR’s capabilities alongside nine other prominent manufacturers driving innovation in optical dome technology.
Headquartered in the Nanjing Li Shui Economic Development Zone, CNGEIR operates a 120,000-square-meter facility with over 300 employees and global sales teams spanning Europe, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. Specializing in germanium-based infrared optics, the company designs and manufactures infrared domes optimized for harsh environments, such as high-temperature military systems or industrial thermal imaging.
CNGEIR’s vertically integrated production chain includes:
Optical Processing: Precision grinding and polishing of germanium optical domes with <λ/4 surface accuracy.
Mechanical Fabrication: CNC machining for dome housings resistant to shock and vibration.
Assembly & Testing: Integration of infrared dome assemblies with night vision seekers and photoelectric turntables.
Their optical glass dome solutions for mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) systems feature anti-reflective coatings tailored to 8–12 μm wavelengths, achieving >90% transmission. Applications span missile guidance domes, automotive LiDAR sensors, and power grid inspection drones. With 60 years of expertise, CNGEIR combines diamond turning and deterministic polishing to deliver optical dome lenses that meet MIL-SPEC standards for durability and optical clarity.
Optimax Systems excels in manufacturing optical domes from fused silica and sapphire, ideal for UV to IR applications. Their proprietary CNC grinding achieves surface roughness <5 Å, critical for laser-based LiDAR in autonomous vehicles. Optimax’s infrared domes are widely used in hypersonic missile systems, where thermal stability and abrasion resistance are paramount.
Shanghai Optics produces optical glass domes in materials like BK7 and SF11, with diameters up to 500 mm. Their domes are designed for underwater ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), utilizing pressure-resistant designs to withstand depths exceeding 6,000 meters. Custom AR coatings minimize reflection losses at 532 nm (blue-green lasers), enhancing performance in marine surveying.
Avantier Inc. crafts optical dome lenses for dual-band systems, such as visible/IR surveillance cameras. Their hybrid domes combine chalcogenide glass (for LWIR) and fused silica (for visible light), enabling multi-spectral imaging in a single assembly. Avantier’s infrared domes are integral to border security systems, providing seamless day/night monitoring.
Vertex Optics specializes in military-grade optical domes, including hyper-hemispherical designs for wide-angle surveillance. Their sapphire domes (1.5 mm thickness) offer exceptional scratch resistance for UAVs operating in sandy environments. Vertex also develops infrared domes with EMI shielding coatings, protecting sensors from electronic warfare interference.
Knight Optical supplies optical domes in UV-grade fused silica and magnesium fluoride (MgF2) for excimer laser systems. Their domes feature <0.1% absorption at 193 nm (ArF lasers), crucial for semiconductor lithography. For IR applications, Knight offers zinc selenide (ZnSe) infrared domes with anti-weathering coatings for desert operations.
G&H Photonics manufactures optical domes with numerical apertures (NA) up to 0.8, enabling tight focus for laser communication systems. Their domes are used in quantum encryption satellites, where low wavefront distortion (<λ/10) ensures signal integrity. G&H’s optical glass dome assemblies also integrate thermo-electric coolers to mitigate thermal lensing effects.
Ecoptik produces optical glass domes up to 1 meter in diameter for astronomical observatories. Their borosilicate domes provide UV-to-IR transmission with minimal chromatic aberration, supporting telescope calibration. Ecoptik also offers infrared domes with conductive coatings for de-icing in polar research stations.
UQG Optics designs optical dome lenses that serve as protective windows in spectroscopy and industrial automation. Their N-BK7 domes include hydrophobic coatings to repel water and oil, ideal for food processing inspection systems. UQG’s infrared domes in germanium are paired with thermal cameras for predictive maintenance in power plants.
RP Photonics aggregates global suppliers of optical domes, including niche manufacturers of CVD diamond domes for high-power CO2 lasers. Their platform highlights vendors offering infrared domes with ultra-low thermal expansion for space-based IR telescopes.
Germanium vs. Zinc Selenide: Germanium infrared domes dominate LWIR applications due to high refractive index (n=4.0), while ZnSe is preferred for multi-spectral systems.
Athermalization: Hybrid optical dome lenses combining silicon and chalcogenide glass reduce focus shift in fluctuating temperatures.
Coatings: Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on optical glass domes enhance abrasion resistance in sandstorm-prone regions.
From CNGEIR’s germanium-based infrared domes to Optimax’s sapphire innovations, these manufacturers exemplify the fusion of material science and precision engineering. As demand grows for optical dome lenses in autonomous systems, space exploration, and defense, companies that prioritize spectral customization, durability, and scalability will lead the market. CNGEIR’s integration of infrared expertise with full-chain production capabilities positions it as a critical player in advancing optical dome technology for next-generation optoelectronic systems.
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