About us
IB/E optics is a designer, manufacturer and service provider of customized optics in the field of image acquisition, projection and illumination. Our developments and products are used worldwide in industry, medicine, photography and professional film production.
IB/E Optics
Apart from developing and creating cine products consisting of the RAPTOR Primes and the RAPTOR Macro Lens Series as well as an extensive array of optical tools and adapters, IB/E optics has collaborated with many renowned manufacturers on numerous projects, most notably, Tribe7 on the development and manufacture of the Blackwing7 lenses and ARRI Rental on the development and manufacture of the Prime DNA, Prime 65S, and Prime 65 lenses for the ALEXA 65.
We have been delivering quality products and service to the industry’s professionals since 1992. Fully equipped with the latest technology we offer full lifecycle program management from beginning to end with a single point of accountability. With our cutting-edge technologies and our strong team of experts you can rest assured that your project is in good hands.
In addition to custom-made optics, lens servicing and conversions, we also manufacture a comprehensive range of our own high-quality lenses, extenders, converters, expanders and other optical tools, as well as many universal mounting solutions for all high-end cine equipment.
As a family-owned company, it is our goal to continue our tradition of precision, meeting and exceeding our customers expectations and to advance the world of optics in film and broadcast industry.
IB/E optics has know-how in a large field of applications.
Our Team
Klaus Eckerl
CEO, President, Senior Optic Designer
Dipl.-Ing. Mechatronics
Klaus studied mechatronics in Nürnberg, Germany and completed his studies successfully in 1988 as a diploma engineer. He worked on software and hardware development on stepper motor units as a free engineer. Employment in the optical industry followed as technical director at ENNA WERK, Munich with approximately 300 employees. During that time he worked in the field of projection, zoom lens design and production as well as working on plastic molding for slide projectors. Klaus worked in the field of design and development of optical coatings with Leybold systems. He did optic design and quality engineering on projection and zoom systems for well-known companies like Schneider Kreuznach, Kodak, Docter Optics, Zeiss Oberkochen and Jenoptik. He worked on opto-mechanical design on Inventor professional software. Finally, he was responsible for the quality management for all key account customers. Later, Klaus established the new field of industrial optics at ENNA. He was responsible for engineering und production of customized systems in glas and plastic. After ENNA was sold to Docter Optics in 1992, Klaus decided to start his own company, IB(E, short for "Engineering Bureau Eckerl". Since 2001 he has been managing director at his own production company IB(E Optics GmbH. In 2012, he finally fulfilled another dream of himself by moving into his self-designed IB(E headquarters in Freyung.
Development
Jacob Jikku
Tolerancing
B. Eng. Mechanical Engineering
After his studies in Jena, Jacob came to IB(E in early 2019. He started as a trainee on the job and was introduced into the main topics in optic assembly and evaluation. Meanwhile, Jacob is a well respected member of the QS team and does alignment, evaluation work at the K12 MTF bench, T Stop measurements and Collimator back focal adjustments as the procedure to get the focus engraving right. Jacob is working at IB(E since early 2019. Currently, he is working on his Master degree.
Uwe Eckerl
Head of Development, Optical & Software Design
IT Specialist
Uwe studied computer science at the University of Passau. For many years he has been active in the company as a project manager for customer and research projects for medium-sized companies, for example in medicine and machine vision. Besides project management, his core area is the development of optical systems with Zemax (since 2004) and since 2013 with Code VAlso software works (C ++, C and Java as well as PLC Systems). Meanwhile, Uwe has developed many optical systems (telecentric, macro and zoom lenses, lens converters, Scheimpflug systems and more). He is pushing the development of internal measurement tools (ZEMAX automation routines; at OptiBench- and MTF Star measurement system) to improve quality assurance. Moreover, he is responsible for the development of our awarded MTF Star-Software for the measurement of optical systems at the projector. He has been active at IB(E Optics for over 20 years (2018).
Reinhard Thomas
Optic System Design
Dipl.-Physics (TU)
Reinhard is a long term laboratory specialist in the field of imaging optics. Before he came to IB(E, he was employed at Meyer Optics, Germany. He worked on layer design and coating development on lenses. Reinhard is a very routined specialist in the evaluation of optical systems. IB(E trained him the last years in ZEMAX and now he is one of the optical designers in house to realize your system. Reinhard has been with the company since 2001.
Manuel Kieweg
Software / Electronic & APP Development
B. Sc. (TU) Mobile & Embedded Systems
With a degree in mobile and embedded systems from the University of Passau Manuel is one of our most recent additions to the company as a project engineer. As our specialist in electronics, he will advance our electronic development of interfaces between lenses and cameras at IB(E Optics. His first project is our new SmartFinder Pro App. He has been working at IB(E since summer 2019.
Jürgen Hirsch
Mechanical Design
Mechatronics Engineer / Mechanical Engineering Technician
Jürgen’s areas of expertise range from the assembly of optics and systems to mechanical design with CAD. Responsible for the assembly of the ARRI65 and the ARRI65S lenses he subsequently moved into the field of mechanical design. Jürgen is a highly skilled mechanical designer and uses his diverse experiences in complex mechanical designs, 3-dimensional computer modeling and creative problems solving to create a high-quality product. Coupling these skills with his innovative mindset allows him to solve the toughest product challenges. Among his recent and most well-known projects are the Blackwing7 lenses by Tribe7 as well as the new in-house Raptor Prime lenses. Jürgen has been with the company since 2013.
Jacob Jikku
Tolerancing
B. Eng. Mechanical Engineering
After his studies in Jena, Jacob came to IB(E in early 2019. He started as a trainee on the job and was introduced into the main topics in optic assembly and evaluation. Meanwhile, Jacob is a well respected member of the QS team and does alignment, evaluation work at the K12 MTF bench, T Stop measurements and Collimator back focal adjustments as the procedure to get the focus engraving right. Jacob is working at IB(E since early 2019. Currently, he is working on his Master degree.
Uwe Eckerl
Head of Development, Optical & Software Design
IT Specialist
Uwe studied computer science at the University of Passau. For many years he has been active in the company as a project manager for customer and research projects for medium-sized companies, for example in medicine and machine vision. Besides project management, his core area is the development of optical systems with Zemax (since 2004) and since 2013 with Code VAlso software works (C ++, C and Java as well as PLC Systems). Meanwhile, Uwe has developed many optical systems (telecentric, macro and zoom lenses, lens converters, Scheimpflug systems and more). He is pushing the development of internal measurement tools (ZEMAX automation routines; at OptiBench- and MTF Star measurement system) to improve quality assurance. Moreover, he is responsible for the development of our awarded MTF Star-Software for the measurement of optical systems at the projector. He has been active at IB(E Optics for over 20 years (2018).
Reinhard Thomas
Optic System Design
Dipl.-Physics (TU)
Reinhard is a long term laboratory specialist in the field of imaging optics. Before he came to IB(E, he was employed at Meyer Optics, Germany. He worked on layer design and coating development on lenses. Reinhard is a very routined specialist in the evaluation of optical systems. IB(E trained him the last years in ZEMAX and now he is one of the optical designers in house to realize your system. Reinhard has been with the company since 2001.
Administration & Sales
Manuela Seidl
VP (Vice President), Commercial Manager
Certified business economist
Manuela is a new member to our team since february 2022. She has many years of experience in all commercial areas and is a valuable addition to our constantly growing team. Manuela is a certified business economist, has completed an apprenticeship as a foreign language merchant and further training as a customs specialist. For the last 20 years she was working in a sheet metal processing company (sales, marketing, executive assistant, purchasing).In 2004, she moved to a company in the automotive industry, where she was in charge of internal sales and export for many years.
Nicole Eckerl
Management Assistant / Accounting
Office clerk
Nicole ensures that the company is running smoothly and seamlessly while working with the staff at all levels of the company. She performs advanced administrative duties requiring broad experience, skills and knowledge of organization policies and practices for this specific industry. Her ability to function in a confidential and discrete manner and demonstrate the ability to adhere to timelines, flexibility and adaptability as well as maintaining a professional atmosphere under pressure and meeting numerous deadlines is exceptional. Nicole does not only coordinate budget activities including tracking full-time employee vacancies but also serves as a resource to interpret and provide information regarding organizational policies and procedures. Nicki has already been working at IB(E for more than 20 years.
Nicole Donaubauer
Sales / Administration
Office clerk
Nicole, secretary to the marketing team, provides full secretarial as well as logistical and administrative support. Nicole is the principal link between company and customer. Her effective written and verbal communication skills and her high level of attention to detail make her a valuable asset that significantly contributes to the company’s smooth and efficient workflow. Nicole started working at IB(E in 2002.
Diana Vernay
Administration / Customs
Office Communication Clerk
Diana works in our administration and takes care of shipping documents, delivery notes and dispatch declarations. Her experience in customs is a great help for our export deliveries. She joined the IB(E-Team in december 2019. Since our company outing we now also know that she has a good connection to alpacas and can run at least as fast.
Kerstin Grundmüller
Purchasing Manager
Technical Product Designer
Kerstin´s years of experience in the field of assembly and technical drawings with Inventor 3D and 2D let her be the ideal contact person for our suppliers. She is organizing the delivery schedules for our assembling team. Because she started at IB(E in 2001 as a trainee and has spent all her working life at the company, she is the one to ask for nearly everything.
Zsuzsanna Horpaczi
Purchasing / Disposition
Office Communication Clerk
Zsuzsanna has been supporting IB(E Optics since 2017 and is a reliable benefit for us. Because she also has been trained in computer skills, she is multiflexible in lacquering the barrels after engraving as well as organizing the warehouse with excel. Because she knows almost all items from her experience in assembly, Zsuzsanna is meanwhile the perfect support for our technical purchase team and is helping in coordinating our ERP-system.
Manuela Seidl
VP (Vice President), Commercial Manager
Certified business economist
Manuela is a new member to our team since february 2022. She has many years of experience in all commercial areas and is a valuable addition to our constantly growing team. Manuela is a certified business economist, has completed an apprenticeship as a foreign language merchant and further training as a customs specialist. For the last 20 years she was working in a sheet metal processing company (sales, marketing, executive assistant, purchasing).In 2004, she moved to a company in the automotive industry, where she was in charge of internal sales and export for many years.
Nicole Eckerl
Management Assistant / Accounting
Office clerk
Nicole ensures that the company is running smoothly and seamlessly while working with the staff at all levels of the company. She performs advanced administrative duties requiring broad experience, skills and knowledge of organization policies and practices for this specific industry. Her ability to function in a confidential and discrete manner and demonstrate the ability to adhere to timelines, flexibility and adaptability as well as maintaining a professional atmosphere under pressure and meeting numerous deadlines is exceptional. Nicole does not only coordinate budget activities including tracking full-time employee vacancies but also serves as a resource to interpret and provide information regarding organizational policies and procedures. Nicki has already been working at IB(E for more than 20 years.
Production
Christoph Stadler
Head of Production
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Christoph has been working at IB(E since 2017 and is the face behind the production (RAPTOR, Optimo PRIMES). Utilizing our ERP-software Christoph ensures that materials are ordered frequently from our supply partners and forwarded to our assembly team on time. Configuring the material flows within the company and providing the production and assembly team with the right materials is one of his main responsibilities. With regard to the steady extension of the production with all product lines in 2020, Christoph and his team will remain busy.
Markus Boxleitner
Teamleader Assembly / Coating
Qualified Optician
Markus is our ´Swiss knife´ helping in assembling lenses and ensuring the quality evaluation at the Zeiss K12. He is responsible for the coordination of the assembling documentation and is assembling Optimos as well. He is skilled in eye optics and familiar with glass since years. Since 2021 he runs our new coating machine, creating process parameters for reasonable coating results. He has been working at IB/E optics since spring 2019
Mauricio Martinez
Product Design / Mechanical Assembly Specialist
Mechatronics Technician
Mauricio joined IB/E in may 2022. We are very grateful to have Mauricio as an employee. Due to his many years of experience, he is an absolute asset to our team. He worked for many years as Technical Manager in Rental Houses in Chile and Colombia. Mauricio left his home country Chile for us and moved to Freyung with his whole family.
Christoph Stadler
Head of Production
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Christoph has been working at IB(E since 2017 and is the face behind the production (RAPTOR, Optimo PRIMES). Utilizing our ERP-software Christoph ensures that materials are ordered frequently from our supply partners and forwarded to our assembly team on time. Configuring the material flows within the company and providing the production and assembly team with the right materials is one of his main responsibilities. With regard to the steady extension of the production with all product lines in 2020, Christoph and his team will remain busy.
Markus Boxleitner
Teamleader Assembly / Coating
Qualified Optician
Markus is our ´Swiss knife´ helping in assembling lenses and ensuring the quality evaluation at the Zeiss K12. He is responsible for the coordination of the assembling documentation and is assembling Optimos as well. He is skilled in eye optics and familiar with glass since years. Since 2021 he runs our new coating machine, creating process parameters for reasonable coating results. He has been working at IB/E optics since spring 2019
Prototyping & Testing
Heiko Bethke
Prototyping
Precision Optician / Precision Mechanics
Heiko is an expert within the field of mechanics and optics with almost 20 years of work experience in the film industry. After leaving his job as a senior technician at Vantage in 2018, he joined forces with IB(E Optics to work on new, demanding and exciting projects. Heiko is currently working on the Tribe7 project, making him the perfect match to understand the client’s visionary stylistic choices while finding state-of-the-art technical solutions to bring innovative products such as the Blackwing7 lenses to life. With regard to our upcoming anamorphic program, it is to say that Heiko fits the bill perfectly.
Optics laboratory
Katharina Ehrenthaler
optics laboratory
Cutting machine operator
Katharina joined the team at the end of 2020 and is a trained cutting machine operator. To date, she has created technical drawings and programmed CAD/CAM in the field of mechanical engineering. Katharina works in our QS & Optics Laboratory on the collimator, projector and K12.
Markus Hirz
Head of QS
B. Eng. Physics
Markus started working at IB(E as a practical student and finally wrote his Bachelor thesis about ´T-Stop measurement on optical systems"´ in cooperation with the company. He cares for the quality assurance and MTF measurement after the assembly. Since his start, he programmed several tools for in-house purposes, as the automatic rim lacquering machine for lenses or the fully automatic focus measurement. With this, we can easily generate the engraving data in-house for the laser. We recently started a project to measure MTF at the wall while projecting targets (even more precise than our MTF Star) together with Angénieux. Markus got several short courses in optic design and can therefore analyze the tolerances while measuring their influence on the lens quality. He has been working at IB(E since 2014.
Katharina Ehrenthaler
optics laboratory
Cutting machine operator
Katharina joined the team at the end of 2020 and is a trained cutting machine operator. To date, she has created technical drawings and programmed CAD/CAM in the field of mechanical engineering. Katharina works in our QS & Optics Laboratory on the collimator, projector and K12.
Markus Hirz
Head of QS
B. Eng. Physics
Markus started working at IB(E as a practical student and finally wrote his Bachelor thesis about ´T-Stop measurement on optical systems"´ in cooperation with the company. He cares for the quality assurance and MTF measurement after the assembly. Since his start, he programmed several tools for in-house purposes, as the automatic rim lacquering machine for lenses or the fully automatic focus measurement. With this, we can easily generate the engraving data in-house for the laser. We recently started a project to measure MTF at the wall while projecting targets (even more precise than our MTF Star) together with Angénieux. Markus got several short courses in optic design and can therefore analyze the tolerances while measuring their influence on the lens quality. He has been working at IB(E since 2014.
CNC Machining
Günther Schrank
Head of CNC Production / Mechanics
Industrial Mechatronic Specialist
Günther keeps the CNC machines running and gives support to assembly and evaluation. With his two 4-axis CNC machines, a milling machine, a laser cutter and a laser engraver he was trained in CAD, CAM software as well. He is able to program most of our complex parts in-house and produce the first samples for the customers to prove the design and concept. Günther has been with IB/E optics since 2002.
Günther Schrank
Head of CNC Production / Mechanics
Industrial Mechatronic Specialist
Günther keeps the CNC machines running and gives support to assembly and evaluation. With his two 4-axis CNC machines, a milling machine, a laser cutter and a laser engraver he was trained in CAD, CAM software as well. He is able to program most of our complex parts in-house and produce the first samples for the customers to prove the design and concept. Günther has been with IB/E optics since 2002.
Quality Management
Jürgen Luger
Quality Control
Master Craftsman Vulcanizer
After his time as a tyre compound specialist, he worked years in the field of surface treatment (galvanic) and later also as quality assurance for high end carbon laquering parts. Jürgen now is responsible for the incoming goods, their receiving inspection as well as the last exit control before packing for delivery. He has been working at IB/E optics since November 2018.
Jürgen Luger
Quality Control
Master Craftsman Vulcanizer
After his time as a tyre compound specialist, he worked years in the field of surface treatment (galvanic) and later also as quality assurance for high end carbon laquering parts. Jürgen now is responsible for the incoming goods, their receiving inspection as well as the last exit control before packing for delivery. He has been working at IB/E optics since November 2018.
Jürgen Luger
Quality Control
Master Craftsman Vulcanizer
After his time as a tyre compound specialist, he worked years in the field of surface treatment (galvanic) and later also as quality assurance for high end carbon laquering parts. Jürgen now is responsible for the incoming goods, their receiving inspection as well as the last exit control before packing for delivery. He has been working at IB/E optics since November 2018.
Cleaning
History
1992
After his studies in precision engineering Klaus Eckerl became the deputy technical head of optic production in a Munich optic company, ENNA. As a young engineer, he started working at the production site in Wegscheid with approximately 200 employees. He was responsible for the organization and the development of synthetic injection molding and precision optics. The company has got numerous patents in the field of illustrating systems in optic calculation and was a leading manufacturer for recording lenses in the 1950´s until 1970´s and later for projection optics for OEM clients all over the world. They collaborated for example with Schneider Kreuznach, Isco, Kodak, Docter Optics, Leica and other well-known companies. The developed products were released with the corresponding brand logos but all produced at ENNA. The company became an insider tip for many renowned manufacturers. Products like the well-known projection optics 2,4/90mm for Rollei twin projectors, all Docterlux and Docteron optics, Leica´s 70-120mm projection optics or Kodak´s 24mm and 51mm for professional projectors were all produced at ENNA.
Klaus Eckerl brought new innovations in the slightly ´dusty´ company and installed newest CAD workplaces for mechanical construction. He became acquainted with optic design and attended numerous further educational courses in this fascinating field in the US, UK and Germany.
Besides optic calculation Klaus dealt with thin layering, bought needed software and installed first vacuum coating systems by Leybold to be able to conduct the former expensive procedures for anti-reflection coatings in-house. For this, he calculated the multi-coating, programmed the software and shared his knowledge with the employees.
Moreover, new and more modern optical polishing machines, centering systems and measuring equipment, for example an interferometer, was installed. Due to excellent contacts to Leica management, the purchase of some machines of their production was possible.
Besides to classical photography Klaus steadily established the new field ´machine vision´ at ENNA. This field of image processing started to become popular in the end of 1980´s: Measuring with light. Numerous innovative applications were installed afterwards, for example the first decoupling optic for ARRI cine cameras for simulating on Leo II, which even should win the technical Oscar later.
Due to this dynamic development, ENNA was bought by a former client, Docter Optics, and the production site in Wegscheid was closed. Klaus Eckerl, finally technical director, didn’t want to move to Wetzlar. So it was obvious to continue working in the business fields established by him at ENNA at his own company: the hour of birth of ´Ingenieur-Büro Eckerl´, short IB/E.
2001
In this year, IB/E optics GmbH was founded in order to do more than prototyping. The main issue was to manage the prototyping and production of smaller series. The company started with four more employees.
2003
IB/E optics developed the OptiBench measurement system for ultrafast MTF, distortion and telecentricity measurement. Our first customer is JenOptik, Germany.
2004
IB/E optics invested in an own CNC turning and milling technique to realize faster prototyping.
2005
IB/E developed various machine vision systems such as a fully automated test facility for Plansee or stereo zoom lenses for HWS in the field of medical technology. Due to the steadily increasing tasks, new staff was hired.
2006
IB/E optics entered the film business. By designing the broadcast 3 CCD lens HD Scope the first own product could be realized: A fully flexible tool for the professional video industry with two axis rotation with image derotation feature; With focus, iris, rotation, tilt and pan you have five axes to be driven.
Another fantastic lens has been created, an ultra low and low budget wide angle lens up to 130° horizontal field with distortion less than ten percent for a well-known automotive supplier. The only system that is allowed to be used instead of front mirrors.
2007
IB/E optics invested in new high precision assembly and clean room facilities with now 60 square meters. The company now had the possibility to do high precision assemblies on opto-mechanical systems.
IB/E developed a complex surface inspection system in the sub micron region within all the imaging and illumination optics as dark field and through the lens illumination.
Moreover, IB/E optics developed the optimizer for Trace Pro and is certified partner of Lambda research and Trace Pro.
2008
IB/E optics developed a new series of cine and broadcast lenses for 2/3″ HD. These systems are characterized by great performance and extrem low vignetting due to image-sided telecentric beam path.
Moreover, further MTF systems were delivered.
2009
IB/E was the main push for Schneider to go into cine optics again. So IB/E worked as a consultant for Schneider on the Cine Xenar prime lenses.
With the ´Null Lens´ IB(E Optics showed an easy to use utility to adjust the perfect back focal at the RED One digital cams.
Another OptiBench MTF measurement equipment was installed. Further development around the UPMOS assembly to mount optical components precise in the mechanical tubes. Development of a macro zoom lens 9x on 3 CCD 1/3” sensors for medicine care, an ultra highspeed wide angle lens with FNo 0,9 for roboting areas observing and high aperture MWIR lenses.
2010
IB/E optics won the Cinec Award 2010 in the category ´Optics´ in Munich for their MTF Star testing unit for projectors. The system has been applied for patent.
IB/E developed the B4/PL Adapter HDx2 for Phantom, RED and Panasonic cameras.
2011
It was getting too small and the workflow required optimization. So IB/E optics planned a new building in Freyung.
IB/E launched the HDx35 adapter at NAB. This adapter allows the use of even B4 Mount extreme zooms at the Arri Alexa, Sony F3 and others.
2012
In August, IB/E Optics moved to its new „castle” in Freyung. A new rapid prototyping machine, a new clean room area, further assembly machines and enhanced testing equipment provide more flexibility and speed for our customized opto-mechanical systems.
Moreover, additional staff initially strengthened the montage team.
2013
IB/E Optics now worked with two ZEISS K Testers inhouse. This provided the ability to evaluate with a well accepted measurement utility in optic industry. The newly installed EMCOTURN 45 SMY including full CAD/CAM package allowed to realize our own ideas more effective. New items were the PLx2 and PLx1,4 extender for most PL lenses out there.
2014
IB/E optics established a new assembly factory in Shanghai. With the new brand HandeVision we now offered consumer lenses in cooperation with our Chinese partner Shanhai Transvision.
New products in the professional field were the PLx2, the PLx1.4 and the HDx1.4 converters to cover super 16 with your ENG HD lenses. Since spring Band Pro in Munich was the new exclusive dealer for our products in Europe. ARRI showed their new ARRI65 camera with new lenses from IB(E Optics at the Cinec in Munich. IB(E Optics hired more assembling specialists and technicians to fulfill the needs in the product development.
2015
IB/E optics had one of its most successful years ever in 2015. We developed innovative optical tools in the area of film such as the S35xFF, an expander which adjusts all S35 optics to the new full frame cameras including the RED Weapon 8K. Furthermore, we developed a splitter system designed for real time recording in VIS and IR to ´quot;live´ mask various advertising contents on the side fences in sport stadiums all over the world.
For the ARRI Alexa65 camera we designed, manufactured and delivered a complete line with eight Primes and one Zoom lenses. The first project with these lenses was the Oscar winning movie The Revenant.
From now on, IB/E optics will manufacture HandeVision IB/E optics systems for the consumer market. The first lens in the series is our extremely fast 0.85/40mm in APS-C format. Furthermore, a complete family will follow with fixed focal lengths in a classic style for the full frame (24x36mm) format.
In the professional cinematography world IB/E optics together with Band Pro announced the new RAPTOR Macro Lenses during Band Pro’s ´Open House´ in Burbank. Last but not least, we expanded the production capacity by extension of the building. In autumn 2016, construction begins.
2016
2016 was the most successful year for IB/E optics to date.
Investments totally €500,000 in new production equipment and measurement technology were made.
In the realm of cinema, movies like Star Wars: Rogue One, The Great Wall, Assassin’s Creed and many more were shot using the ARRI65 lens series, the new ARRI65-S and DNA optics. Moreover, we extended our Cine Prime RAPTOR family with focal length of 40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm and presented them to a large audience in Los Angeles at the end of the year. Expansion of full-frame IBERIT series for Leica M, SL Sony E and Fuji X focal length 2,4/24, 35, 50, 75 and 90 mm. OSD GmbH is responsible for sales in Europe.
An adjacent 2.000 square meters plot of land, just north of the current building, was recently purchased opening the door for further expansion of the company in Freyung, Germany.
2017
In September 2017, the construction of a new building to expand the production floor by 500 square meters and development laboratories by 250 square meters began. Simultaneously, a number of new employees were hired to strengthen the professional team in assembly, marketing and sales to support the current growth.
Machinery investments including the addition of another laser engraving machine and two state-of-the-art ZEISS K12 MTF Test Benches were made. In assembly we also added many new machines including a vision quality check tool, an in-situ machine measuring laser and a new molding machine.
In 2017, IB/E optics developed and produced three lens series for the ARRI ALEXA 65 camera: the ARRI Prime 65, the ARRI Prime 65 S and the highly successful ARRI Prime 65 DNA. All made by IB/E optics in Freyung, Germany.
2018
Production and Assembly came online in the newly built expansion, effectively doubling the size of the company’s facilities. Roma, lensed by Alfonso Cuaron, won the Camerimage (Bronze Frog), Venice Film Festival (Golden Lion) as many others. The film was shot on the Prime 65 lenses. IB/E optics was proud to design and manufacture these lenses for Arri Rental.
The Smartfinder director’s viewfinder prototype was introduced at IBC and will be ready for market in 2019.
The Raptor Macro 60 mm lens was introduced, thus completing the Raptor Macro Set of four lenses: 60 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm and 180 mm.
The PLx2 VV was introduced to the market providing a high-quality extender for large sensor cameras.
Cinematographer, James Laxton’s, If Beale Street Could Talk, was nominated for three Golden Globes. It was shot using the Prime DNA lenses which were proudly designed and partially manufactured by IB/E for Arri Rental.
IB/E optics was proud to provide the American Film Institute with a complete set of our specialty lenses and optical tools in order to help provide the AFI staff and students with the professional tools they need in support of the education process.
We introduced our Rectangular Diopters to the market. These diopters come currently in three strengths: +0.5, +0.8, and +2.0. All three are designed to fit into 4″; x 5.65″; Matte Box, and the +0.5 and the +0.8 take up only one slot in a standard matte box, whereas the +2.0 uses two.
IB/E optics introduced the PL-LPL Mechanical Adapter to the market.
IB/E was proud to provide direct support to the American Society of Cinematographers Master Class Program as well as the ASC in general through donations and by providing a complete set of our specialty lenses and optical tools to help the community better understand our products and how they provide unique solutions for cinematographers.
2019
IB/E published the Smartfinder Standalone App in December 2019 to introduce young people to the variety of combinations of cameras, sensor formats and lenses on the market. Our new team member Manuel Kieweg will take care of it from now on.
Heiko Bethke, known for his Bethke Effect Filters at Vantage, joined IB/E optics in 2018 and was given the freedom to further develop his filters here, which specifically address the creative DoP`s of this world. Meanwhile IB/E offers almost 30 Optical Filters.
In 2019 we kept enforcing our workforce and some new jobs have been filled. With Selina Uhrmann we won a new trainee in the field of technical product design. In spring 2019 Markus Boxleitner joined us and strengthened the assembly department as a trained optician. Jacob M. Jibb, B. Sc. Optoelectronic, is a great support for the measurement laboratory. Stefanie Breit, Jolanta Pawlik and Tanja Küchmann have been working for us in the assembly department since 2019 and 2018 respectively.
Thus, the workforce has grown to approximately 35 employees in 2019.
2020
The BSC fair in London started the year very hopefully. IB/E has released the SmartFinder Pro and the independent SmartFinder APP.
The major projects OPTIMO for Angenieux and the TRIBE7 Blackwing are starting in series production. From March on we are also handicapped by the Corona Virus, but „thank God“ we don’t have to work „short time“ or even exhibit people. In opposite, until August 2020 we build the first 350 lenses for these two brands and grow to 48 employees by autumn.For Angenieux the Silver Set is available and for TRIBE 7 the first 7 focal lengths.
In the CNC department we continued to invest in a further Acsys Laser and in measurement technology.
In 2020 we delivered the first 6 lenses – silver set of Angenieux‘ s Optimos , 21-28-40-50-75- and 135 . Also we delivered the first 50+ sets on TRIBEs in a first set of 7 lenses .
In the machine vision area we helped to develop a hugh astronomic telescope for DLR in munich; another exciting work though. We invested in the CNC area with a second Acsys Laser station , a new EMCO CNC 4,5 axis machine, different measurement tools, like another K12 MTF tool, a new projection room with the brand new Chrosziel LED projector and a second collimator unit. Now we are really settled for any rim and surface black lacquering on lens‘ surfaces. We established new clean room boxes.
While all this, we also hired a lot of new staff in assembly and management as well. Corona luckily helped us getting really perfect people. One man’s misfortune is another man’s fortune. End of 2020 IB/E counts 56 people at all.
2021
Our major projects in year 2021 are the OPTIMO PRIMES for Angenieux. The first primes ever that Angenieux has been introducing to the Cinema World. All of their fans worldwide have been waiting for that exciting moment. We are very proud, that Angenieux decided to work with IB/E optics, developing and producing this huge series of 12 lenses . Our knowledge and experience with the ARRI65 Primes (Oscar winner) and the following success of the DNAs.
Just a bit earlier another big opportunity came up. Famous DoP Bradford Young and former ARRI manager Neil Fanthom decided also to gain more attraction with their own modular ideas on a lens set, that can be modified in four different types X,S,T,B. As the Tribes are more the artistic looking lenses, the Angenieux ones are the more engineered, perfect lenses with much more glass and aspherics inside. This results in super MTF values and less distraction
Klaus was finally able to convince Angenieux to integrate a glass element inside the lens. However, this has to be done during the design process, because otherwise it would be impossible to add a glass of this thickness to the optical path without dramatically affecting the image quality, which Angenieux calls „optical palette“.
IB/E invests in its own coating machine!
This opens up the creative possibility for the IB/E optics team to „conjure up“ all technically possible color variations in the optics under their own control. Klaus started his career years ago as a young engineer in the field of coating design and programming of Leybold coating systems. Thanks to his tireless „play instinct“ he is now able to design and realize coatings in his own rooms and with the latest technology. The first results will be implemented in the innovative TRIBE systems. Later on we want to offer professionally coated lenses as a service to our customers.
2022
In spring ’22 we released the newly developed SmartFinder APP Pro for the iPhone 12 & 13. With the extreme wide angle optics, this solution now allows the simulation of almost all camera-optics combinations currently on the market, from small 2/3 CCD to IMAX format. Will be available for all models up to iPhone 13.
We are currently developing another complex HiSpeed Converter, which will be presented soon.
Several coating techniques were development and came out. Such as Skin tune options for TRIBE 7.
The production of the Angenieux Optimo Primes and Blackwing TRIBE 7 optics is running at full speed with an output of in average 50 lenses a week.
IB/E startet on its own anamorphic lens program with their unique features for Cinema. In 2023 we will start the sales.
IB/E developed the in-house O-tool, an evaluation test system to adjust lenses with using compensation parts (lenses) and/or AirTags in the system to adjust for the best MTF values at 3 frequencies in situ at the same time.
The evaluation system is rather useful and something mandatory to get lenses well adjusted!
IB/E has installed the first machine at Abel in NYC headquarter in Dec 2022.
2023
The Oscar for „ All quiet at the western front „ from James Friend prooved the concept for our IBE development from scratch , the TRIBE 7 lenses.
Meanwhile this is a series of 9 lenses 20,7 23,7 27 37 47 57 77 107 and 137 mm , and in 2024 a 17mm to fill up the 10 lens set .
The historical strike at Hollywood had a hugh impact on the industry, IBE also decided to slow down production in the last quarter of the year .
But ramping up the development power on new products for any restart.
Again the year 2023 economically was the best since IBE’s history.
We started a new full frame RAPTOR SCOPE , new RAPTOR Macro Primes as 50, 80, 120 and 300mm and this will be shown early 2024.
The investment on expansion with the own optics asphere , cylinder production was postponed because of the strike impact !
So stay excited….more to come…!!!
