Our Facility

Engineering Better Solutions

State-of-the-Art Solutions

Building Tomorrow's Optical Solutions Today

Since 1976, Andover Corporation has set industry standards in optical filters and coatings from our comprehensive 44,000-square-foot facility in Salem, New Hampshire. Our state-of-the-art facility represents decades of continuous investment in advanced manufacturing capabilities, combining custom-designed automation with precision engineering expertise to maintain our position at the forefront of optical technology.
World-Class Capabilities:
  • Custom-designed automated coating chambers and fabrication systems
  • Advanced optical metrology lab with custom interferometry testing
  • Complete in-house polishing and precision glass fabrication
  • Extensive quality control and measurement facilities
  • State-of-the-art spectrophotometry for broadband and narrowband analysis
From medical instrumentation to space-borne systems, our facility's integrated design and manufacturing capabilities enable us to deliver superior optical solutions across diverse industries while maintaining the highest standards of quality and precision. Our vertically integrated approach ensures complete control over the manufacturing process, from raw material processing to final quality control, resulting in industry-leading turnaround times and consistent, reliable performance for even the most demanding applications.

Manufacturing Capabilities

Coating Technologies

Multiple coating chambers featuring magnetron sputtering, ion-assisted e-beam deposition, and resistance evaporation technologies.

Automated Polishing

Precision optical polishing achieving flatness up to λ/10 wave and parallelism of 5 arc seconds or better.

CNC Fabrication

Fully automated CNC equipment for precise optical component fabrication from 2mm to 350mm.

Quality Validation Suite

End-to-end validation from design to deployment

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Metrology Lab

Our advanced metrology lab features custom-designed testing equipment and high-precision measurement capabilities to ensure optical performance meets the most demanding specifications.
  • Custom-designed tunable interferometer
  • Automated spectrophotometers for broadband measurements
  • Ultra-high-resolution spectrophotometers for narrowband measurements
  • Wavefront measurement capabilities to 1/20th wave
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Environmental Testing

Our comprehensive environmental testing facilities allow us to validate product performance across extreme conditions, from cryogenic temperatures to elevated thermal environments.
  • Temperature testing from -192°C to +500°C
  • Humidity cycling chambers
  • Custom-designed inclusion tester
  • Cryogenic testing capabilities to 77°K

Innovation Through Research and Development

Advancing Coating Technologies to Meet Tomorrow's Challenges

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Research & Development

Our in-house engineering team continuously develops new coating technologies and processes to meet emerging industry needs. Recent expansion has added a third coating room, enabling:
  • Greater layer coatings capabilities
  • Steeper edge filters
  • Higher optical densities (OD)
  • Faster turnaround times
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Quality Assurance

Every phase of production is monitored under strict quality control measures:
  • Automated measurement systems
  • Computer-controlled coating chambers
  • Comprehensive documentation
  • Rigorous testing protocols
  • Full material traceability

Andover Insights & Innovations

Discovering new possibilities in optical filtering

A high-altitude astronomical observatory dome at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, surrounded by clouds during a stunning sunset. The facility houses advanced telescopes used for deep-space exploration and astrophotography, taking advantage of the location’s clear skies and stable atmospheric conditions.

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Chalcogenide Glass: Advancing Optical Innovation in Defense

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Maria Josefa Yzuel, a distinguished physicist, sits in a laboratory surrounded by optical instruments and precision optics setups. She is known for her contributions to optical physics, particularly in the fields of diffractive optics and polarization. Her work has advanced applications in imaging, optical filtering, and photonics. The background features shelves with scientific books and equipment, reflecting her extensive research and academic contributions to optical sciences.

Celebrating Women in Optics: María Josefa Yzuel

As part of Andover Corporation's ongoing celebration of women pioneers in optics, this blog shines a spotlight on María Josefa...

Contact Our Team

Ready to discuss your optical needs? Whether you're looking for a quote or have technical questions, our expert team is here to help guide you to the perfect solution.