PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. was honored with the Photonics Circle of Excellence Award at a dinner in San Jose, California, during 2005 Photonics West.

PI received the award for its innovative PICMA^® piezoelectric multilayer actuators, the worlds first all-ceramic multilayer piezo linear actuators. PICMA^®s novel cofired ceramic encapsulation resists humidity orders of magnitude better than traditional polymer coatings. Inherently vacuum-compatible, its flat, hard surface is ideal for sensors. PIs blank-sheet approach optimizes stiffness, capacitance, thermal dynamics, electrode configuration and other parameters. Consequently, PICMA^® improves performance and reliability in all environments and is measurably superior in high-duty/high-endurance situations. Increased Curie temperature of 320°C facilitates operation in hotter environments with higher dynamics.

PICMA^® is now offered to OEMs and is the foundation for PIs fast nanopositioners and optic mounts, benefiting applications throughout semiconductors, data storage, photonics, microscopy, life sciences, aerospace and other high-tech fields.

The Photonics Circle of Excellence Award is bestowed annually on the 25 most technically innovative new products of the year, based upon a peer review by members of the Photonics Spectra Magazine editorial advisory board, a panel of recognized experts in the industry.

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