By Michael Lauzon
CORRESPONDENT
Published: August 29, 2014 11:24 am ET
Updated: August 29, 2014 2:15 pm ET
Optical disc replicator and molder Optical Experts Manufacturing Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., has expanded its core business and entered new high technology markets by acquiring a German company.
OEM bought CDA GmbH, a Suhl, Germany, optical disc molder with a stake in emerging markets such as micro molding, as well as production of flash memory drives for a range of industries. OEM announced the deal Aug. 19, but did not disclose terms.
OEM Chief Executive Officer Ray Zerrusen said in a news release that CDA will help his firm immediately enter new technologies in automotive, medical and other markets.
CDA replicates and molds compact discs, digital video discs and Blu-Ray discs and makes USB flash drives. Of particular interest to OEM are CDA’s ventures in micromolding of specialty optical components and “l(fā)aboratories on a chip” that rapidly perform medical diagnostics. The company injection molds polycarbonate, acrylic, cyclic olefin and other materials to make some of the products, although it also employs other manufacturing techniques for various products.
OEM stressed it will continue in its core business of optical discs and will be able to expand in those markets in Europe by capitalizing on CDA’s distribution network on the continent.
CDA’s CEO Frank Hartwig and managing director Nicolaus Hettler will head OEM’s European operations.
CDA is one of the largest independent producers of optical discs in Europe and has recently become a major replicator of chip-based storage devices in the auto market, according to OEM. It has established itself as a manufacturer of components with micro structures, including promising markets for sensors that aid prosthetic movement and a range of plastics-based micro optic products such as diffractive and Fresnel components. | 
