Manufacturing Today: G&H Tampa Photonics without Borders
G&H (LON:GHH), is proud to announce its feature in Manufacturing Today, online publication. The article, titled "Photonics without Borders: From the UK to Florida, discover how Gooch & Housego’s tech conquered global defense markets." In a conversation with Charlie Peppiatt, CEO, highlighting our recent acquisition of Global Photonics and how G&H has established a strong acquisition strategy that has enabled both increased coverage and enhanced capabilities. We serve demanding markets including aerospace and defense, life sciences, semiconductors, and quantum technologies.
In June of 2025 G&H Tampa was born. Based in Florida, US, Global Photonics provides us with unique capabilities in complex optical assemblies, lithography, and advanced thin film coating. This acquisition not only enhances Global Photonics’ existing business but also allows us to leverage the Tampa facility as the main center of excellence and manufacturing hub for all our US defense operations.
Charlie reflects on the current industry and technology landscape. “The world is experiencing immense technological shifts, from AI to clean energy and national security. Optics and photonics are central to many of these transformations. At G&H, we are proud to be part of this forward momentum, and we are committed to pushing innovation, both in our products and in our growth strategies aimed at creating a better world through photonics. The next chapter for G&H is about bold ambition, disciplined execution, and unlocking value for all our stakeholders,”
Manufacturing Today - Discover how G&H’s tech conquered global defense markets
G&H Tampa: Our Capabilities
G&H Tampa integrates optics, mechanics, and electronics into complete optical assemblies. Capabilities include system-level optical and mechanical design, prototyping, assembly, and alignment of complex instruments such as periscopes, collimators, fire-control systems, and electro-optical sensor modules. The facility supports both build-to-print and build-to-spec programs and maintains AS9100 and ITAR-compliant quality systems for military and aerospace markets.
Leveraging G&H’s global R&D resources and system integration expertise, the Tampa team designs and delivers highly engineered subsystems that combine acousto-optic, electro-optic, and photonic components. This includes optical path alignment, precision housing, thermal control, and system-level testing. Tampa’s experience with military-grade system integration enables turnkey solutions from concept to qualified product, ensuring reliability in challenging environments.
The Tampa site develops and manufactures optical filters designed to protect personnel and sensors from harmful laser radiation. These filters incorporate both passive coatings and active filtering materials to block or attenuate specific laser wavelengths. Applications include pilot eye protection, vehicle-mounted sensor shielding, and optical instrument safeguarding. Custom filters are engineered for spectral precision, wide field-of-view, and environmental robustness.
G&H Tampa operates advanced cleanroom environments where lithography is used to fabricate precision reticles and patterned optical elements. This process involves coating substrates with photoresist, exposing them to UV light through a photomask, and developing precise patterns at micron or sub-micron scale. These capabilities are essential for producing high-resolution optical components used in targeting, navigation, and metrology systems. The cleanroom ensures contamination-free environments for critical manufacturing processes.
Ion-beam etching is a highly controlled process used to remove material from optical surfaces using a directed stream of ions. This technique enables sub-micron surface structuring and ultra-smooth finishes, critical for minimizing scattering and improving optical performance. G&H Tampa uses IBE to enhance the precision of reticles, beam splitters, and other patterned optics. It supports demanding defense applications where optical accuracy, durability, and low signal distortion are essential.
The facility specializes in applying multilayer thin-film coatings to optical substrates, including anti-reflective (AR), high-reflective (HR), beam-splitting, and laser protection coatings. These coatings are engineered to specific wavelength ranges and environmental conditions, ensuring optical components meet exact spectral and durability requirements. G&H Tampa’s coatings are tested to meet MIL-SPEC and aerospace standards, with high laser damage thresholds and environmental resilience.
G&H Tampa expands on lens manufacturing—producing precision imaging, collimating, and projection optics—plus fully integrated vision systems (e.g. airborne cameras, sensor pods, custom lens assemblies and periscopes) tailored to aerospace and industrial use.
Design, fabrication, assembly, and testing all under one roof streamlined lead times and assured quality control—especially for complex, multi-component photonic systems. Positioning the site as a strategic US hub for aerospace and defense optics.