“Docter Optics is the leader in automotive optical systems based on 4 strengths.”
Jens Fischer, Senior Key Account Manager International, has done all his business career at Docter Optics since he started in 1991. DVN met with him at Cobo Center in Detroit during the SAE 2009 Congress.
Driving Vision News: Jens, could you present your company?
Jens Fischer: Docter Optics was built in 1984 in Schöffengrund – Schwalbach near Wetzlar by Bernardt Docter. When he died 11 years later, the company was sold to Hella, Bosch and Rodenstock involved in the optical industry. When Bosch left automotive lighting business, shares were taken by Dr Jan Hamkens, CEO today.
DVN: What are the revenues and from what activities?
J.F.: The sales are €36m with 350 people, most of them in Germany.
70% of the sales are about glass lenses for automotive lighting and 30% half for scanning optical systems in biometry (finger print scanning) and half express glass services and solar energy components.
DVN: What are the main suppliers of lens for projector systems?
J.F.: There are 2 main suppliers for this kind of products. Docter Optics is the leading company in this market segment.