Docter Optics have four lens activities: automotive headlamps, precison glass components, optical systems, and express glass services. They are the world leader in condenser lenses for projector-type automotive headlamps and fog lamps. Shareholders are Hella (61%) and Dr Hamkens GmbH (39%). Production plants are in Germany and in the Czech Republic, with sales offices in Arizona USA, Tokyo Japan, and Guangzhou China. Turnover was €33m in 2009 €50m in 2010, and about €60m in 2011; there are 400 employees.
Last month, DVN visited Docter Optics and were very impressed by their obvious competence in molding, precision optics, and optical subassemblies. The installations are high tech inside a cleanroom area.
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We asked few questions to Dr Hamkens, Docter Optics’s CEO.
Driving Vision News: Jan, could you introduce yourself, your education and how you became the CEO of Docter Optics?
Jan Hamkens : I am 50 years old, mechanical engineer in material science and production technology from the University of Hannover. Having completed my PhD, I joined Stahlwerke Peine Salzgitter AG in the early 90’s before entering into a general management position within the Preussag Group in the field of security and fire detection and suppression technology. When Preussag started to move their focus elsewhere it was the right time for me to move forward as well. I had the opportunity to take over the responsibility for the Docter Optics group with the initial task for a change management process and consistent step forward in technology.I started as CEO in early 2001, became shareholder in 2002 and I am proud to work in the challenging world of optical technology together with my management team and staff for almost 11 years.
DVN: Docter Optics is a very well known company in the automotive industry. What is the history of the company ?
J.H.: The company was founded by Bernhard Docter in the 1980´s in the Wetzlar area and grew after merger with former East German VEB Carl Zeiss Jena and Schott operations in the 1990´s.