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Yesterday:
The Optilas Group was founded in 1973 in Evry, 35 km south of Paris. The goalm was, and
remains, to be a respected, highly competent sales and marketing organisation for
high-tech products. Thus, providing optimum technical advice to our
customers has always been of utmost importance. Equally important, from the outset, we
have always only offered top quality products. This concept was considered long term. The
concentration on "first class products and best possible advice" was the key to
the success of Optilas. We initially specialised in the areas of optical products and
laser technology. Only a year after the initial start-up the first subsidiary was founded
in The Netherlands responsible for the Benelux countries.
Today:
The concept of providing both high quality products and competent application oriented
consulting has proved successful: The Optilas Group now has offices in Belgium, Denmark,
England, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain. In addition to the traditional
markets for optical and laser products, Optilas has extended its activity into the
following areas:
- Laser Material Processing
- Electro-optic Components
- Imaging
- Fiber-optic Communication
- Optical Measurement
- Electronic Measurement & Test Systems
- Spectroscopy
Today Optilas is the leading European distributor in our field.
The Optilas Group was acquired by Avnet Inc. in May 1998. This acquisition strategically
reinforces Avnet's Global Technical Distribution Group (Avnet GTDG) and provides an
opportunity to expand globally.
Tomorrow:
Avnet GTDG will merge BFI-IBEXSA with the Optilas Group as rapidly as possible. BFI-IBEXSA
is the leading European technical distributor in the specialised area of RF/Microwave
components, magnetic cores and sensors. The BFI-IBEXSA Group is made up of 8 companies
located in Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, England, France, Italy and Spain.
The new BFI OPTILAS unit will form an entity with annual sales of over US $ 120 million.
Each of the Optilas and BFI-IBEXSA sales teams will maintain their dedication and
specialisation per product family, but the merged unit will benefit from common
pan-European logistics, administration and financial support.
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