Andover Corporation

50 Years of Precision and Passion

For 50 years, Andover Corporation has been a trusted leader in the design, engineering, and manufacture of precision optical filters, coatings, and assemblies. From prototype development to full-scale production, Andover delivers high-performance optical solutions for applications where accuracy and reliability are non-negotiable. Its vertically integrated process – spanning design, fabrication, coating, metrology, and inspection – ensures consistent quality, short lead times, and complete traceability.

Products and Capabilities

Andover’s premium optical filters and coating capabilities range from 193 nm to 15 µm, spanning the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrums, in both standard and custom solutions engineered for durability and precision. 

Offerings include bandpass, dual-band, ND, edge, dichroic, and polarizing filters, as well as AR, mirror, metallic, dielectric, and new diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings designed for high-performance and harsh-environment use. Complementary components such as beamsplitters, prisms, and filter wheels are available as individual parts or integrated into complete optical assemblies.

Substrate Fabrication and Coating Services

Andover’s in-house fabrication capabilities support a wide variety of materials, including fused silica, Borofloat, germanium, zinc selenide, chalcogenide glass, and fiber-optic substrates. Processes such as coring, grinding, dicing, beveling, and polishing are performed on continuously upgraded milling and cutting systems – allowing high-volume production with micron-level precision and no minimum order quantities.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Every finished part is 100% inspected using advanced metrology and traceable serialization. Andover maintains a return rate below 0.2%, with digital and hardcopy spectral data supplied for every part.

Environmental and durability testing includes temperature, humidity, abrasion, solubility, vibration, salt fog, corrosion, and laser damage. All manufacturing meets AS9100, ISO 9001, and ITAR standards, ensuring reliability for defense, aerospace, and commercial programs.

Markets and Applications

Andover’s optical components are trusted in demanding mission profiles across multiple markets:

• Defense and Aerospace:  NVIS-compatible coatings, laser line filters, and optics for targeting pods, imaging systems, and guidance platforms
• Medical and Life Sciences: Filters for fluorescence imaging, endoscopy, and diagnostic instrumentation
• Environmental Monitoring and Remote Sensing: Filters for hyperspectral, gas detection, and agricultural sensing applications
• Astronomy and Space Exploration: Space-qualified optics for telescopes, satellite payloads, and CubeSat missions
• Data and Computing / LiDAR Systems: Filters and coatings for laser ranging, autonomous navigation, and semiconductor inspection

Why Andover

Precision and passion define Andover’s approach. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement—through new technologies such as DLC coatings and upgraded fabrication systems—keeps it at the forefront of optical manufacturing. Fast quote turnaround, short lead times, and delivered quality optics reflect Andover’s dedication to exceptional customer service.

Whether for a standard optical filter or a fully custom assembly, Andover Corporation provides engineering expertise, responsive collaboration, and proven reliability that customers worldwide can depend on.