When most people think of crystal, they think of sparkling stemware on a fine dinner table or shimmering baubles in a glowing chandelier.

The employees at Saxonburg's II-VI Inc., however, think otherwise. There, amber-colored lenses are machined from synthetic crystal materials into optical components powerful enough to harness intense industrial laser light used to cut through steel, weld automobile bodies, and perform precision, life-saving surgery.

Founded in 1971 during the early days of the developing carbon dioxide (C02) laser industry, II-VI began with the vision of CEO Dr. Carl J. Johnson to produce the highest-quality materials available for the manufacture of high-power industrial laser components. Shortly thereafter, II-VI began producing finished optics as well, using its own optical materials as substrates.

In the near three decades that followed, as its infrared optics manufacturing capabilities expanded into precision diamond-turning and world-class thin-film coatings, the corporation grew as well. Through strategic acquisitions II-VI Inc. expanded far beyond infrared optical materials and finished optics products, building a portfolio of companies that share in its materials heritage yet bring a vastly diversified range of products to market, including gamma ray detectors, thermoelectric coolers and silicon carbide substrates.

Today, as II-VI continues to grow, so, too, does its need to find the best and brightest to help us maintain our leadership roles in numerous industries worldwide.

To learn about job opportunities at II-VI, see our ad on Page F2, or log onto our Web site at www.ii-vi.com.