CICERO — Photo Research, a firm that originated in California, has moved most of its operations to Cicero in a merger with technology supplier JADAK, LLC. Both companies have the same parent company, Novanta (NASDAQ: NOVT), a Bedford, Massachusetts–based business formerly called GSI Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSIG). Both entities are operating at JADAK’s headquarters at […]
CICERO — Photo Research, a firm that originated in California, has moved most of its operations to Cicero in a merger with technology supplier JADAK, LLC.
Both companies have the same parent company, Novanta (NASDAQ: NOVT), a Bedford, Massachusetts–based business formerly called GSI Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSIG).
Both entities are operating at JADAK’s headquarters at 7279 William Barry Blvd. in Cicero.
Photo Research brought 16 job openings to Cicero, and “most” will require new local hires, says John Prior, marketing director at JADAK.
He spoke with CNYBJ on June 30.
Prior indicated that the positions open for hiring in Cicero were also vacant in California. Only one or two people relocated to Central New York for jobs, he notes.
Photo Research relocated in late March or early April and began operations in mid-June, says Prior. It shifted its production, service, calibration, and customer-service operations from the Golden State to JADAK’s Cicero headquarters.
“The operations [have] moved here, but their sales and engineering [departments] remain in Chatsworth, California [its previous HQ],” says Prior.
JADAK didn’t release any terms of its merger agreement with Photo Research.
About the companies
Photo Research, which will retain its name, manufactures spectroradiometers and photonics products. It also specializes in light and color-measurement products serving the flat-panel display, automotive, aerospace, and related industries.
JADAK is a Cicero–based manufacturer of machine vision, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and bar-code products for the health care and life-science industries.
The firm operates offices in the Netherlands; China; and Bedford, Massachusetts, according to its website.
The parent company decided to merge the two entities in either February or March.
“That was really a joint decision by Novanta’s corporate level and Photo Research and JADAK executives to merge,” says Prior.
With the addition of Photo Research, JADAK can expand its offerings to include a new line of spectroscopy products. They measure spectral response from reagents and biopsies to other materials for JADAK’s original-equipment manufacturer (OEM), medical-device customers.
JADAK also says it plans to boost investment in product innovation for Photo Research customers.
Job openings
Both JADAK and Photo Research are hiring for positions in production, service, management, and supply chain for the Cicero location. JADAK has four openings, and Photo Research has 16 available positions.
The company also hired Bill Polinsky to serve as managing director of Photo Research. He had previously worked for Anaren Inc., says Prior.
“He replaces an outgoing general manager,” he adds.
“The move to upstate New York provides our team with the opportunity to capitalize on the larger operational and engineering resources available within the JADAK family to continue to push the company forward and offer new solutions while still retaining our name and history,” Bill Polinsky, managing director of Photo Research, said in the JADAK release.
“We’re proud to continue to invest, grow and hire right here in Central New York,” Janie Goddard, president of JADAK, said. “[Photo Research] becoming a division of JADAK builds on the influx of high-technology opportunities in greater Central New York and will have a long-lasting economic impact on the region.”
JADAK growth
Photo Research is the third company to become part of JADAK since June 2015.
The firm merged with sister company General Scanning Printer Technologies in June 2015. It also acquired the assets of Denver, Colorado–based SkyeTek for $2.6 million in December of last year.
Since September, JADAK has hired 45 employees in Syracuse and across the country, according to the release.
JADAK employs more than 170 people, including 145-150 at its headquarters in Cicero.
The parent company, Novanta, reported operating income from continuing operations of $2.6 million in its first quarter that ended April 1, according to its May 6 earnings report. The figure was down from $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2015.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com