Menhir Photonics Unveils New Facility, Set to Mass-Produce Next-Gen Ultrafast Lasers for 6G and Quantum

Swiss photonics company signals major shift from R&D to high-volume manufacturing, targeting tens of thousands of units annually by 2028

DÜBENDORF, Switzerland – August 28, 2025 – Menhir Photonics, a leading developer of ultrafast laser technology, has celebrated the grand opening of its state-of-the-art production facility in Zurich. The event marks a pivotal transition for the company, signaling its shift from a specialized R&D firm to a high-volume manufacturer positioned to meet the massive demand for next-generation digital infrastructure. Menhir Photonics already serves 90+ customers in 18 countries, providing a strong foundation for this next growth phase.

The new facility, located at Zürichstrasse 130, 8600 Dubendorf features advanced assembly lines designed for robotics and automation. These systems are built to produce tens of thousands of ultrafast laser units annually by 2028. This ambitious scaling plan is driven by the company’s latest technological breakthrough: a compact ultrafast laser system with an unprecedented 10 GHz frequency. This achievement represents a significant leap forward from Menhir Photonics’ existing market-leading systems and positions the company at the forefront of femtosecond laser technology.

Driving the Future of Photonics

The event featured presentations from key industry partners and thought leaders, highlighting the real-world applications of Menhir Photonics’ technology in critical sectors:

• 6G and Telecommunications: Enabling next-generation network synchronization for high-speed data transmission.
• Quantum Computing: Powering single-photon sources for secure quantum communications and computing.
• Space-Based Systems: Synchronizing satellite antennas for robust space communications.
• Industrial Applications: Advancing photonic RF generation for high-precision manufacturing.

The event also included a dedicated session on “The Future of the Photonics Industry (2025–2035),” featuring experts from ETH Zurich, EPIC, British Telecom and ARIA. Discussions focused on the central role of ultrafast lasers in transforming digital infrastructure and strengthening Europe’s position as a global photonics hub.

Program of the day:

Mini-Workshop: Applications of Ultrafast Lasers

• Rico Chandra (ARIA): Applications at the edge of the possible
• Qiu Sun (British Telecom): Synchronizing Future Telecom Networks
• Anan Dai (Cycle GmbH): Synchronizing Space-Based Antennas
• Amir Nejadmalayeri (Aegiq): Scalable quantum computing
• Dan Sadot (CyberRidge): Photonic Encryption

The Future of the Photonics Industry (2025–2035) 

• Florian Emaury & Anna Pogrebna (Menhir Photonics): Harnessing laser precision for the digital future
• Ursula Keller (ETH Zurich): Pushing the Boundaries of Ultrafast Lasers
• Carlos Lee (EPIC): Europe’s Photonics Ecosystem: Vision 2035
• Daniel Gilks (British Telecom): Photonics Transforming Telecom Networks

Industry Response

“This new facility is a critical step in our mission to bring ultrafast laser technology to a global scale,” said Florian Emaury, CEO and co-founder of Menhir Photonics. “By automating our production, we can meet the massive demand from industries like quantum computing and telecommunications, solidifying our position as a leader in Europe’s growing photonics ecosystem.”

“Photonics Vision 2035 is a reminder that the European photonics industry must take care of itself,” said Carlos Lee, Director General of EPIC, in his keynote talk Photonics Vision 2035: We Need to Take Care of Ourselves. “We face long-standing challenges like access to talent and funding, global competition, and the absence of sufficient major European players in key markets. More recent pressures, from geopolitics to the future of automotive and technology developments in Asia and the US, make collaboration more important than ever. The message is clear: we are stronger together. And it is good to be here at Menhir Photonics’ Grand Opening, seeing so many European, Swiss, and international partners meeting up to define the future of photonics.”

“Over the next few years, we face a range of challenges in optics and photonics for telecoms” said Daniel Gilks,  Research Programme Lead for Quantum technologies at British Telecom. “Core network traffic growth is beginning to slow, which changes how we plan investments and creates new issues with refresh cycles and resilience. We also need to establish resilient, high performance time bases and manage frequency transmission to support quantum technologies in computing, networks, and sensors. And perhaps most pressing, the supply chain for chip-scale photonics remains difficult, with the transition from prototypes to large-scale deployment still costly and complex. Across Europe, it will be vital to build a pipeline that connects early-stage development with industrial-scale integration. At this event, I was particularly interested in hearing about quantum-secure communications, single-photon sources, and timing for space-based applications, as well as how other are using of photonics for computing.’”

“The biggest opportunity for deep-tech innovators is to grow beyond the research niche,” said event attendee Paulo Germann. “Much of Menhir Photonics starts in the lab, but the real excitement is in shaping products that can transform entire industries within five to ten years. It’s like quantum computing — a fascinating journey where a new niche becomes part of the technological future. The challenge is also the opportunity: connecting today’s work with tomorrow’s breakthroughs. That’s why I’m thrilled to be at Menhir Photonics’ Grand Opening, listening to how different industries are already imagining what comes next.”

About Menhir Photonics

Led by CEO Florian Emaury, CTO Benjamin Rudin, and CFO & Strategy Manager Anna Pogrebna, Menhir Photonics specializes in ultrafast laser technology for telecommunications, quantum computing, space communications, and industrial applications. Based in Switzerland, the company serves customers globally with industry-leading femtosecond laser systems known for their reliability and low-noise performance.