What Fluoride Glass does

Le Verre Fluor (LVF), founded in 1977 in Bruz, France, designs and manufactures specialty fluoride optical fibers spanning the ultraviolet through 17 µm mid-infrared wavelength range. Its core technology portfolio includes ZBLAN, Fluoroindate (IFG), Germanate (GeO2), Chalcogenide, and Polycrystalline fibers, complemented by single-mode fibers for amplification and laser generation, fiber components (patch cables, bundles, ATR probes), and integrated solutions (modules, splices, hermetic feedthroughs, flow cells). The company is a spin-off of the Poulain brothers' discovery of fluoride glasses and self-describes approximately 50% global market share in mid-IR fluoride fibers, supported by 40 years of continuous R&D.

The firm operates a B2B enterprise field-sales motion with 90% of revenue from export markets, exhibiting at Photonics West, Laser World of Photonics, and Photonics Europe. Revenue streams comprise hardware sales (fibers, components, solutions) and licensing royalties (Microcurved micro-lens technology, exclusively licensed worldwide from ICube laboratory via SATT Conectus in October 2023). The company partners with Leukos and SelenOptics to commercialize ElectroMIR supercontinuum laser sources, and participates in EU and French government-funded consortia (PASSEPARTOUT, SIMBADE). End markets include medical/surgical laser delivery (Er:YAG systems), industrial spectroscopy and process control, astronomy and space (SPIRou, GRAVITY, ExoMars), telecommunications (DWDM amplifiers), and academic research. As of October 2023, the company employed approximately 25 staff and reported 60% year-over-year revenue growth, with active recruitment ongoing through 2024-2025.

Name

Fluoride Glass

Legal name

Le Verre Fluoré

Website

https://leverrefluore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fluoride Glass designs fluoride optical fibers and solutions for ultraviolet, visible, and infrared applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Optical Fibers

NAICS

Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921)

SIC

Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiber-Optic Interconnects (Connectors/Cables/Transceivers Interfaces) (HDAHAOAE), Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensors & Targeting Systems (IMABAGAC)

Keywords

• Mid-infrared optical fibers
• Fluoride glass manufacturing
• Specialty fiber optics
• Mid-IR laser delivery
• Infrared spectroscopy components

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruz

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Optical Fiber Products: Sale of specialty optical fibers including ZBLAN, Fluoroindate, Germanate, Chalcogenide, and Polycrystalline fibers. Both single mode and multimode configurations available.
2. Fiber Components: Patch cables, fiber bundles, laser coupling solutions, ATR fiber probes, and hermetic feedthroughs manufactured from their fiber products.
3. Fiber Solutions: Complete solutions including fiber modules, splices and end caps, and flow cells for specific applications.
4. Licensing Technology: Exclusive worldwide licensing of Microcurved micro-lens technology for fiber optic pollutant detection, acquired from ICube research laboratory via SATT Conectus.
5. Partnership Products: Supercontinuum laser sources (ElectroMIR brand) sold through Leukos partner, developed from LVF fluoride fiber technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Le Verre Fluor é manufactures specialty fluoride and germanate optical fibers and fiber-based components for transmitting light from the visible spectrum up to 17 µm in the mid-infrared. Its products include ZBLAN, Fluoroindate (IFG), Germanate (GeO2), Chalcogenide, and Polycrystalline fibers, complemented by fiber patch cables, bundles, modules, ATR probes, hermetic feedthroughs, flow cells, and partner-developed supercontinuum laser sources.

Product overview

Le Verre Fluoré is a manufacturer of fluorinated glass and germanate optical fibers established in 1977. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of specialized optical products centered on mid-infrared fiber technology. Core offerings include ZBLAN, Fluoroindate (IFG), Germanate (GeO2), Chalcogenide, and Polycrystalline fibers spanning wavelengths from visible to 17 µm, complemented by single mode fibers for amplification and laser generation. The product line extends to fiber components (patch cables, bundles, probes), fiber solutions (modules, splices, end caps, hermetic feedthroughs, flow cells), and laser sources developed through partnerships with Leukos. Specialty applications include the TARGAZH SYSTEMS optical thickness sensor for industrial paint measurement and the ICOTOM temperature sensor for space missions. The company also develops advanced Microcurved fiber technology with integrated micro-lenses for enhanced coupling efficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ZBLAN multimode fibers Fluorozirconate glass fibers with transmission from visible up to 4.3 µm wavelength, used for mid-infrared spectroscopy and laser delivery applications.
• Fluoroindate (IFG) multimode fibers Indium fluoride-based fibers with extended transmission up to 5.3 µm, offering low-loss mid-infrared performance for spectroscopy and sensing applications.
• Germanate (GeO2) multimode fibers Germanate glass multimode fibers exhibiting high power handling and chemical stability around 2.7-3.0 µm, designed for Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser beam delivery in medical and dental applications.
• Chalcogenide fibers Sulfur-based glass fibers operating in the 4.2 to 6.5 µm wavelength range for mid-infrared applications requiring extended infrared transmission.
• Polycrystalline fibers Infrared-transmitting fibers operating from 7 to 17 µm wavelength for specialized mid-infrared applications requiring deep IR transmission.
• ZFG Octagonal fibers Octagonal core fluoride fibers for mode scrambling applications, transmitting from visible up to 4.3 µm.
• IFG single mode fibers Indium fluoride single mode fibers with non-linear properties used for supercontinuum generation, available in 7.5/125, 8.5/125 and 9.5/125 configurations.
• Amplifier fibers Praseodymium and Thulium doped fibers for optical amplifiers operating in O and S bands for telecommunications applications.
• Laser fibers Re-doped single mode fibers designed for laser generation and amplification in the mid-infrared region.
• Polarization maintaining fibers Polarization maintaining single mode fibers including polarization maintaining erbium-doped double cladding fibers for ultra-short pulse 2.8 µm lasers.
• Bulk fluoride glasses Massive fluoride glass materials manufactured for various optical applications requiring mid-infrared transparency.
• Fiber patch cables High quality fiber patch cables available with various connectors (SMA 905, FC/PC, FC/APC, Diamond, custom) and protective tubings (Hytrel, Kevlar, Stainless steel, Peek).
• Fiber bundles Fiber optic bundles for light delivery or light detection in various industrial and scientific applications.
• ATR fiber probes Attenuated Total Reflectance fiber probes for spectroscopic analysis and sensing applications.
• Fiber modules Custom fiber modules integrating fluoride fibers with various termination and packaging options for specific application requirements.
• Splices and end caps Fiber splicing services and end cap solutions for high power laser delivery applications.
• Hermetic feedthroughs Hermetically sealed fiber feedthroughs for vacuum and space applications including astronomy projects.
• Flow cells Fiber-based flow cells for real-time fluid analysis and spectroscopic monitoring.
• Electro-MIR 4100/4800 supercontinuum sources Mid-infrared supercontinuum laser sources developed in partnership with LEUKOS, offering wavelength coverage from 700-4100nm (4100 model) or 1000-4800nm (4800 model), with high brightness single-mode IR beam and >1W or >500mW typical output power.
• Mid-IR fiber lasers Mid-infrared fiber laser solutions developed in partnership, targeting infrared countermeasures and other defense applications.
• TARGAZH SYSTEMS optical thickness sensor Patented optical thickness sensor using absorption spectroscopy for paint thickness measurement with ±0.3 µm accuracy. Compatible with ATEX 2 explosive atmosphere norm, for industrial quality control applications.
• ICOTOM fiber optic temperature sensor Fiber optic temperature sensor developed for ESA EXOMARS mission, measuring CO2 radiation at 2.9 µm and 4.5 µm wavelengths for atmospheric entry monitoring.
• Microcurved fiber technology Proprietary technology integrating micro-lenses directly at the fiber core end, achieving >70% coupling efficiency compared to 40% with bare fibers. Licensed exclusively from SATT Conectus and ICube laboratory for gas detection applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Paint consumption reduction of 5-10% using TARGAZH optical thickness sensor
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SATT ConectuscoreTechnology or Integration · 6 October 2023Technology transfer organization facilitating exclusive worldwide licensing of Microcurved micro-lens technology developed by ICube laboratory at INSA Strasbourg and University of Ferhat Abbas Sétif (Algeria).
• SIMBADE ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2022French Government '5G Acceleration Strategy and Networks of the Future' project for developing efficient fiber amplifiers for DWDM transmission systems. LVF developing O-Band and S-Band fiber amplifiers using fluoride doped fiber technology. Partners: Ekinops (project leader), Orange, Idil Fibres Optiques, Photonics Bretagne, University Lille 1 – PhLAM.
• LeukoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2021Joint development and commercialization of ElectroMIR supercontinuum laser sources (models 4100 and 4800). Leukos handles commercialization of the products. Partnership achieved >1000 hours operating time milestone for the all-fiber mid-IR supercontinuum source.
• PASSEPARTOUT ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Horizon 2020 European project for measuring air pollution in urban areas using hyperspectral optical sensors on drones, vehicles, and stationary devices. LVF developing fibers for ICL and QCL pigtailing and fiber combiners for laser source multiplexing. Partners include Münster Technological University, Tyndall National Institute, Politecnico di Bari, TU Wien, TU Munich, and others.
• SelenOpticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development partner in the ElectroMIR supercontinuum source project, contributing to the compact all-fiber mid-infrared supercontinuum technology achieving 1000+ hours operating time.
• ICube LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch laboratory (INSA Strasbourg/UNISTRA/CNRS) that developed the Microcurved technology with micro-lenses integrated into fluoride fibers. Continued collaboration planned for research development.
• LumIR LaserscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company sharing exhibition booth at major trade shows (Photonics West 2024, 2023; booth #2061 in 2024). Sister company relationship for collaborative market presence.
• University of Ferhat Abbas SétifminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlgerian university partner in PHC Tassili collaborative Franco-Algerian research project developing the Microcurved fiber technology through joint doctoral theses.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Thorlabs: Broad-line photonics component supplier offering specialty optical fibers, patch cables, and fiber-coupled sources spanning visible to mid-IR. Comparable to Le Verre Fluoré as a one-stop photonics vendor, though Thorlabs' portfolio is far broader and its mid-IR fluoride offering is not a focus area.
• Coherent (II-VI): Large diversified photonics and materials platform with significant specialty fiber and mid-IR optics capabilities after the II-VI merger. Comparable on the specialty optical fiber side but operates at vastly larger scale across telecom, industrial and defense.
• Heraeus Quarzglas: Manufacturer of high-purity specialty optical fibers and fluorinated materials used in photonics, medical and industrial applications. Comparable as a specialty fiber incumbent with broader materials coverage but limited focus on mid-IR fluoride-only platforms like Le Verre Fluoré's.
• Corning: Global leader in optical fiber, including specialty variants for telecom and industrial lasers. Comparable through its specialty fiber portfolio and doped-fiber amplifier work, though its scale and silica-centric focus differ from LVF's fluoride chemistry specialization.
• IPG Photonics: Dominant fiber laser manufacturer with vertically integrated specialty fiber production and a growing mid-IR product line. Comparable as a large-scale specialty fiber and fiber laser player; IPG's vertical integration and scale contrast with LVF's niche specialization.
• Schott: Specialty glass and materials manufacturer producing fluoride and chalcogenide glasses for optics and photonics applications. Comparable on fluoride and specialty glass chemistry relevant to mid-IR fibers, though Schott serves a broader optics customer base.
• Edmund Optics: Broad catalog distributor and manufacturer of optical components including specialty fibers, lenses, and spectroscopy accessories. Comparable on the optical components side and as a sales channel for industrial and research customers, though its portfolio is far more diversified.

Direct peers

• Leukos: Specialist in supercontinuum laser sources with overlapping mid-IR product lines (ElectroMIR partnership). Directly comparable as a co-development partner on the same 2–10 µm supercontinuum platform and as a fellow niche mid-IR photonics player.
• SelenOptics: Mid-IR optics specialist and co-development partner on the ElectroMIR supercontinuum source. Closely comparable as a fellow niche mid-IR photonics player collaborating with LVF, with overlapping product capabilities in mid-IR supercontinuum sources.

Emerging players

• nLIGHT: Specialty fiber laser and semiconductor laser company serving industrial, medical and defense markets with overlap into fiber-coupled mid-IR applications. Comparable on fiber-delivered laser systems relevant to medical and defense verticals where LVF supplies the fiber.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-verre-fluoré
• Xx.com/LeVerreFluore

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fluoride Glass