Growth of synthetic crystals and optical materials for photonics, semiconductors, aerospace and radiation detection
Hellma Materials GmbH
Jena (DE) · Trollhättan (SE)New on Amplifa
About Hellma Materials
Hellma Materials GmbH, headquartered in Jena, manufactures ultra-pure synthetic single crystals and optical materials. The portfolio comprises crystals, ceramics and glass for optical applications, scintillation crystals, and finished optical components such as prisms. Processed materials include calcium fluoride (CaF2), barium fluoride (BaF2), germanium, zinc sulfide and cerbromide; production covers crystal growth, optical processing such as facetting, and the development of imaging measurement technology. Customers are found in the semiconductor industry, laser technology/photonics, aerospace, sensor technology and nuclear metrology. A CaF2 prism made in Jena was delivered for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope; together with partners, a gamma camera with a cerbromide scintillator, machine learning and augmented reality evaluation was developed for nuclear clearance measurement. Since 2024, the company has operated a plant in Trollhättan (Sweden) through the Hellma Group to expand crystal growth capacity. Over 15 years, more than 500 tonnes of crystals have been produced; the company employs nearly 200 staff at five sites worldwide.
- Site
- Jena
- Processes
- Crystal growth (synthetic single crystals), Manufacture of optical components, Facetting (optical processing), Manufacture of scintillation crystals and scintillators, Production of ceramics for optics, Manufacture of glass for optics, Manufacture of synthetic crystals for optics, Ceramics for optics
- Materials
- Calcium fluoride, Barium fluoride, Germanium, Zinc sulfide, Cerbromide
- Certificates
- ISO 50001
- Founded
- 2010
- Employees
- almost 200
- Industries
- Semiconductor industry, Laser technology/Photonics, Aerospace, Sensor technology, Nuclear technology/Metrology, Astronomy
- 01
Crystal growth of synthetic single crystals
- 02
Optical processing (facetting)
- 03
Quality inspection
- 04
Manufacture of optical components
- 05
Development of scintillators and measurement technology (gamma camera)
Materials & Processes
Calcium fluoride
Synthetic crystal for high-precision optics, e.g. space prisms with high homogeneity and transmission.
Barium fluoride
Crystal material for optical applications in photonics and sensor technology.
Germanium
Crystal material for optical and infrared applications.
Zinc sulfide
Optical material for applications in photonics and sensor technology.
Cerbromide
Scintillation material, including use in the scintillator of the in-house gamma camera.
Sites
Jena
DEHeadquarters, crystal growth and manufacturing
- Materials
- CaF2, BaF2, Germanium, Zinc sulfide, Cerbromide
- Facetting machine
- Cobot for machine loading
- Gamma camera (development)
Trollhättan
SECrystal growth plant, capacity expansion
- Crystal growth systems (in parts of the former Saab car factory, NEVS site)
Components & Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal growth (synthetic single crystals)Casting | – | – | – | – | Calcium fluoride (CaF2), Barium fluoride (BaF2), Germanium, Zinc sulfide, Cerbromide |
| Manufacture of optical componentsEngineering | – | 45 mm | – | – | Calcium fluoride (CaF2) |
| Facetting (optical processing)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of scintillation crystals and scintillatorsCasting | – | – | – | – | Cerbromide |
| Production of ceramics for opticsSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of glass for opticsCasting | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facetting machine | – | – | – | – | Jena |
| Cobot (collaborative robot system for machine loading) | – | – | – | – | Jena |
| Gamma camera | Hellma Materials | – | – | – | Jena |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Energy Management
The company operates ISO 50001 certified energy management; a quality assurance mascot is not documented. For space optics, material homogeneity, optical transmission and stress birefringence are cited as key inspection parameters.
| Evidence | Jena |
|---|---|
| ISO 50001 |
Company History
- 2010
Founded with 39 employees at the founding site Jena
- 2024
Establishment of the plant in Trollhättan (Sweden); investment of € 20 million in capacity expansion for crystal growth
- 2025
15 years of the company: over 500 tonnes of crystals produced, growth to almost 200 employees at five sites worldwide; ISO 50001 certification
- 2026
Delivery of a CaF2 prism for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope; presentation of a gamma camera with AR technology