Founder Joseph Schneider
1913 founded in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, as a mechanical shop for optical lenses, Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH is today a worldwide market leader in high-quality lenses and precision engineering.
The Founding Years: From Workshop to an Established Brand
Foundation of the „Optische Anstalt Jos. Schneider & Co.“ company in Bad Kreuznach.
Registration of the brands SYMMAR, COMPONAR and ISCONAR and manufacture of the first cinema projection lenses.
„Optische Anstalt Jos. Schneider & Co.“ was renamed „Jos. Schneider & Co., Optische Werke, Kreuznach".
Headquarter
Joseph Schneider, honorary citizen of the city Bad Kreuznach, passes away at the age of 78.
Laying of the foundation stone for a new factory at „Ringstraße 132” in Bad Kreuznach (completed 1939).
Construction
Focus on Cinema Technology and Photographic Innovations
Polishing check and final inspection
Schneider-Kreuznach is mainly been active in the cinema industry and develops lenses.
Cinema projection lens Tele-Xenar
Cinema projection lens Tele-Xenar as well as construction of the first interchangeable lenses with a spring aperture for the single-lens reflex camera EXAKTA-Varex, start of development of lenses with variable focal length.
Formation of "Feinwerktechnik GmbH" for the development and production of electrohydraulic servovalves.
Launch of the first zoom-lens with fixed back focus.
Lunar Orbiter IV photographs lunar surface with Xenotar 2.8/80 mm.
International Expansion and Hollywood Recognition
Technical Achievement Award
Formation of SCA, „Schneider Corporation of America” (today Schneider Optics Inc.)
"Technical Oscar": Presentation of the Technical Achievement Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Cine-Xenone film projection lens
Business takeover by Heinrich Manderman
Product range extension through the launch of the new CINELUX high-class cinema and AV projection lenses.
Set up for the manufacture and distribution of ophthalmic lenses made of silicate and optical plastic.
Takeover and integration of the business operations of “B+W Filterfabrik, Joh. Weber KG, Wiesbaden”, renowned worldwide for over four decades.
B+W Filter
The brand stands for high-quality photography products. In addition to a range of filters, there are accessories such as cleaning agents, transport containers and camera accessories.
Modernization and Strategic Realignment
Restructure of the manufacturing technology "Dünne Schichten" (thin-layer technology) under clean room conditions, category 10
1990: Phase-out of the development and manufacture of TV-lenses.
1997: Change in company management and formation of the subsidiary PENTACON GmbH Foto- und Feinwerktechnik, Dresden.
1998: The company name became „Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH“.
2000: Acquisition of „Century Precision Optics“ in the USA Formation of the subsidiary Praktika (UK) LTD., England.
3D measurement
Winning one additional Technical Achievement Award each in 2000 and 2005. In the year 2000 for cinema projection lenses from the SUPER-CINELUX series, in 2005 for cinema projection lenses from the CINELUX PREMIÈRE series.
Xenoplan 2.8/50 mm Compact C-Mount on board the Space Shuttle
2007: Formation of the subsidiary Schneider Bando LTD., South-Korea.
2008: Formation of the subsidiary Schneider Asia Pacific LTD., Hongkong and Set-up of the branch base Schneider Optical Technologies (SHENZHEN) Co. Ltd.
The „ISCO Gruppe Göttingen“, integrated in August 2008, trades under the name Schneider Kreuznach Isco Division GmbH & Co. KG.
A Century of Innovation and a Vision for the Future
Assembly in cleanroom
UltraLED by SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH wins Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Award.
Schneider-Kreuznach celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Schneider Optics, the American subsidiary of Schneider-Kreuznach, received the Technology and Engineering Emmy Award 2012 for IRND (Infrared Neutral Density)-Filter-Technology for digital HD (High Definition)-cameras.
Xenon-Emerald
ISK Optics merges with parent company Jos. Schneider Optische Werke.
As part of the "Photonik Plus - New basic optical technologies" funding measure of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the joint project "gradEC" started on 1rst February 2017. Together with other partners, the project is researching the basic technologies for actively controllable electrochromic gradient filters for use in optical imaging systems.
Investing in new training workshops for technical professions with workbenches, lathes and milling machines.
To the Edge of the Universe with the James Webb Telescope
Gear of the Year Award
Gear of the Year Award: For the third time in a row, the readers of the well-known film magazine "Pro Moviemaker" voted Schneider-Kreuznach's True-Streak filter series the winner in the category "Best Lens Accessories".
View of the headquarter in the Ringstraße in Bad Kreuznach.
Schneider-Kreuznach lenses on board the Ariane rocket for the launch of the James Webb telescope
B+W celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022.