Technician inspecting optical elements using a large measuring device

History


1913 Optische Werke

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.

Portrait of Joseph Schneider
1913

Founder Joseph Schneider

1913

Foundation of the „Optische Anstalt Jos. Schneider & Co.“ company in Bad Kreuznach.

1914 to 1920

Registration of the brands SYMMAR, COMPONAR and ISCONAR and manufacture of the first cinema projection lenses.

1921

„Optische Anstalt Jos. Schneider & Co.“ was renamed „Jos. Schneider & Co., Optische Werke, Kreuznach".

Historical picture of Schneider factory with central tower and large windows
1930s

Headquarter

1933

Joseph Schneider, honorary citizen of the city Bad Kreuznach, passes away at the age of 78.

1937

Laying of the foundation stone for a new factory at „Ringstraße 132” in Bad Kreuznach (completed 1939).

Black-and-white photo of engineers in white coats working at drafting tables
1938

Construction

Man inspects polished lens elements on a light table using a magnifying glass
1940s

Polishing check and final inspection

1940s

Schneider-Kreuznach is mainly been active in the cinema industry and develops lenses.

Silbernes Schneider-Kreuznach-Kinoobjektiv von 1957
1950s

Cinema projection lens Tele-Xenar

1957

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.

Photo of Earth from the Moon, taken by the Luna Orbiter in 1967 with Schneider lens
1960s

1961

Formation of "Feinwerktechnik GmbH" for the development and production of electrohydraulic servovalves.

1964

Launch of the first zoom-lens with fixed back focus.

1967

Lunar Orbiter IV photographs lunar surface with Xenotar 2.8/80 mm.

Oscar statue in a round frame on a gray background
1970s

Technical Achievement Award

1972

Formation of SCA, „Schneider Corporation of America” (today Schneider Optics Inc.)

1976

"Technical Oscar": Presentation of the Technical Achievement Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Cine Xenon projection lens for projectors
1980s

Cine-Xenone film projection lens

Portrait of Heinrich Manderman
1980s

Business takeover by Heinrich Manderman

1983

Product range extension through the launch of the new CINELUX high-class cinema and AV projection lenses.

1984

Set up for the manufacture and distribution of ophthalmic lenses made of silicate and optical plastic.

1985

Takeover and integration of the business operations of “B+W Filterfabrik, Joh. Weber KG, Wiesbaden”, renowned worldwide for over four decades.

Round and square optical filters mounted and unmounted

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.

Technician in quality control inspecting lens with magnifier
1990s

Restructure of the manufacturing technology "Dünne Schichten" (thin-layer technology) under clean room conditions, category 10

1990 to 1997

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 to 2000

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 of an optical glass with a precise measuring device on a flat surface
2000s

3D measurement

2000 to 2005

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.

Launch of a Spaceshuttel
2005

Xenoplan 2.8/50 mm Compact C-Mount on board the Space Shuttle

2007 to 2008

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.

2009

The „ISCO Gruppe Göttingen“, integrated in August 2008, trades under the name Schneider Kreuznach Isco Division GmbH & Co. KG.

Technician checks the settings of a system in a clean room
2010s

Assembly in cleanroom

2010

UltraLED by SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH wins Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Award.

2013

Schneider-Kreuznach celebrates its 100th anniversary.

2013

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.

28 mm Xenon lens
2010s

Xenon-Emerald

2014

ISK Optics merges with parent company Jos. Schneider Optische Werke.

2017

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.

Schneider-Kreuznach training workshop with trainees
2017

Investing in new training workshops for technical professions with workbenches, lathes and milling machines.

Gear of the year award logo
2018 to 2020

Gear of the Year Award

2018 to 2020

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".

Schneider-Kreuznach headquarters building with company logo and blue sky in the background
2020

View of the headquarter in the Ringstraße in Bad Kreuznach.

ESA's James Webb Telescope in space, reflecting sunlight with the Earth in the background
2021

Schneider-Kreuznach lenses on board the Ariane rocket for the launch of the James Webb telescope

75 years of B+W anniversary logo
2022

B+W celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022.