wiredInUSA - August 2016
21
Corning
Incorporated
is
investing
in Versalume LLC, a new company
headquartered in California. Versalume
will focus on developing smart, integrated
products based on Corning’s Fibrance
light-diffusing fiber. Fibrance optical fiber
can be bent, curvedandwrappedaround
almost anything, while maintaining bright,
uniform light.
Versalume will lead all commercial
development efforts for Fibrance, serve as
its exclusivedistributor, andoffer integrated
technology solutions. Corning will leverage
its long history and expertise in glass
and materials science to manufacture
Fibrance. Corning representatives will
serve on Versalume’s board of directors.
“Fibrance dramatically expands the
toolbox for where and how light is
delivered, and Versalume will make it easy
for designers to capture its potential. We
look forward to witnessing the creativity
and impact of the developing Fibrance
ecosystem,” said Paul Then, director of
early stage business development at
Corning.
Mario Paniccia, a Silicon Valley executive
and entrepreneur, has been named
Versalume’s chief executive officer. As
Versalume’s founding leader, Paniccia
brings his experience in the photonics and
electronics industries, as well as his broad
connections in Silicon Valley. “I am excited
for the opportunity to lead Versalume,”
Paniccia said. “We are already creating
products that use Fibrance light-diffusing
fiber and developing new commercial
opportunities with some of the best
industrial designers…[in] the world.”
Shedding new light
INDEX
Versalume will focus on developing smart,
integrated products based on Corning’s
Fibrance light-diffusing fiber