Tech giant Leonardo to expand Tucson-area presence with new laser plant | Business News

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Leonardo plans to invest about $ 100 million in the new facility, which will result in a total economic impact of $ 374 million over the next 10 years, Sun Corridor said.

“This new larger facility will support our business growth in all major market segments,” said Matthew Keegan, President and CEO of Leonardo Electronics US Inc. “We ultimately chose the Innovation Park in Oro because of its proximity to our existing workforce and its exceptional location Valley decided. “Talents in the region, which is one of the leading photonics technology centers in the country.”

The University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences is one of the nation’s premier programs in optics and photonics, an optics-related field that encompasses the generation, detection, and processing of light for electronics and other applications.

UA Tech Park on South Rita Road is home to two photonics companies, UA tech spin-off NP Photonics, which makes fiber lasers and amplifiers, and the Coherent Dilas diode laser.

In addition to Sun Corridor, partners in the Leonardo project are the Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, the city of Oro Valley, VentureWest, Trammel Crow, SmithGroup and Sundt Construction.

Aside from attracting new businesses, economic development is also about helping local businesses expand, said Joe Snell, president and CEO of Sun Corridor.

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