In this episode of Focus on Precision, host Justin Starbird kicks off the 2026 season with a look ahead to the industry's premier event: SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco.

Joining the conversation are Janice Hunter from Precision Optics (POC) and Carlos Penalbert from Ross Optical. Together, they bridge the gap between high-level design engineering and global component sourcing, sharing their unique perspectives on why 2026 is poised to be a breakout year for the optics industry.

In this episode, we explore:

• The "Reunion" of Photonics: Why in-person trade shows remain the "grad night" of the optics world, where handshakes turn into high-stakes partnerships.

• A Rosy Outlook for 2026: Carlos and Janice discuss the shift from the economic caution of 2025 to a more stable, aggressive planning cycle for the year ahead.

• The Trend Toward Miniaturization: Insights into the growing demand for compactness, fitting 6 or 7 optical elements into a 1–2mm housing for medical and defense applications.

• Coatings: The "Icing on the Cake": Why the right thin-film coating is the critical difference between a theoretical design and a high-performance functional system.

• The Unity Platform: How POC’s out-of-the-box solution is shortening development timelines and validating customer concepts faster than ever.

• Design for Reality: Real-world stories of "hashing it out at the podium" to turn impossible drawings into manufacturable, high-performance optics.

Are you heading to San Francisco? Visit the team at Booth 1462 during the Photonics West Exhibition, January 20–22! Tune in to the podcast to learn more!

In this episode of Focus on Precision, host Justin Starbird and POC VP of Sales and Marketing Clay Schwabe sit down with the leadership team at Ross Optical to pull back the curtain on the critical bridge between global supply chains and high-precision engineering.

Joining the conversation are Divi Mangadu, President of Ross Optical, and Carlos Penalbert, Sales and Coating Engineer. Together, they discuss how Ross has evolved from a 1980s lens manufacturer into a sophisticated metrology and sourcing powerhouse within the Precision Optics Corporation (POC) family.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How ROSS Optical transitioned from high-volume domestic manufacturing to building a resilient global network of suppliers across Taiwan, South Korea, and Europe.

• Why the 2019 merger with Precision Optics was a game-changer, combining POC’s high-level design engineering with Ross’s worldwide sourcing and high-volume production capabilities.

• A look at the El Paso lab’s technical edge, using Zygo verifiers, Trioptics instruments, and Keyence microscopes to ensure every component, from 3mm to 150mm, meets exact specifications.

• How the team navigated the shift from 25% to 50% tariffs with near-zero late shipments through aggressive inventory management and risk mitigation.

• Why "people answering the phone" and inventory buffering (keeping 99.9% of common parts in stock) remain the foundation of their customer loyalty.

• Why the optics industry is currently "booming" and how savvy OEMs are placing orders years in advance to stay ahead of market trends.

Tune in today!

In this episode of Focus on Precision, host Justin Starbird welcomes back Clay Schwabe, VP of Business Development at Precision Optics, and special guest Tiffini Wittwer, COO and Founder of MedEdge, for an in-depth discussion on one of the most challenging and rapidly evolving parts of medical device innovation: regulatory strategy.

Tiffini brings over two decades of experience in clinical, regulatory, and quality leadership, and she shares how MedEdge was founded to fill a critical gap for startups navigating the increasingly complex path to commercialization. From accelerating time-to-market to reducing the burden on small teams, she explains why today’s environment allows innovators to bring ideas to life without massive internal infrastructure, if they have the right expert partners!

The conversation dives into:

• How regulatory pathways have transformed over the last 10–20 years
• Why the FDA’s evolving stance on software, AI, and cybersecurity especially impacts optics-driven devices
• The growing role of de novo classifications, and why more startups are choosing this route
• The challenges of finding predicate devices in a world of rapidly advancing technologies
• Why investors are pushing for earlier clinical evidence, and how that influences strategy
• How optics innovations often sit at the forefront of the FDA’s expectations for next-gen medical devices

With practical insights, honest stories, and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for medical device engineers, startup founders, and anyone navigating the path from concept to clearance.

Whether you’re building imaging systems, developing software-driven devices, or gearing up for your first 510(k), you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of the regulatory landscape, and what it takes to succeed.

Go behind the scenes and discover the critical technical capability that sets Precision Optics Corporation (POC) apart!

In this exclusive episode of the Focus on Precision podcast, we sit down with CEO Joe Forkey and Richard Cyr from the Micro-Optics Laboratory. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the Optics Lab. The engine of POC's innovation, to reveal the secrets behind manufacturing components smaller than a grain of salt.

The discussion focuses on the Micro-Precision™ advantage:

• The Technical Edge: Hear what makes fabricating sub-millimeter lenses and assemblies fundamentally different from standard optics. Discover the proprietary methods POC developed to achieve extreme precision and scalability, solving major challenges like component centration and alignment.

• The Strategic Value: Hear why the vertical integration of the Optics Lab is the company's single most critical differentiator, speeding up product cycles and directly influencing the design limits for customers in robotic surgery and defense.

• Innovation vs. Limitation: Learn how the internal team collaborates with clients to tackle "impossible" technical requirements and what investments in culture and training are required to maintain this elite level of expertise.

• The Future: Get an inside look at the next frontier in micro-optics. Are we still aiming for smaller sizes, or are advancements shifting to new materials and complex multi-element assemblies?

If you want to understand the true foundation of MedTech innovation, this episode is essential listening.

Tune in now!

Medical device imaging is evolving faster than ever and the innovators driving that change are sharing their insights!

On this episode of the Focus on Precision Podcast, host Justin Starbird sits down with Tony Watson, COO of Xenocor, and Clay Schwabe, VP of Precision Optics, ahead of their upcoming webinar “Current Trends in Medical Device Imaging”, happening October 1st at 11:00 AM Eastern, to discuss the latest trends shaping surgical technology.

From the rise of single-use laparoscopic devices to balancing innovation with hospital adoption challenges, Tony and Clay share a behind-the-scenes look at the full product lifecycle, from concept to commercialization.

Together they dive into how successful innovation requires solving measurable problems, understanding technical feasibility, and incorporating feedback from surgeons, regulators, and the market.

Tune into this exclusive sneak peek and get ahead of the conversation on the future of medical device imaging!

Explore the future of surgery on this captivating episode of the Focus on Precision podcast! Join us as Clay Schwabe, VP of Sales & Marketing for Precision Optics sits down with Chris Prentice, Chief Commercial Officer at LEM Surgical.

In this must-listen episode, you'll discover:

• The Game-Changing Difference: Why hard tissue robotics is a whole new ballgame compared to soft tissue, and the specialized engineering required to conquer bone.

• Beyond a Single Step: How LEM Surgical is revolutionizing hard tissue procedures by moving past limited, single-step applications to provide comprehensive robotic value throughout entire surgeries.

• A Glimpse into Tomorrow: The pivotal role of advanced visualization in surgical precision and Chris's exciting vision for combining indirect and direct imaging for unprecedented accuracy.

• Democratizing Healthcare: How surgical robotics is poised to expand access to high-quality care, making complex procedures more reproducible and stable for patients everywhere.

• The Power of a Lean, Mean Team: Learn about LEM Surgical's incredible journey to FDA clearance and commercial launch in under four years, backed by a high-powered team and strategic industry leaders.

Don't miss this deep dive into the innovative world of hard tissue robotics and hear directly from a leader shaping the future of medicine!

In this episode of the Focus on Precision Podcast, powered by Precision Optics, hosts Justin Starbird and Clay Schawbe sit down with two key leaders from OMNIVISION: Ehsan Ayar, Senior Staff Marketing Manager for Medical, and Bobby Johnson, Staff Medical Account Manager.

Together, they explore how OMNIVISION has grown into a global leader in image sensor technology, with over 15 billion sensors shipped, and why its partnership with Precision Optics has become a cornerstone for advancing medical imaging. The conversation dives into the collaborative development of the Unity Platform, the push for smaller and more powerful image sensors, and the growing demand for single-use, disposable endoscopes driven by shifts in patient care.

You'll hear first-hand how both companies are tackling challenges around miniaturization, patient safety, healthcare costs, tariffs, and rapid advancements in MedTech innovation, all with a shared commitment to improving patient outcomes.

Whether you're in MedTech, manufacturing, or curious about how partnerships fuel cutting-edge medical device solutions, this episode delivers valuable insights into the future of medical imaging.

In this episode of Focus on Precision, host Justin Starbird is joined by Steve Everly of Informa Markets to explore why MD&M East continues to be a premier destination for innovators in medical technology and manufacturing.

Recorded ahead of the 2025 event, this conversation dives into how the NYC show has evolved, the strategic value it offers exhibitors, attendees, and what’s new this year, including cutting-edge workshops on AI and digital transformation.

You'll also hear how long-time exhibitor Precision Optics leverages MD&M East not just to showcase innovation, but to spark strategic partnerships and stay ahead of industry trends.

Whether you’re a product developer, an engineer, or a business leader in the MedTech space, this episode is packed with insights on how to make the most of your time at MD&M East.

Key Topics:

• The evolution and rebranding of MD&M East

• How Informa is curating quality over quantity

• Emerging educational themes: AI, sustainability, and digital manufacturing

• Precision Optics role and impact at the show

• What to expect from the 2025 event in NYC

Tune in to learn why MD&M East is more than a trade show, it’s a launchpad for the future of MedTech!