MLD Technologies
About Us

MLD Technologies is engaged in the development and manufacture of precision optical components. Much of our effort has been focused on improved optical coating technology to enable enhanced performance for laser devices and optical systems. We specialize in extreme-performance optical coatings with most of our work being done in the spectral range from 230nm to 3500nm. We have also made coatings with performance requirements extending out to six microns and are currently working to extend our capability into the vacuum ultraviolet and the mid-infrared regions of the spectrum. The majority of our business is with technically demanding customers whose products include opto-electronic and laser-based devices for markets such as lightwave communications, semiconductor manufacturing, medical instrumentation and video projection. Additionally we are working with laboratories focused on research applications which extend the current state-of-the-art in a variety of laser and optical technologies.
Mission Statement
Our goal is to form working partnerships with our customers and vendors wherein we deliver high-performance, high-quality optics on schedule. Since our founding, we have differentiated ourselves from other vendors by providing an unusually high level of technical support, rapid response time and timely delivery of products.


Company History
MLD Technologies was established in early 1997, as a limited liability company (LLC), by Gary DeBell, Tony Louderback, and Len Mott. All three are members of the LLC and are full-time participants in the development and operation of the company. MLD has acquired the assets and business operations of Ojai Research, formed in 1981 by Tony Louderback. The company maintains its sales and business office in Mountain View, California and its manufacturing operation in Eugene, Oregon.


Our Team
Brief resumes for the three founders are given below.

Gary DeBell: AB Physics, UC Berkeley; Ph.D. in Optics, University of Rochester, Institute of Optics. Over 25 years experience in the design and production of thin-film optics, optical components and optical instruments, including engineering and management positions at Spectra-Physics, where he became President of Spectra-Physics Optics Corporation. Independent consultant in optical thin-film engineering and thin-film design software since 1991; principal in DeBell Design. He has three patented inventions in the field of Laser Optics.

Tony Louderback: BS, Long Beach State College. Over 30 years experience in the design and production of optical thin-films, including process engineering positions at Heron Optical, Infrared Industries, and Litton Systems. At Litton, he was the developer and co-inventor of their patented IBS process. In 1981 Tony founded Ojai Research, which became a major supplier of mirrors to the Laser Gyro Industry. He has patented inventions in the fields of Ion Beam Sputtering, Multi-Layer Antireflection Coatings, UV Resistant Coatings and Optical Instruments.

Len Mott: BS, Hobart College; MS in Optical Sciences and MBA, University of Arizona. Over 25 years experience in the manufacture of optical thin-film components, including engineering and management positions at Perkin-Elmer, Spectra-Physics and Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. At Spectra-Physics Optics Corporation he became Vice President, and most recently at Optical Coating Laboratory, he was manager of High volume Operations. He has a patented invention in the field of wear resistant optical coatings.