Attalon to boost coatings capacity in Philadelphia

Attalon, the Philadelphia-headquartered company that was previously Coherent’s aerospace and defense business, says it expects to add as many as 100 jobs at a new production space in the city.

Offering 60,000 square feet of high-tech manufacturing space and due to open in summer 2027, the facility is expected to quadruple the firm’s precision coatings capacity.

“With more than a century of heritage in precision coatings, Attalon is scaling its capacity to ensure reliable, high volume, US-based manufacturing of the coatings and materials foundational to modern guided weapons, munitions, and advanced tactical systems,” announced Attalon, adding that it is committing over $30 million to the site and advanced equipment over the next decade.

Aside from the coatings capacity boost, the same site is set to consolidate the company’s domestic crystal-growth operations to a single location, and serve as Attalon's headquarters.

That will include in-house growth of potassium nickel sulfate used in ultraviolet filters, calcium fluoride for telescope optics, and other UV glasses - all seen as critical materials supporting a wide range of optical and infrared components with military applications.

Sophisticated coating capabilities

Carved out of Coherent just under a year ago through a $400 million sale to private equity group Advent International, Attalon made its debut as a standalone company at the SPIE Photonics West technology exhibition in early 2026, while also announcing former Raytheon and General Electric executive John Bergeron as its CEO.

Commenting on the Philadelphia expansion plan, Bergeron said: “Advanced coatings are foundational to how modern munitions perform, and demand for precise, durable, and repeatable coatings and materials is now outpacing supply.

“This investment lets us scale our most sophisticated coating capabilities to meet that demand, pairing breakthrough performance with the production speed and US-based manufacturing our customers need.”

The new facility is expected to add more than 100 jobs over the next decade, including 65 positions in the near term as operations ramp. “Paired with a heavy research and development focus, the expansion reflects Attalon’s continued investment in advanced coating, optical, and thermal technologies,” said the firm.

Asde from coatings and crystals, Attalon’s areas of expertise include telescopes and optical assemblies, laser and amplifier components, and high-power laser subsystems designed for use in directed energy weapons.