The history of the brand DOCTER

With the end of World War 2 many leading employees left the Jena plant, and large parts of it were dismantled. With the new start in the years after the war the range of products was severely "cleansed" and a concentration on the proven binoculars models 7x50 , 10x50 and 8x30, the combined production of which totaled up to 200,000 units per annum, followed.

In 1952 a part of the company VEB Carl Zeiss Jena was established in Eisfeld. Starting from tasks as supplier of parts and pre-assembling products for the Zeiss factories in Jena the company continuously developed over the following years to become a producer of precision-engineered optical consumer goods and industrial products.

The scientific knowledge was documented by the fundamental work by Albert König and Horst Köhler, "The binoculars and distance meters", published in its 3rd, completely revised edition, which is still acknowledged today, by Springerverlag in 1959. The applying physical laws had already been extensively investigated and were systematically applied to new and further developed products. In addition to the improvement of details the technological development is characterized by the continuously improving adaptation to requests of users and their various demands.

In the 50s and 60s the series production of the 35 mm camera "Werra" with over 1 million units took place. In the middle of the 60s the production of binoculars and riflescopes was transferred from Jena to Eisfeld, and the production of optical analytical instruments commenced.

From the middle of the 70s onwards new developments again became a focus. The binoculars models 8x32 and 10x40 with in-line optics also originated at this time. However, the excellent telescopes NOBILEM 8x50 and 12x50 with first-class performance were only produced for a short time due to the huge efforts needed and the technical demands involved. In the middle of the 80s they were replaced by models of the same name, which were the results of extensive concept studies. This model series has step by step been complemented by further models and variants and has been redesigned over the recent years.

The strengthening of the production capacity for binoculars and analytical instruments in the 80s zur Entwicklung neuer Generationen optoelektronischer Meßgeräte und zur led to the development of new generations of opto-electronic instruments and the extension of the range of binoculars and riflescopes by new developments. At the same time, the position of being the biggest manufacturer of binoculars in Europe could be consolidated. Approximately 1100 employees worked at Eisfeld and about 300,000 binoculars and riflescopes were produced per annum.

On August 1st 1991 the Eisfeld plant of the Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, which employed 550 staff, was taken over by Bernhard Docter, who lent his name to the company and products. The company now traded under the name DOCTER-OPTIC-EISFELD GmbH and continued with the production of binoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes, magnifying glasses and opto-electronic measurement equipment, which was rich in tradition..

As an acknowledged producer of bright-molded aspheric lenses, it was an important aim of the company`s strategy to make progress in the use of aspheric lenses in imaging optics. This was first effected with the eyepieces of the telescopic sight 8x56 and the NOTAREM-binoculars with in-line optics. Having overcome initial difficulties, the process of bright molding was optimized to such an extent that the quality required for series production was achieved. Larger numbers of aspheric lenses were incorporated into the newly created product category "Flash Lights". Here it was particularly the battery driven compact flash lights which were paid attention.

Overall a strong expansion of the product range took place, particularly so for riflescopes, which have been complemented by devices with illuminated reticles in the recent past. In many places the finish has been visibly improved. It is also worth mentioning that considerable construction and technological efforts have been made to ensure and continuously improve the product quality.

The advances made in the field of visual observation and sight devices over the recent years can be seen in:

• the introduction of centered reticles for riflescopes
• the establishing of riflescopes with variable magnification as standard models
• the general use of eyepieces for persons wearing glasses for all new binoculars
• the improvements in the modeling of optical systems by using complex, highly optimized software with cleverly thought-out algorithms, which for 15 years have also been available for PCs the employment of CAD in the construction of devices and of mathematical modeling in the development process
• the advances in the coating technology with the introduction of broad band antireflection coatings and of phase correction layers on roof edge prisms
• the use of bright-molded aspherics on a large scale in devices with first-class performance
• the improved resistance to environmental exposure (rubber coating, water proof, nitrogen filling, lead-free glasses)
• creation of new device features, such as integrated compasses in binoculars, illuminated reticles and parallax compensation for riflescopes or
• completely new product groups such as compact reflex sights.

On November 15th 1995 the company DOCTER-Optic in Wetzlar declared bankruptcy for the whole business. Under the chairmanship of Dr Wellensieck the company went into receivership, with the major part of the company subsequently being sold to a company consortium consisting of Bosch and Hella under the management of Rodenstock. The Eisfeld plant with its 230 employees remained operative under insolvency conditions, while potential buyers were sought. During all this time the "Big Solution" was the focus of attention, a scenario where the company would be sold as a whole. In total, talks were held with more than 30 interested parties. A bill of sale was agreed with the American company MMTI, but this never became legally valid, since no payment was made. Following further unsuccessful endeavors by the insolvency managers, the closure of the plant in Eisfeld was announced on April 15th 1997.

In May 1st 1997 a part of the business with 40 staff was continued by Analytik Jena GmbH, to which traditionally good relations existed. Already the first year after the takeover was completed with very good turnover and results. Due to the committed work of the Marketing and Sales Departments the order books were filled well, and the majority of the specialist and industrial partners, that had been made uncertain by the turmoil surrounding the DOCTER works, could be won back. Meanwhile the number of employees at Eisfeld had grown again almost to number 100.

As far as the DOCTER product range is concerned, we continue to pay special attention to a high level of quality, a good price-performance-ratio, perfect customer value and a balanced design. It goes without saying that the innovation requirement for the Eisfeld products is advanced further by synergy effects that have now become feasible. It is the declared objective to design the variety of DOCTER binocular models in a way that makes them more suitable for every-day application. The DOCTER riflescopes for hunters, which are very sought-after on the market, are equipped with up-to-date, high-performance optical systems guaranteeing safe handling and a high hit accuracy.

It remains to be emphasized that an important optical company in Thuringia was saved by a courageous entrepreneurial decision and the extremely high motivation of its employees, and that jobs have been secured on a long term basis. A competitive and innovative German optics manufacturer have redefined themselves for the market and will continue to surprise their clients with innovative products "Made in Germany".

With the transformation Analytik Jena to a share holding company on June 2nd 1999 and the entry to the stock market on July 3rd 2000, the course is set for rapid economical growth.

With the start of construction work for a new builidng on May 27, 2005, therein all production facilities are combined, the company set the stage for a future successful work.

New production building in Eisfeld inaugurated

In the presence of the Minister President of Thuringia, Dieter Allthaus (Member of the Parliament (MdL)/CDU), a new production centre for Analytik Jena AG was inaugurated in Eisfeld on the 12th of May 2006. This investment at the business location Germany, which exceeded an amount far in excess of three million Euro, constituted a clear sign towards the protection of jobs for the just under 100 employees, emphasised general manager Klaus Berka