About American Photonics
American Glass. American Grit.
We build the optics that American industry and American defense depend on — and we build them here.
Our Story
Built on a Simple Conviction
American Photonics was founded on the belief that critical optics should not depend on fragile overseas supply chains. While much of the industry moved fabrication offshore, we invested the other way — in American equipment, American materials, and American craftspeople in Sarasota, Florida.
Today we manufacture precision infrared and laser optics across eight materials, from ZnSe and Germanium to Sapphire and Chalcogenide glass, serving defense, aerospace, industrial laser, thermal imaging, and research customers who demand proof of origin as much as proof of performance.
Our domestic Germanium reclaim and recycling program closes the loop on one of the most strategically sensitive IR materials — recovering value for our customers and keeping critical material capacity inside the United States.
One Platform
Part of the BlueRock Global Family
On April 27, 2026, BlueRock Global Private Equity acquired American Photonics — joining Direct Components and Paragon Manufacturing in a portfolio built around one idea: American supply chains for critical technology.
American Photonics — Defense & Custom
Precision infrared and laser optics — fabrication, coating, and metrology under one roof in Sarasota, FL.
Our Capabilities →American Photonics — Online Store
Our commercial storefront — high-power CO₂ laser optics for the world's leading cutting-system OEMs since 2001, 100% made in Sarasota, FL.
americanphotonics.com →Direct Components
ISO/AS9120-certified independent distributor of allocated, obsolete, and hard-to-find electronic components. Tampa, FL — est. 1998.
directics.com →Paragon Manufacturing
Build-to-print manufacturer of custom cables, harnesses, electro-mechanical assemblies, and turn-key box builds. Est. 2003 — ISO 9001, ISO 13485, UL, ITAR-registered.
paragonmfgcorp.com →Optics · Sarasota
American Photonics Founded
Created to bring an American presence to the CO₂ laser optics industry.
Steve Walters Acquires APC
A manufacturing engineer takes the helm and rebuilds the company around precision fabrication.
Ana Piumbini Walters Joins as CEO
Growth era begins: new markets, OEM partnerships, and the push beyond CO₂ into defense and IR optics.
Precision IR & Defense Optics Expansion
A dedicated precision IR & laser optics operation is born from APC's engineering DNA.
Electronics & Capital · Tampa
Direct Components Founded
Aaron Nursey builds an independent stocking distributor serving defense, aerospace, and industrial OEMs.
Roddy Premsukh Joins DC
As CFO/COO — the company grows profits ten-fold and triples its team.
BlueRock Global Private Equity
Formed to acquire and scale American manufacturing and technology businesses — Paragon Manufacturing joins the portfolio.
Two Stories Become One Platform
BlueRock Global acquires American Photonics — uniting optics, electronics, and contract manufacturing in a single American supply-chain platform.
Leadership
The Team Behind the Glass
Roddy Premsukh
CEO of American Photonics and Managing Partner of BlueRock Global — a CPA with a record of scaling American technology businesses ten-fold.
LinkedIn →
Nandy Premsukh
20+ years in controllership, corporate strategy, and business management — keeping the platform's growth disciplined and funded.
LinkedIn →
Ana Piumbini Walters
Drives growth — strategic materials sourcing, defense and aerospace partnerships, and the mission to rebuild American optics manufacturing.
LinkedIn →
Steve Walters
Leads manufacturing engineering — process design, tooling, and the precision standards every optic is held to before it ships.
LinkedIn →
Aaron Nursey
26+ years transforming electronic components distribution — founder of Direct Components and a driving force behind the BlueRock platform.
LinkedIn →Heidi Nursey
Co-founder and CEO of the Nursey Foundation — dedicating 5% of Direct Components' profits to hunger, mental health, and children's causes in Tampa Bay.
Nursey Foundation →Come See Where Your Optics Are Made
We welcome customer audits and facility visits. That's the advantage of a supplier on American soil.
Contact Us