From Innovation to Industrialization: Scaling Optical Interconnects from Test to Assembly

The shift to optical interconnects is no longer a question of innovation—it is entering a phase where industrialization becomes the true bottleneck and key differentiator. As AI, Cloud, and high-performance computing infrastructures scale, the ability to transition rapidly from product design to high-volume manufacturing is becoming critical.

Within this context, ficonTEC’s focus has evolved from project-based solutions to a product-driven approach, which enables full industrialization across the photonics manufacturing value chain. From wafer-, die-, and module-level testing to fully automated assembly of CPO, OCS, and LPO systems, the entire life cycle can be supported from early validation to high-volume production. This includes not only equipment, but also global service capabilities and the vision of delivering fully automated factories for next-generation optical interconnects.

This presentation explores how test and assembly must be co-optimized to enable scalable, reliable production. Lalonde will cover wafer, die, and module test strategies, while Concezzi will focus on automated assembly solutions for pluggable optics and the broader industrialization roadmap.

About Stefano Concezzi
Stefano Concezzi is chief marketing officer at ficonTEC, with more than 30 years of experience in test and measurement and silicon photonics. Prior to ficonTEC, he held executive leadership roles at major technology companies, driving global sales, strategy, and business development. At ficonTEC, he leads global marketing and corporate positioning, focusing on enabling industrial-scale photonics manufacturing and aligning the company’s narrative with the growth of AI-driven data center infrastructure.

About André Lalonde
André Lalonde leads ficonTEC’s test business unit, bringing over 25 years of experience in photonics test and manufacturing. He has held senior leadership roles across the industry, driving the development and deployment of advanced test solutions for optical components and systems.

At ficonTEC, he is responsible for building scalable test platforms that support the transition from R&D to high-volume production, with a focus on silicon photonics, CPO, and next-generation optical architectures.