Gemtek Technology and Starman New Photonics plan to establish a U.S. joint venture making optical transceivers for hyperscale data centers. The companies say the initial focus will be 800G and 1.6T modules, which carry data over optical links in high-capacity networks. [1] [2]

Planned New Jersey production

Gemtek’s Oct. 15 announcement says the company initially plans to invest $15 million, while Starman plans to invest $30 million. The stated combined $45 million is a plan for the proposed venture; the announcement does not establish that the contributions have been completed. [1]

The partners intend to use Starman New Photonics’ existing facility in Warren, New Jersey. Gemtek says the site has an advanced clean room but still needs equipment setup. It estimates mass production could begin “in as early as six months,” which is a company forecast rather than a confirmed production date. The facility is also expected to coordinate with Gemtek optical manufacturing plants in Taiwan and Vietnam. [1]

Photonics.com’s Oct. 22 report independently describes the U.S. manufacturing plan and 800G/1.6T product focus. [2] A separate Oct. 20 SEC filing containing a Starman-issued release describes a broader planned New Jersey project, including $150 million in planned investment, up to $37.5 million in approved state tax credits and 250 expected jobs. Those larger project figures are distinct from the $45 million in stated joint-venture contributions and should not be conflated. [3]

Capacity behind AI data centers

The companies frame the project as a response to demand from AI data centers and hyperscale computing, and as a way to add U.S. production capacity for high-speed optical hardware. The announcements establish plans and targets, not completed factory expansion, actual output, customer commitments or reduced import dependence. [1] [3]

Execution will depend on equipment installation, production ramp-up and customer qualification. The cited releases do not quantify those milestones. [1] [2]

Sources

[1] Gemtek: U.S. manufacturing joint venture with Starman [2] Photonics.com: Gemtek and Starman collaborate on U.S. transceiver manufacturing [3] SEC Schedule 14A filing with Starman press release