Rayotek Scientific, LLC. (Acquired by McDanel Advanced Material Technologies)

???? Ever wonder why the images of Earth from NASA's Artemis 1 mission looked so crystal clear? The secret's out: they were taken through McDanel Advanced Material Technologies precision-crafted windows. We're not only replaying this role for the upcoming Artemis 2 mission slated for April 2026, but we're also setting the stage for even more awe-inspiring snapshots of space. ? Yesterday, McDanel's own Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Jason Salley, and Aerospace & Defense Sales Manager, Ron Garcia, joined our NASA partners aboard the USS Somerset in San Diego, CA. This vessel is pivotal, as it will play a front-line role in recovering the Artemis 2 astronauts and Orion space capsule after its ocean splash down. ? Following the naval excitement, we brought NASA back to earth at our McDanel Optical Technologies site (formerly Rayotek Scientific) in San Diego for an exclusive tour. They peeked behind the curtain to see where and how the technical windows that separate humanity from the void of space are meticulously crafted. ? NASA often says that "the only thing standing between astronauts and the great unknown is a McDanel window." We take that responsibility seriously, crafting not just barriers, but portals to new worlds. ? #NASA #ArtemisMission #SpaceExploration #Innovation #McDanelOpticalTechnoligies

For over 7 years, Bruce has been an integral part of McDanel Optical Technologies, our San Diego-based optics division. As a lead engineer, he plays a key role in designing and building cutting-edge optical solutions, driving innovation and excellence across our technical portfolio. Check out our interview with Bruce below to learn more about his contributions and impact! MAMT: What do you enjoy most about working here? Bruce: I have the privilege of working for a company that develops products for many amazing companies that are pushing the boundaries in their fields. I am involved in many aspects of projects, from design to process development, all the way through final production. I enjoy working collaboratively with our team members each step of the way to ship out great products to our customers. MAMT: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Bruce: Sewing Machine Ninja Backstory: I worked for a couple years managing the industrial design model pig shop at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. I acquired an industrial sewing machine and gave demos to the design students on the machine. One of the students was impressed with my sewing skills and said I was like “a ninja on the sewing machine”. MAMT: What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? Bruce: I spent about 10 years making costumes, props and sets for the entertainment industry. During that time, I worked on some unusual projects and had many ordinary and surreal interactions with famous people. For example: I worked on the robot costume that is featured in the Beastie Boys “Intergalactic” music video and went to a warehouse in Queens to watch filming of the video… I was told by Sting to “get out of the way” as he made his way to the stage at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show where I was fitting wings onto the models… I exchanged smiles with Julia Roberts at a grand opening party for a resort in the Bahamas as we watched Grace Jones fly from a tower wearing a wing costume that I worked on…. I was invited to Elle Macpherson’s Halloween party, but didn’t go because, ironically, I didn’t have a costume. MAMT: What’s your guilty pleasure (TV show, snack, hobby, etc.)? Bruce: Relaxing at home with my wife and two kids while watching a mind numbingly good show such as “What We Do in the Shadows” or “Stranger Things”. MAMT: What’s a project or achievement you’re really proud of? Bruce: I am proud of the process I helped develop for molding our glass domes. We continue to push the limits of the size of domes we are capable of molding. We recently delivered some 17-inch diameter domes that were molded from 1-inch-thickglass sheet. Our customer bonded two of these domes together to form a sphere, with instrumentation inside, and then dropped the sphere deep in the ocean to collect climate data. #Engineering #OpticalTechnology #Innovation #TeamSpotlight #AdvancedMaterials

Differentiation is key to ensuring McDanel Advanced Material Technologies materials and solutions stand out in a world of choices. Technical differentiation starts with listening to our customers—it’s about what they value, not what we assume they need. We ask questions like: - What material properties are most critical as your market evolves? - What capabilities would make our services indispensable to you? - How are your needs changing, and how can we adapt our technical expertise to better support you? Customer demand across Aerospace, Defense, Semiconductor, and other markets shape our approach to technical advancement and new product development. But differentiation isn’t just technical—it’s also about elite customer service. Customers expect to be actively heard, consulted with precision, and have their timelines respected. When technical innovation meets best-in-class service, that’s when McDanel Advanced Material Technologies truly stands apart. #HowDoYouDifferentiate? #MAMT #Rayotek #AdvancedMaterials

Hello everyone – We're excited to spotlight Nicole Weaver, a key member of our team at McDanel Advanced Material Technologies for over 18 years! As one of our Inside Sales leaders, Nicole is pivotal in steering our focus towards our “Core-4” market areas (Aerospace, Defense, Semiconductor, and Medical) - Dive into our engaging interview with Nicole and get to know her better! MAMT: If we made a movie about our company, which actor would you want to play you, and why? Nicole: That is an interesting question, and I never really thought about my life being made into a movie. I would say Jennifer Garner, she is one of my favorite actors and I usually love all the movies she is a part of. ? MAMT: If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be and what would you ask them? Nicole: One unknown fact, I love history, so to pick just one person is tough - I have a few people that I would like to have dinner with. My top three would be Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln, and Amelia Earhart. All three overcame adversity and accomplished great achievements in their lifetime. One of the questions I would ask would be how did they overcome adversity to achieve their goals? ? MAMT: In your view, what is the most exciting challenge our company is facing today, and how are we tackling it? Nicole: One of the most exciting challenges our company is currently facing is its evolving from being known for mostly high purity ceramics, to being a company that customers contact for all their mission critical material solutions. One way we have tackled this is with our new website which showcases all the materials we offer at our plants in both Beaver Falls, PA and San Diego, CA. ? MAMT: What is the most interesting event you have attended through McDanel? Nicole: I have had the opportunity to attend ceramic trade shows like Ceramic Expo and most recently Furnace North America. These shows provide us with a chance to meet with our customers face to face and have discussions about the applications in which our products are being used or potentially could be used. These shows also give us a chance to showcase all the products McDanel has to offer. ? MAMT: Which core values of our company resonate most with you and why?" Nicole: The core value which resonate with me the most is “People – We trust, respect, and empower our team members while nurturing their growth.”?Without the people of McDanel we would not be able to reach our goals. #McDanel #Rayotek #OurPeopleMatter #Aerospace #Defense #Semiconductor #Medical

??Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our team at McDanel Advanced Material Technologies! ?? As we reflect on 2024, we’re deeply grateful for the trust and loyalty of our customers and partners. Your support has driven our growth, innovation, and success. We look forward to deepening our partnerships and delivering the quality and service you expect in 2025. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year! #MOT #MAC #Rayotek #McDanelAdvancedMaterialTechnologies #HappyHolidays

Are you on the hunt for a thrilling new career opportunity, or do you know someone who is? McDanel Optical Technologies is seeking a skilled Inside Sales Specialist to join our Custom Solutions team in San Diego. Come help us shape the future!

We're brewing up some frighteningly fantastic solutions and conjuring up innovation magic every day! Here’s to a Halloween filled with teamwork, creativity, and just the right amount of chills and thrills. Happy Halloween from the spooky crew at Rayotek!

What do Laser calibration systems, medical systems, and infrared spectroscopy systems have in common? They all need our diffusers. Even our diffusers can come custom. These diffusers can be supplied with IR grade, low OH fused silica. Pick your material: fused silica, sapphire, MgF2, ZnSe, CaF2 or glass. #Diffusers #Glass #McDanel

We are proud to be one of the most advanced and unique glass molding facilities in the U.S. We can mold, slump, and shape into precision curves. #moldedglass #davincimission #McDanel #furnaces

Get ready for a few hot days. From the 14th to the 16th, the Furnaces North America trade show is being hosted at Columbus Convention Center, OH. This week is the time to discuss heat treatment and furnace operation. #FNA #Furnaces #HeatTreatment #technicalceramics #McDanel #mcdaneladvancedmaterialtechnologies #space #lanch