About Us - Specialty Packaging & Light Management Films
About
WaveFront Technology, Inc, (WFT) began operations in 1986 as a partnership formed by a group of technology professionals focused on holography and advanced optics. This partnership focused on developing state-of-the-art holograms and surface relief replication technology. Over time this core capability evolved into a proprietary custom tooling service that actualized production capabilities for leading embossing companies worldwide. As WFT's industry presence grew the key founding partners incorporated and WFT became a California Corporation in 1996 with two principal owners. Our facilities are located within 20 minutes of LAX in Paramount, California and have grown to 60,000 square feet of centralized Laboratory, Manufacturing and Warehouse space.
WFT has departments that include 3 Origination labs, Tooling, Film Manufacturing, Converting, R&D, and Engineering Services. WFT currently has a staff of 65 full time employees that include Executive and R&D staff with advanced engineering and optical physics degrees as well as Metrology, Laboratory, QC and Manufacturing Management professionals with over 100 years of combined experience high volume - high value optical component manufacturing. WFT has experience with Holographic and Optical Micro-structures including Holographic Optical Elements and Diffusers, Computer generated elements, Grayscale customized patterns, Diamond Cut (DTM) prismatic structures including Prisms, Fresnel lenses, and many other custom patterned surface relief structures.
Our people
Chris Rich
CEO, CTO and founder of WaveFront Technology Inc.
Joel Petersen
President, CFO, and founder of WaveFront Technology Inc.
Kent Coulter
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
(WFT) has over 30 years of technical and business experience in precision optics and optical systems. Under his stewardship, WFT has grown from a two-man operation to over 65 employees focused on innovative products, novel platforms and long-term client relationships that deliver individualized solutions to complex challenges. Technically innovative and highly respected Chris has positioned WFT for the next wave of growth.
Since incorporating WFT in 1996, Chris has provided the company with successful strategies for expansion that included launching products in the security, display, packaging, and lighting markets. Prior to WFT, Chris worked at Perkin Elmer and Physical Optics Corporation.He leads the intellectual property strategy for WFT and has numerous patents. Chris is an active member of thecommunity serving on the Paramount Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Senior Vice President and Mentoring the Palos Verdes High School 4H Rocketry Team for 12 years in the Team America Rocketry Challenge.
(WFT) has over 30 years of technical and business experience in holography and microstructure optics. Under his stewardship, WFT has grown from a two-man operation to over 65 employees focused on proprietary Microstructure Origination, Recombination, and Replication processes. Since WFT’s founding in 1986, Joel has guided WFT from being a tool maker to being a fully integrated optical component provider for the security, display, packaging, and lighting markets. Joel developed a proprietary tooling process that serviced the embossing industry.
He has built a library of microstructure patterns, aesthetic based for packaging, performance based for lighting as well as custom microstructures for a variety of industries. His passion for creating new designs and dimensional effects is contagious. He leads the Packaging, Lighting, Product Introduction Strategy, and Finance for WFT. While business focused, Joel is an innovator with numerous publications and patents. Financially strong and highly respected Joel is leading WFT to the next wave of growth.
Joined WaveFront Technology Inc. (WFT) in 2020. He has over 25 years of product development and organizational management experience. Kent has led several programs from proof of concept through to commercial production with three winning R&D 100 Awards (2019, 2017 & 2009) as one the most innovative developments for that year.
Kent has sixteen granted US patents and over thirty referred publications ranging in topics from catalysis to plasma physics to nanofunctional surfaces to interference optics. Prior to WFT, Kent worked at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Viavi (formerly JDS Uniphase/ Flex Products) and Sandia National Laboratories.Kent has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Texas A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry &Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ouachita Baptist University.
Chris Rich
CEO, CTO and founder of WaveFront Technology Inc.
(WFT) has over 30 years of technical and business experience in precision optics and optical systems. Under his stewardship, WFT has grown from a two-man operation to over 65 employees focused on innovative products, novel platforms and long-term client relationships that deliver individualized solutions to complex challenges. Technically innovative and highly respected Chris has positioned WFT for the next wave of growth.
Since incorporating WFT in 1996, Chris has provided the company with successful strategies for expansion that included launching products in the security, display, packaging, and lighting markets. Prior to WFT, Chris worked at Perkin Elmer and Physical Optics Corporation.He leads the intellectual property strategy for WFT and has numerous patents. Chris is an active member of thecommunity serving on the Paramount Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Senior Vice President and Mentoring the Palos Verdes High School 4H Rocketry Team for 12 years in the Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Joel Petersen
President, CFO, and founder of WaveFront Technology Inc.
(WFT) has over 30 years of technical and business experience in holography and microstructure optics. Under his stewardship, WFT has grown from a two-man operation to over 65 employees focused on proprietary Microstructure Origination, Recombination, and Replication processes. Since WFT’s founding in 1986, Joel has guided WFT from being a tool maker to being a fully integrated optical component provider for the security, display, packaging, and lighting markets. Joel developed a proprietary tooling process that serviced the embossing industry.
He has built a library of microstructure patterns, aesthetic based for packaging, performance based for lighting as well as custom microstructures for a variety of industries. His passion for creating new designs and dimensional effects is contagious. He leads the Packaging, Lighting, Product Introduction Strategy, and Finance for WFT. While business focused, Joel is an innovator with numerous publications and patents. Financially strong and highly respected Joel is leading WFT to the next wave of growth.
Kent Coulter
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Joined WaveFront Technology Inc. (WFT) in 2020. He has over 25 years of product development and organizational management experience. Kent has led several programs from proof of concept through to commercial production with three winning R&D 100 Awards (2019, 2017 & 2009) as one the most innovative developments for that year.
Kent has sixteen granted US patents and over thirty referred publications ranging in topics from catalysis to plasma physics to nanofunctional surfaces to interference optics. Prior to WFT, Kent worked at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Viavi (formerly JDS Uniphase/ Flex Products) and Sandia National Laboratories.Kent has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Texas A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry &Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ouachita Baptist University.
Intelectual Property
