Proudly 'Made in Egypt': optical designer produces telescopes, teaches the craft to enthusiasts

Record ID: 1853736

  • Title: Proudly 'Made in Egypt': optical designer produces telescopes, teaches the craft to enthusiasts
  • Date: 4th November 2024
  • Summary: TANTA, EGYPT (OCTOBER 28, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN OPTICAL DESIGNER AND GENERAL MANAGER OF VOYAGER OPTICS TECHNOLOGY FACTORY, MOKHTAR MOHAMED ABD ELFATTAH, TEACHING STUDENTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPUTERS AND OPTICS HOW TO USE TELESCOPES OUTDOOR STUDENT LOOKING INTO TELESCOPE VARIOUS OF ABD ELFATTAH LOOKING AT TELESCOPE IN FRONT OF HIS EDUCATIONAL CENTE
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2024 07:27
  • Keywords: ASTRONOMY EGYPT TANTA TELESCOPES
  • Location: TANTA, EGYPT
  • City: TANTA, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Middle East,Science
  • Reuters ID: LVA001677903112024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Surrounded by astronomy enthusiasts, Egyptian optical designer Mokhtar Mohamed Abd Elfattah spends his days among telescopes and lenses at his factory in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, where he produces astronomical telescopes proudly labeled "Made in Egypt."
    Abd Elfattah founded Voyager Optics Technology in 1995, emphasising it as the only factory of its kind in Egypt and the Middle East specialising in astronomical telescopes. He established the factory upon returning to Egypt after decades abroad, gaining training and expertise in Germany, Italy, and Sweden, with the aim of filling a gap in Egypt’s local market.
    "I was in Western Germany in the 80s, and during my education there, I learned about different types of telescopes and microscopes, both theoretical and industrial devices. When I returned to Egypt, I found that this industry didn’t exist here at all. So, I started to establish a factory to manufacture telescope bodies," Abd Elfattah said. "Over time, we developed ourselves and started producing complete telescope devices, from A to Z," he added.
    As demand grew, Abd Elfattah’s team—some of whom had no prior background in optics—became skilled technicians capable of building telescopes entirely locally.
    "Instead of importing lenses at a cost of nearly $100 to $200, we began producing them completely locally," he said.
    In addition to manufacturing, Abd Elfattah runs certified educational centres for enthusiasts—The educational center for computers and optics and Voyager academy for applied technology—where students gain hands-on experience, learning to craft high-quality lenses and components for telescopes and microscopes.
    Abd Elfattah's passion for lenses extends beyond telescopes, as has also established a gallery near his factory showcasing hundreds of vintage cameras, microscopes, and telescopes he collected over the years, illustrating the history and evolution of optical technology.
    "By observing these old devices alongside modern ones, we can enhance our education," he said.
    (Production: Sayed Sheashaa, Dina Sakr)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register