Seiler Instrument & Mfg. Co.

Seiler Instrument was founded in 1945 by Eric H. Seiler and his wife Dora L. Seiler. Seiler had been trained in the field of optical design and construction by the Zeiss Jena School of Fine Optics in Jena, Germany. He had originally worked for Zeiss Jena, the first incarnation of what is now Carl Zeiss AG, but continued to work in the optical field for the David White company in Wisconsin after emigrating to the United States. Seiler began his own optical company at 922 Pine Street which specialized in repairing existing survey instruments.[1] Since this time, the company's focus has shifted toward designing or retailing survey, military, medical, and planetarium systems.

In 2010, Seiler Instrument admitted that some parts were improperly certified as compliant with the Buy American Act.[2] The pretrial diversion agreement stated that Seiler would pay $1,500,000.00 in forfeiture. The agreement reflects that Seiler Instrument took measures to fix the problems and has agreed to a compliance program to be monitored by the Department of Defense.

In 2021, Seiler Instrument was awarded a maximum $23,475,982 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for M119A1 Light Towed Howitzer panoramic telescopes.[3]

In 2022, Seiler Instrument acquired the assets of Precision Midwest to provide Trimble Geospatial products for the state of Iowa, all of northern Illinois, and the northwest counties of Lake and Porter, Indiana.[4]

Seiler Instrument’s Manufacturing Division specializes in manufacturing precision optical instruments and components primarily for the United States Military. Seiler is the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the optical fire control used on all United States howitzer and mortar systems as well as many howitzer systems used around the world. From start to finish, Seiler is responsible for the machining, assembly, and testing of all components of the optical fire control system. Along with manufacturing optical instrument assemblies, Seiler also specializes in refurbishing artillery optical fire control equipment which can extend the life of a weapon system.

Seiler Instrument’s Geospatial-Survey Division is segmented into various industries: Survey, Architecture, Engineering, Design Build Construction, and Mapping GIS/GPS. Seiler specializes in product sales, training, implementation, support, rentals, and repairs. Seiler is an Authorized Autodesk Training Center, Autodesk Consulting Specialized, and AIA CES provider. There are seven office locations across the Midwestern United States. Seiler Instrument is also a Trimble Preferred Service Provider with authorized service and repair centers located in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee.[5]

Seiler Instrument’s Medical Division was created in 1950 when Seiler formed an agreement with Carl Zeiss (Jena) to distribute their microscope line in North America. After many successful years as a North American dealer for Zeiss, Seiler and Zeiss parted ways. This split allowed Seiler to create a new microscope to compete with the Zeiss product line and to develop partnerships in Germany, South America, and Asia. Seiler’s Microscope Division provides optics and services to the medical and dental industry. Seiler offers a line of medical microscope products including: Colposcopes, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Audiology, Compound and Laboratory Microscopes, Multidisciplinary Surgery Microscopes and Surgical Loupes. They also offer dental microscopy products including: Surgical Microscopes, Dental Loupes, Loupe Lights, and Dental Stools.[6]

In 1987, Seiler Instrument and Carl Zeiss reunited through their planetarium line, and the Seiler Instrument Planetarium Division was created. Seiler Instrument is the sole distributor and first point of contact for sales, service, and repairs on all Carl Zeiss Planetariums in the United States and Canada. Over 600 Zeiss Planetariums around the world have been installed to date for the purposes of simulation, education, and entertainment. Seiler has installed and serviced these projectors in planetariums and science centers such as the Noble Planetarium at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.[7]

"Seiler Instrument to Pay $1.5 million in Forfeiture to the United States". United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. November 30, 2017. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2023.