Ricor Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems

What Ricor Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems does

Ricor Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems is an Israeli designer, developer, and manufacturer of advanced miniature Stirling cryocoolers, headquartered in En Harod Ihud, Israel, with a wholly-owned US subsidiary in Salem, New Hampshire, and a UK manufacturing partnership with Coercive System. Founded in 1967 and employing 51-100 people in an 80,000 square-foot precision manufacturing facility, Ricor produces Integral Rotary, Split Linear, and Split Rotary cryocoolers delivering cooling power from fractions of a watt up to 15W at temperatures between 55K and 180K, with input power as low as 1W. Its portfolio spans micro-miniature units for handheld thermal imagers (K562 series), high-reliability units for 24/7 defense surveillance (K508, K508N, K548), high-capacity units for industrial and scientific applications (K535), and space-qualified units with >90 deployments including the Mars Curiosity mission.

The company's customer base is concentrated in military and defense (primary), space, homeland security, scientific instrumentation, and semiconductor/industrial segments. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supported by technical integration and field service, with the US subsidiary handling North American sales, distribution, repair, and integration. Ricor generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of qualified cryocoolers complemented by professional services (repair, integration, troubleshooting, field support); pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Ricor holds AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, enabling it to serve aerospace and defense primes globally. In January 2021 the company acquired Netzer Precision Position Sensors to add absolute electric encoders to its portfolio, and in June 2021 it raised approximately $27.6 million from Kibbutz Mishmar Ha'emek to fund growth and capacity. Leadership includes Chairman Itzchak Gat (former CEO of Rafael and 27-year IAF fighter pilot), CEO Boaz Weizer, CFO Eitan Haimovich, and CTO Zvi Bar Haim (40+ years at Ricor), with the executive bench drawn from Rafael, Elbit Systems-Elisra, and the Israeli defense industrial base.

Name

Ricor Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems

Legal name

Ricor Systems 2011 A.C.S Ltd.

Website

https://ricor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ricor designs and manufactures miniature Stirling cryocoolers for infrared detectors, serving military and defense, space, homeland security, scientific instrumentation, and semiconductor customers from its Israeli headquarters with a wholly-owned US subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryogenic Coolers

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Cryogenic Systems & Cryostats (HDAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cryocoolers & Refrigeration Units (HDAGABAB), Cryogenic Logistics (LN2 Dry Shippers, -150°C) (HLAGAMAB), Inductors & Coils (Power/RF/Chokes) (HDAHANAC)

Keywords

• Stirling cryocoolers
• Infrared detector cooling
• Military cryogenic systems
• Space cryogenic equipment
• SWaP-C coolers

Headquarters

HQ city

En Habesor

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cryocooler Hardware Sales: Ricor generates revenue primarily through the sale of Stirling cryocoolers including Integral Rotary, Split Linear, and Split Rotary models. Products range from micro-miniature coolers for handheld thermal imagers to high-capacity coolers for industrial and space applications.
2. Service and Support: The company provides repair services, integration services, troubleshooting and service support, and field support through its US subsidiary. These professional services complement hardware sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ricor designs, manufactures and markets advanced miniature Stirling cryocoolers that provide cooling for infrared detectors, scientific instruments and semiconductor equipment. The portfolio spans Integral Rotary, Split Linear and Split Rotary cryocoolers with cooling power from a fraction of a Watt up to 15W, operating temperatures from 55K to 180K, and input power as low as 1W, sold primarily to military/defense, space, homeland security, scientific instrumentation and industrial customers worldwide.

Product overview

Ricor Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems is a world-leading manufacturer of advanced miniature Stirling cryocoolers for infrared detector cooling. The company offers three main product families: Integral Rotary cryocoolers (K508, K508N, K561, K563I, K538, K548, K543, K544, K580, K562 series), Split Linear cryocoolers (K527, K527 SHORTY, K588, K590, K535), and Split Rotary cryocoolers (K549HP, K549 variants). The portfolio includes specialized SWaP-C (Size, Weight, and Power - Compact) models optimized for High Operating Temperature (HOT) detectors, space-qualified units with >90 deployments, and ruggedized versions for harsh military environments. Cooling capacities range from sub-Watt to 5W, operating temperatures from 45K to 180K, and input power from sub-1W to 250W. Ricor also provides a digital catalog and mobile app for product selection and comparison.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K561 Integral Rotary Cryocooler

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250,000 critical applications enabled worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Netzer Precision Position SensorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2021Netzer Precision Position Sensors was acquired by Ricor Cryogenic & Vacuum Systems in January 2021. This acquisition represents a significant growth engine close to Ricor's technological environment, adding absolute electric encoders to the product portfolio. Ricor views Netzer technology as having significant advantages over other encoder technologies and expects sustainable double-digit growth from this acquisition.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thales Cryogenics: Thales Cryogenics (formerly the cryocooler business tied to Airbus Defence and Space) is a leading manufacturer of space-qualified Stirling and pulse tube cryocoolers. It directly competes with Ricor in IR detector cooling and space instrument markets with comparable technology and customer base.
• Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Cryogenic Division): Sumitomo Heavy Industries manufactures Stirling cryocoolers (including the RP-082 series) widely used in IR detector cooling, military, and scientific applications. It is one of the closest competitors to Ricor's rotary Stirling product family.
• Sunpower Inc. Sunpower designs and manufactures Stirling cryocoolers and cryogenic refrigerators for defense, aerospace, and scientific markets. It directly competes with Ricor in compact, high-reliability cryocoolers for IR and space applications.
• Cryomech (a division of Brooks Automation): Cryomech manufactures Gifford-McMahon and Stirling cryocoolers and cryogenic refrigeration systems used in scientific, laboratory, and industrial applications. It overlaps with Ricor's higher-capacity scientific and laboratory cooler offerings.
• Oxford Instruments: Oxford Instruments produces cryogenic and superconducting magnet systems, including cryocoolers and cryostats for scientific and laboratory markets. It overlaps with Ricor's scientific instrumentation customer segment.
• AIM Infrarot-Module: AIM Infrarot-Module is a German manufacturer of IR detector modules and integrated cooled detector assemblies. It is a customer/competitor interface with Ricor, as detector integrators specify Ricor or competing coolers inside their modules.

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman (Space Systems / Mission Systems): Northrop Grumman is a broad incumbent in defense and space with in-house cryogenic and IR capabilities and as a system integrator that sources cryocoolers. It competes indirectly with Ricor in space science missions and IR systems.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense electronics prime with significant IR sensor and space systems exposure. It overlaps with Ricor as both a customer for cryocoolers and an integrator of cooled IR systems across defense and space programs.
• BAE Systems (Electronic Systems): BAE Systems manufactures IR sensor and electronic warfare systems that rely on cryogenic cooling. It is a major defense incumbent adjacent to Ricor's IR cooling business.
• Lockheed Martin (Space): Lockheed Martin Space is a prime integrator of cooled IR and space science instruments and is both a customer for high-reliability cryocoolers and a developer of cryogenic technologies for advanced missions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ricor-cryogenic-vacuum-systems/about

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ricor Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems