NKT Photonics

What NKT Photonics does

NKT Photonics, now operating as Hamamatsu Photonics A/S following its June 2026 rebrand, is a Denmark-based manufacturer headquartered in Birkerød that develops and produces high-performance fiber lasers and specialty photonic crystal fibers. The company's product portfolio spans four families: the SuperK series of turn-key supercontinuum white light lasers (FIANIUM, EVO, CHROMATUNE) for bio-imaging, semiconductor inspection, and scientific instrumentation; the Koheras series of narrow-linewidth single-frequency fiber lasers (MIKRO, ACOUSTIK, HARMONIK) with frequency-converted UV and visible variants; ultrafast femtosecond lasers (aeroPULSE FS10/FS50 and ORIGAMI XPS); and photonic crystal and specialty fibers including ytterbium-doped double-clad gain fibers, aeroGAIN-BASE modules, and aeroGUIDE delivery fibers. Core technology rests on proprietary supercontinuum generation, all-fiber DFB single-frequency laser design, and photonic crystal fiber architectures enabling hollow-core light delivery and octave-spanning spectra.

The company sells specialized photonic components to four primary verticals — quantum computing and technology, medical and life science, industrial manufacturing, and aerospace and defense — through a B2B enterprise field-sales motion involving direct engagement with major customers, OEM module sales, and participation at conferences such as Photonics West and Laser World of Photonics. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of laser systems and specialty fibers on a quote-based pricing model typical of specialized photonics, with no public pricing disclosed. Notable customer references include CEA-LETI for European Space Agency magnetometry programs.

NKT Photonics was acquired by Hamamatsu Photonics in 2025 and officially rebranded as Hamamatsu Photonics A/S on June 25, 2026, continuing to operate as the Lasers & Fibers business unit while maintaining its original product lines and vertical focus. The organization employs 251–500 people, was previously founder-led under CEO Basil Garabet, and has historical roots including the 2016 acquisition of Fianium.

Name

NKT Photonics

Legal name

Hamamatsu Photonics A/S

Website

https://nktphotonics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

NKT Photonics (now Hamamatsu Photonics A/S) is a Danish manufacturer of high-performance fiber lasers and photonic crystal fibers, serving quantum computing, medical/life science, industrial manufacturing, and aerospace/defense customers through proprietary supercontinuum and single-frequency laser technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photonics and Laser Components

NAICS

Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Photonic (Optical) QPU Systems (HDAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Fiber lasers
• Supercontinuum lasers
• Photonic crystal fibers
• Ultrafast lasers
• Single-frequency lasers

Headquarters

HQ city

Birkerød

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laser and Fiber Component Sales: Sale of specialized photonics components including supercontinuum lasers, single-frequency fiber lasers, ultrafast lasers, and specialty optical fibers to industrial, scientific, and defense customers. Products sold as OEM modules, turn-key systems, and custom-configured solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NKT Photonics designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance fiber lasers and specialty optical fibers for scientific, industrial, and commercial applications. Its portfolio spans supercontinuum white light lasers (SuperK series), single-frequency fiber lasers (Koheras series), ultrafast femtosecond and picosecond lasers (aeroPULSE and ORIGAMI), and photonic crystal fibers and modules (aeroGAIN, aeroGUIDE, ytterbium-doped double-clad fibers). Products are sold as OEM modules, turn-key systems, and custom-configured solutions to quantum computing, medical/life science, industrial manufacturing, and aerospace/defense customers worldwide.

Product overview

NKT Photonics (now operating as Hamamatsu Lasers & Fibers, a business unit of Hamamatsu Photonics A/S) offers a comprehensive portfolio of laser and specialty fiber products organized into four main categories. The SuperK series provides supercontinuum white light lasers (FIANIUM, EVO, CHROMATUNE) for bio-imaging, semiconductor, and scientific applications. The Koheras series delivers single-frequency fiber lasers (MIKRO, ACOUSTIK, HARMONIK) with narrow linewidth and low noise characteristics. Ultrafast lasers include aeroPULSE (FS10, FS50) femtosecond fiber lasers and ORIGAMI XPS high-energy systems. Optical fibers and modules encompass aeroGAIN-BASE ytterbium gain modules, aeroGUIDE delivery fibers, and ytterbium-doped double-clad fibers. The company specializes in precision photonic components for quantum computing, medical/life science, industrial manufacturing, and aerospace/defense applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SuperK series: Industry-leading range of turn-key supercontinuum white light lasers used in bio-imaging, semicon, device characterization, and scientific instrumentation. Includes SuperK FIANIUM (high-end white light lasers), SuperK EVO (industrial lasers for OEM integration), and SuperK CHROMATUNE (world's broadest tunable laser).
• Koheras series
• aeroPULSE
• ORIGAMI series
• aeroGAIN
• aeroGUIDE

Products and services

• SuperK FIANIUM High-end turn-key supercontinuum white light laser offering broad spectral coverage for bio-imaging, semiconductor, device characterization, and scientific instrumentation applications.
• SuperK EVO Industrial supercontinuum white light laser designed for OEM integration, providing reliable turn-key operation for industrial environments.
• SuperK CHROMATUNE World's broadest tunable supercontinuum laser enabling flexible wavelength selection across a wide spectral range for scientific and industrial use.
• Koheras MIKRO Robust and compact OEM single-frequency fiber laser module offering narrow linewidth and extremely low phase and intensity noise for OEM integration.
• Koheras ACOUSTIK Modular line card laser and amplifier system providing single-frequency operation with extremely low noise for scientific and industrial applications.
• Koheras HARMONIK High power UV and VIS single-frequency fiber laser with frequency conversion capabilities to extend wavelength coverage to UV and visible bands.
• aeroPULSE FS10 Flexible femtosecond fiber laser offering adjustable pulse parameters for precision manufacturing and scientific research applications.
• aeroPULSE FS50 High power femtosecond fiber laser designed for industrial applications requiring high repetition rates and excellent beam quality.
• ORIGAMI XPS High energy femtosecond laser system designed for applications requiring microjoule-level pulse energies.
• aeroGAIN-BASE High power ytterbium fiber gain module providing amplification for industrial and scientific laser systems.
• aeroGUIDE fibers Broadband single-mode fiber delivery fibers for efficient light transmission across various laser and sensing applications.
• Ytterbium-doped double-clad fibers Large mode area double-clad ytterbium-doped fibers designed for high power laser and amplifier applications.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• YaqumoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Three-way Memorandum of Understanding signed June 3, 2026 to collaborate on developing and industrializing advanced photonic systems for cold-atom quantum computing. NKT Photonics contributes fiber laser expertise for optical core components and integrated optical modules, while Yaqumo provides Yb-based neutral atom quantum computing architecture. Partnership includes joint R&D and global supply chain development. Witnesses from METI and Danish Ambassador to Japan under Japan-Denmark Memorandum of Cooperation.
• Hamamatsu PhotonicsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Three-way Memorandum of Understanding signed June 3, 2026 for quantum photonics collaboration. Hamamatsu Photonics provides high-sensitivity photodetection and imaging technologies, contributing to cold-atom quantum computing photonic systems development. Partnership under Japan-Denmark Memorandum of Cooperation on quantum science and technology.
• ADTRANminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026EU-funded SoFiN (Software-enabled Fiber Optic Multisensing Network) project consortium member developing advanced optical fiber interrogator for multi-parameter sensing. NKT Photonics contributes to telecom infrastructure monitoring solutions with strain, temperature, vibration, and acoustic event detection capabilities.
• Technical University of DenmarkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026SoFiN project consortium partner developing software-enabled fiber optic multisensing network for telecom infrastructure monitoring. Joint development of advanced optical fiber interrogator technology.
• CyRICminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026SoFiN project consortium member for fiber optic multisensing network development, contributing expertise in sensing technology and system integration.
• Friedrich-Alexander-UniversitätminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026SoFiN project consortium member providing research expertise for advanced optical fiber interrogator development and field demonstration at Tele2 in Estonia.
• Tele2 EstoniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026SoFiN project field demonstration partner hosting first field trial of advanced optical fiber interrogator for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of telecom networks.
• IonQcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2024Strategic partnership for optical subsystems in quantum computing, announced at SuperCompute 24 (SC24). NKT Photonics provides optical subsystems for IonQ's quantum computing systems, supporting their hybrid quantum-classical computing capabilities and room-temperature quantum computing innovations with Extreme High Vacuum technology.
• imeccoreTechnology or Integration · 14 November 2024Collaboration announced at SuperCompute 24 for photonic integrated circuits and chip-scale ion trap technology to complement IonQ's quantum computing systems. NKT Photonics optical subsystems work with imec's photonic IC technology.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• nLIGHT: Specialty fiber laser and semiconductor laser manufacturer serving industrial, aerospace/defense, and directed-energy markets with comparable high-power fiber laser and diode technology.
• Furukawa Electric: Japanese specialty optical fiber manufacturer producing ytterbium-doped, photonic crystal, and rare-earth-doped fibers for lasers and amplifiers — a direct competitor in NKT's specialty fiber business.
• Toptica Photonics: Specialty laser manufacturer focused on single-frequency diode and fiber lasers for quantum optics, cold-atom physics, and biophotonics — a direct peer to NKT's Koheras single-frequency laser line.
• Menlo Systems: German specialist in fiber-laser-based frequency combs and ultrafast laser systems serving quantum optics, metrology, and spectroscopy — comparable to NKT's ultrafast and single-frequency offerings.
• IPG Photonics: Global leader in high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers, with overlapping fiber-laser, ytterbium-doped fiber, and ultrafast product lines. Directly comparable in industrial and scientific fiber laser markets.
• Thorlabs: Broad photonics components and laser manufacturer with significant overlap in specialty fibers, photonic crystal fibers, and ultrafast lasers for scientific and OEM customers.

Broad incumbents

• Trumpf: Major German industrial laser and machine tool company offering ultrafast and fiber lasers for materials processing. Competes with NKT in industrial ultrafast and high-power laser segments.
• MKS Instruments (Spectra-Physics): Through its Spectra-Physics and recent Coherent Ravenswood acquisitions, offers ultrafast lasers and photonics components overlapping NKT's femtosecond and scientific laser portfolio.
• Coherent (formerly II-VI): Large diversified photonics incumbent offering fiber lasers, ultrafast lasers, specialty fibers, and photonic subsystems across materials processing, semiconductor, and life sciences — competing with NKT in multiple product categories.

Emerging players

• AdValue Photonics: Smaller specialist in fiber lasers and photonic crystal fibers serving materials processing and scientific markets — an emerging peer with overlapping technology but narrower scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nktphotonicsas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nkt-photonics
• Xx.com/nkt_photonics
• Facebookfacebook.com/nktphotonics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about NKT Photonics