Agiltron
Agiltron (Optowares, Inc.) is a privately held, vertically integrated U.S. manufacturer of fiber optic components, modules, and turn-key photonic systems, serving telecommunications, aerospace/defense, undersea, sensing, and life sciences markets through proprietary etMEMS technology and an in-house 150mm wafer fabrication facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersWoburn, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Agiltron does
Agiltron (legal entity: Optowares, Inc.) is a privately held, vertically integrated U.S. photonics manufacturer founded in 1999 and headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. The company designs, fabricates, and assembles fiber optic components, modules, and turn-key systems — including optical switches, variable optical attenuators, modulators, isolators/circulators, tunable filters, EDFAs/SOAs, photodetectors, lasers, WDM devices, polarization management components, RF-over-fiber links, and Raman spectrometers — serving telecommunications, aerospace/defense, undersea, sensing, life sciences, and industrial markets. Its core technology platform is a proprietary electro-thermal MEMS (etMEMS) actuation architecture built on single-crystalline silicon, supported by an in-house 150mm (6-inch) wafer fabrication facility with a 5,000 ft² cleanroom that handles chip fabrication, packaging, and reliability qualification under one roof. The portfolio is protected by over 40 issued or pending U.S. patents and the company maintains ISO 9001 certification and ITAR registration for defense/aerospace export compliance.
Agiltron operates a dual-channel commercial model: (i) component-level unit sales through its website catalog with prices ranging from $37 (laser diode chips) to over $28,550 (RF/microwave matrix switches), with MEMS switches starting at $145 and turn-key switch systems at $2,610; and (ii) higher-margin professional services including MEMS foundry fabrication, hybrid device packaging, and Telcordia/MIL-SPEC/Aerospace reliability testing. The company sells directly from its U.S. headquarters and through an authorized reseller network spanning Israel, India, the U.K., Italy, Japan, and Taiwan, targeting enterprise buyers in mission-critical applications.
The company also offers 'success sharing equity participations' to employees and is described as a 'world-class team of serial entrepreneurs and veteran engineers,' with Guanghai Jin serving as COO and CTO. Agiltron has made one disclosed acquisition — Multispectral Imaging in April 2008 — and continues to actively participate in industry trade shows including Photonics West and OFC, signaling ongoing commercial engagement rather than withdrawal.
Agiltron firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Agiltron
- Legal name
- Optowares, Inc.
- Website
- https://agiltron.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Agiltron (Optowares, Inc.) is a privately held, vertically integrated U.S. manufacturer of fiber optic components, modules, and turn-key photonic systems, serving telecommunications, aerospace/defense, undersea, sensing, and life sciences markets through proprietary etMEMS technology and an in-house 150mm wafer fabrication facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Agiltron industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fiber Optic and Photonic Components
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)
Keywords
Where Agiltron is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Woburn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Agiltron business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fiber Optic Components Sales: Sale of individual fiber optic components including optical switches, variable optical attenuators, optical modulators, fiber splitters/couplers, optical isolators/circulators, tunable filters, photodetectors, lasers, EDFAs, SOAs, WDM devices, polarization management devices, and delay lines. Products sold as components, OEM modules, and turn-key systems.
- MEMS Fabrication Services: Advanced R&D and manufacturing processes offered as services including MEMS fabrication from design, prototyping, production, packaging, testing, assembly, and qualifications (e.g., MIL-SPEC). Company specializes in large motion MEMS and thermal actuators.
- Device Package Services: Package services for hybrid integration, fiber coupling, high temperature optics, high power lasers, and vacuum devices.
- Reliability Test Services: Telcordia, Mil-Spec, and Aerospace reliability testing services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Optical Switches - Entry level at $53+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Variable Optical Attenuators - Entry level at $45+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Optical Modulators - From $1350+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fiber Couplers/Splitters - From $85+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Optical Isolators/Circulators - From $71+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tunable Filters - From $891+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Delay Lines and RF Systems - From $528+ to $28550+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lasers - From $37+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Photodetectors - Component pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | EDFAs - From $636+ |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels11 records
Marketing channels8 records
Agiltron product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Agiltron manufactures and sells fiber optic components, modules, and turn-key photonic systems including optical switches, variable optical attenuators, modulators, fiber couplers/splitters, isolators/circulators, tunable filters, lasers, photodetectors, EDFAs, SOAs, WDM devices, polarization management devices, and RF over fiber links. The company also operates an in-house MEMS fabrication facility and provides device packaging and reliability testing services (Telcordia, MIL-SPEC, Aerospace) to customers in telecommunications, aerospace and defense, sensing, life sciences, and industrial markets.
Product overview
Agiltron is a vertically integrated manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 40 distinct fiber optic and photonic products organized into component, module, and system categories. The core product lineup centers on optical switches (MEMS-based digital/analog, electro-optic NanoSpeed, magneto-optic CrystaLatch, and opto-mechanical LightBend technologies), variable optical attenuators (VOAs), optical modulators/phase shifters, fiber couplers/splitters/combiners, optical isolators/circulators, and tunable filters. Complementary component categories include photodetectors/receivers (DC-100GHz), lasers (diode, fiber-coupled, turn-key sources up to 1kW), EDFAs (C/L/C+L-band), semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA), WDM devices (AWG and filter-based for CWDM/DWDM), polarization management devices, RF over fiber links, delay lines, and specialized sensors including Raman spectrometers and OCT components. The portfolio spans from individual components and advanced modules to complete turn-key systems, with supporting services including MEMS foundry, device packaging, and reliability testing (Telcordia, MIL-SPEC, Aerospace). The company serves telecommunications, aerospace, defense, undersea, sensing, life sciences, and industrial markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Optical Switches Fiber optic switches supporting all fiber types and wavelengths, leveraging Agiltron's proprietary etMEMS, electro-optic, magneto-optic, and opto-mechanical technologies. Switches offer switching speeds from 10 ns to 5 ms, with the lowest insertion loss (0.2 dB), broadest wavelength range (300-2400 nm), highest optical power handling (50 W), and 70 dB on/off isolation. Sold to telecommunications, aerospace/defense, and sensing buyers as components, OEM modules, and turn-key systems.
- Optical Variable Attenuators (VOAs) Variable optical attenuators for precision optical power control, using MEMS, fiber-to-fiber direct coupling, and NanoSpeed electro-optic technologies. Response times range from 200 ns to continuous operation, with manual and programmable models. Sold for telecommunications, sensing, and industrial applications, with prices from $45+ for manual units and $3,350+ for programmable VOA arrays.
- Optical Modulators and Phase Shifters High-speed fiber-coupled and free-space optical modulators/phase shifters based on electro-optic, acousto-optic, and piezoelectric actuation technologies. Support phase, intensity, and wavelength modulation. Fiber-coupled high-speed modulators priced from $1,350+ and free-space modulators from $967+. Used in telecommunications, RF signal processing, and sensing.
- Fiber Couplers, Splitters, and Combiners Fiber optic couplers and splitters supporting single-mode, multimode, polarization-maintaining, large core, and double-clad fibers. Power handling up to 100 W, available in fusion, micro-optic, and planar lightwave circuit (PLC) configurations. SM fiber couplers from $85+, PM fiber couplers from $250+, MM large core couplers from $180+, and fiber combiners from $385+. Sold to telecommunications, fiber laser, and sensing customers.
- Optical Isolators and Circulators Fiber and free-space optical isolators/circulators covering spectral ranges from 350 nm to 2400 nm with high-power options up to 1 kW. Provide isolation up to 50 dB and include integrated power monitor options. Fiber optical isolators from $97+ and free-space optical isolators from $71+. Targeted at fiber laser, sensing, and telecommunications applications.
- Optical Tunable Filters Tunable optical filters based on athermal multi-etalon cavities or gratings, offering tuning ranges up to 300 nm, linewidths from 0.02 nm to 5 nm, and high-power handling up to 20 W CW. Manual etalon filters from $891+, manual grating filters from $1,685+ to $7,954+, MEMS tunable filters from $983+ to $1,232+, and electrical etalon filters from $1,163+. Used in telecom DWDM and sensing.
- Fiber Optic Bandpass Filters Fiber optical bandpass filters including dual peak DWDM 100G filters, gain flattening filters for C-Band and L-Band, and single channel configurations for telecom wavelength selection and gain flattening.
- Optical and RF Delay Lines RF and optical time delay products and systems with time delay ranges from 0.01 picoseconds to milliseconds, high resolution up to 25 bits, and reconfiguration in less than 100 nanoseconds. Optical variable delay lines from $528+, RF/microwave variable delay up to $26,962+, radar altimeter test systems from $24,421+. Used in radar testing and RF signal processing.
- Lasers Diverse laser products including laser diode chips, fiber-coupled diodes (Laser/LED/SLED/VCSEL), fiber-coupled turn-key laser sources spanning 450-2200 nm up to 1 kW, and free-space lasers. Laser diode chips from $37+, fiber-coupled diodes from $350+, turn-key laser sources from $690+, free-space lasers from $365+. Targeted at fiber laser, sensing, and telecom customers.
- Photodetectors and Receivers Fiber-coupled photodetectors with or without integrated amplifiers covering wavelengths from 400 to 2600 nm and frequency ranges from DC to 100 GHz. Includes free-space, fiber-coupled, amplified, biased, and balanced configurations. WDM channel monitoring system from $2,320+. Sold to telecommunications, sensing, and instrumentation customers.
- Fiber Optical Amplifiers (EDFAs) Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers including C-Band, L-Band, C+L-Band, O-Band, and 1060 nm versions, available as compact OEM modules, benchtop instruments, and rack-mount systems for long-term continuous operation. C-band EDFAs from $636+, L-band from $2,221+, C+L-band from $1,435+, O-band from $1,508+, pulse amplifiers from $3,560+. Targeted at telecom and fiber laser customers.
- Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOA) Semiconductor optical amplifiers operating at wavelengths from 780 nm to 1685 nm, including tapered amplifiers with power output up to 3.5 W. Used in telecom, sensing, and test/measurement applications.
- Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) Devices Fiber-coupled WDM devices for combining (Mux) or separating (DeMux) multiple wavelength channels, including AWG-based and film filter-based solutions supporting SWDM, CWDM, and DWDM with channel spacings from 50 GHz to 200 GHz. Targeted at telecom network operators and OEMs.
- Polarization Management Devices Fiber optic polarizing and polarization-maintaining devices including scramblers, polarization controllers, polarization switches, inline polarizers, polarization rotators, combiners/splitters, and polarization extinction ratio meters. Used in telecom, sensing, and fiber laser applications.
- RF Over Fiber Link RF over fiber analog/digital links supporting ultra-broadband operation up to 50 GHz with transmission distances up to 100 km. Features low loss and low noise characteristics for distributed antenna systems, radar, and broadband RF distribution.
- RF/Microwave Matrix Switches Ultra-broadband RF/microwave matrix switches operating from 1 MHz to 50 GHz with lossless switching, low power consumption, and compact size/weight. Priced from $28,550+. Used in RF testing, radar, and electronic warfare applications.
- Low Noise RF Amplifiers (LNA) Broadband ultra-low noise RF amplifiers for amplifying weak RF signals with minimal noise introduction. Used in RF signal chains for radar, communications, and test/measurement.
- Fiber Optic Communication Data Links Digital fiber optic communication data links for transmitting optical signals over fiber with high reliability. Used in secure communications, defense, and aerospace applications.
- MEMS Foundry and Fabrication Service Full-range MEMS fabrication services using Agiltron's 150mm wafer fabrication facility and 5,000 sq ft cleanroom. Service spans design, prototyping, production, packaging, testing, assembly, and qualifications (including MIL-SPEC). Specializes in large motion MEMS and thermal actuators, offered to companies needing outsourced MEMS manufacturing and qualification services.
- Fiber Optical Sensors High-performance fiber optic sensors including in-line optical monitors, all-fiber electric field sensors, mid-IR detectors, and Raman spectrometers for sensing applications in industrial, defense, and life sciences markets.
- OCT Components Optical coherence tomography (OCT) components for medical imaging and precision measurement applications, serving life sciences and medical device OEMs.
- Spectrometers Raman spectrometers for chemical detection and materials analysis using optical spectrometry techniques. Targeted at optical chemical detection and life sciences applications.
- Polarization Beam Splitters (PBS) Non-epoxy bonded polarization beam splitters operating from 350-2500 nm with optical power handling up to 10 W. Used in telecom, laser, and sensing applications where polarization separation is required.
- Device Package Services Specialty device packaging services covering hybrid integration, fiber coupling, high temperature optics, high power lasers, and vacuum devices. Offered as professional services to photonic component manufacturers and system integrators.
- Reliability Test Services Reliability testing services for photonic components to Telcordia, MIL-SPEC, and Aerospace standards. Used by customers requiring qualification of components for deployment in telecom, defense, and aerospace applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lowest insertion loss of 0.2 dB for optical switches
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Agiltron
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Agiltron technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Agiltron partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- RAM N.S Technologies Ltd.coreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in Israel. Provides local sales, technical support, and customer service for Israeli market through Shai Kadary.
- Aadhunik InformaticscoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in India (New Delhi region). Provides local sales and technical support for Indian market.
- Infrared Optics Private LimitedcoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in India (Faridabad region). Provides local sales and technical support for Indian market.
- Laser Components UK Ltd.coreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in UK. Located at Goldlay House, 114 Parkway, Chelmsford, Essex. Provides local sales and technical support.
- BBN International LimitedcoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in UK and Europe. Located at Clay House, Harnage, Shrewsbury. Provides local sales and technical support.
- Alfa Microonde SrlcoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in Italy. Provides local sales and technical support for Italian market.
- Sun Instruments, InccoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in Japan. Located in Tokyo. Provides local sales and technical support for Japanese market.
- I-WAVE CorporationcoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in Japan. Located in Tokyo. Provides local sales and technical support for Japanese market.
- High-Tech CorporationcoreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in Japan. Located in Tokyo. Provides local sales and technical support for Japanese market.
- WANSHING OPTICAL CO.,LTD.coreAuthorized sales representative for Agiltron products in Taiwan. Located in New Taipei City. Provides local sales and technical support for Taiwanese market.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Agiltron competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coherent: Coherent (formerly II-VI/Coherent) is a global photonics and materials platform offering optical components, lasers, and networking subsystems. It competes with Agiltron in optical switches, isolators, and EDFAs and serves telecom, industrial, and aerospace markets at much larger scale.
- Lumentum: Lumentum is a major US-headquartered photonics company producing optical switches, VOAs, lasers, and photonic components for telecom, datacom, and 3D sensing. It directly overlaps Agiltron's core fiber optic components portfolio and serves many of the same telecom and datacom OEM customers.
- Thorlabs: Thorlabs manufactures a broad catalog of photonics components including optical switches, VOAs, isolators, photodetectors, and fiber components. Like Agiltron, Thorlabs serves research, telecom, and industrial customers with vertically integrated manufacturing and a multi-thousand SKU catalog.
- Gooch & Housego: Gooch & Housego manufactures acousto-optic, electro-optic, and fiber optic components including modulators, switches, and isolators. It is a direct peer to Agiltron in precision photonic components serving aerospace, defense, and telecom end markets.
- O-Net Communications: O-Net Communications produces optical components and modules for telecom and datacom, including optical switches, isolators, and amplifiers. It is comparable to Agiltron in fiber optic component breadth and serves overlapping telecom and industrial customers.
- NKT Photonics: NKT Photonics manufactures fiber lasers, supercontinuum sources, and specialty photonic fibers and components. It overlaps Agiltron in fiber lasers, isolators, and photonic component manufacturing for industrial, aerospace, and life sciences markets.
Broad incumbents
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu Photonics is a large Japanese photonics manufacturer producing photodetectors, lasers, spectrometers, and optical sensors. It serves overlapping industrial, life sciences, and sensing customers as Agiltron but at substantially greater scale and with broader product lines.
- MKS Instruments: MKS Instruments (including Newport) supplies photonics instruments, optical components, and motion control for industrial and research markets. It competes with Agiltron in photonics components but operates as a much broader incumbent across semiconductor, industrial, and research end markets.
Regional players
- AMS Technologies: AMS Technologies is a European distributor and solutions provider for photonic and thermal management components. It is comparable to Agiltron in product mix and customer base but operates primarily in EMEA as a distributor rather than a vertically integrated manufacturer.
Emerging players
- ID Photonics: ID Photonics is a smaller German specialist in optical noise sources and test instruments for coherent communications. It overlaps with Agiltron's RF-over-fiber, laser, and optical test product lines but focuses narrowly on coherent test and measurement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Agiltron social profiles
Digital presenceAgiltron compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Agiltron financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Agiltron leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Agiltron funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Agiltron M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Agiltron
What does Agiltron do?
Agiltron manufactures and sells fiber optic components, modules, and turn-key photonic systems including optical switches, variable optical attenuators, modulators, fiber couplers/splitters, isolators/circulators, tunable filters, lasers, photodetectors, EDFAs, SOAs, WDM devices, polarization management devices, and RF over fiber links. The company also operates an in-house MEMS fabrication facility and provides device packaging and reliability testing services (Telcordia, MIL-SPEC, Aerospace) to customers in telecommunications, aerospace and defense, sensing, life sciences, and industrial markets.
Is Agiltron a public or private company?
Agiltron is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Agiltron founded?
Agiltron was founded in 1999. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Agiltron based?
Agiltron is headquartered in Woburn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Agiltron make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fiber Optic Components Sales are the primary driver. The others are MEMS Fabrication Services, device Package Services and reliability Test Services.
Who are Agiltron's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coherent, Lumentum, Thorlabs, Gooch & Housego, O-Net Communications and NKT Photonics. Broad incumbents are Hamamatsu Photonics and MKS Instruments. AMS Technologies is listed as a regional player. ID Photonics is listed as an emerging player.
Does Agiltron have an API?
No public API is recorded for Agiltron.
What industry is Agiltron in?
Agiltron's product category is Fiber Optic and Photonic Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs), with a secondary code of HDAHAAAG, Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs. Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3827.