Crystal IS
Crystal IS manufactures UVC LEDs and bulk Aluminum Nitride substrates for OEM customers in water disinfection, air quality, and sensing markets; the company sells Klaran LEDs, Optan sensor LEDs, and AlN substrates as a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersTroy, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Crystal IS does
Crystal IS, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Green Island, New York, manufactures ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVC LEDs) built on proprietary bulk Aluminum Nitride (AlN) substrate technology for water, air, and surface disinfection as well as sensing applications. The company's core technical differentiator is its bulk AlN substrate platform, which enables lattice-matched pseudomorphic growth of UVC epitaxial layers with peak power output at 265 nm, achieving more than double the internal quantum efficiency of sapphire-based alternatives and a Lambertian emission pattern that simplifies optical integration. Products are organized under three sub-brands: Klaran (UVC LED components and integrated reactors for point-of-use and point-of-entry water disinfection), Optan (UVC sensor LEDs for absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in water quality and gas sensing), and Substrates (bulk AlN wafers sold to semiconductor manufacturers and research institutions).
The business operates as an OEM-embedded B2B component supplier, selling directly to manufacturers across consumer, commercial, and industrial water treatment markets, with flagship customers including Amway's eSpring Water Treatment System. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of LED components, integrated reactor systems, and AlN substrates, supported by application engineering services. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales, channel partnerships with water reactor design specialists (Watersprint, Aquisense, UVDF), and the global reach of its parent company Asahi Kasei, which acquired Crystal IS in 2011. The company holds NSF/ANSI 55 Class B and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, leverages over 25 years of accumulated AlN expertise, and is increasingly pursuing adjacent markets in air quality, surface disinfection, and RF power semiconductors through collaborations such as its work with Cornell University on XHEMT transistors.
Crystal IS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crystal IS
- Legal name
- Crystal IS, Inc.
- Website
- https://cisuvc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Crystal IS manufactures UVC LEDs and bulk Aluminum Nitride substrates for OEM customers in water disinfection, air quality, and sensing markets; the company sells Klaran LEDs, Optan sensor LEDs, and AlN substrates as a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crystal IS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- UVC LED Components and Aluminum Nitride Substrates
- NAICS
- Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)
Keywords
Where Crystal IS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Troy
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Crystal IS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- UVC LED Components: Sale of UVC LED components (Klaran product line) for water disinfection applications. Solid-state semiconductor devices sold as discrete components for integration into OEM products.
- UVC LED Systems: Sale of UVC LED systems including reactors and integrated solutions for water treatment. These complete systems are sold to manufacturers and end customers.
- AlN Substrates: Sale of bulk aluminum nitride substrates to other semiconductor manufacturers and research institutions. Crystal IS has achieved 99% usable area on 100 mm bulk AlN substrates.
- Optan UVC Sensor LEDs: Sale of UVC sensor LEDs for sensing applications including water quality monitoring, gas sensing, and spectroscopy.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Crystal IS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crystal IS manufactures UVC LEDs, UVC LED-based water disinfection reactors, and bulk Aluminum Nitride (AlN) substrates. Its products emit germicidal light in the 260–270 nm range for water, air, and surface disinfection and are sold as discrete components and integrated systems to OEM manufacturers, appliance makers, and semiconductor companies for incorporation into consumer, commercial, and industrial applications.
Product overview
Crystal IS offers a unified product portfolio centered on Aluminum Nitride (AlN) UVC LED technology for disinfection applications. The core offerings include Klaran (water disinfection LEDs and reactors), Optan (sensor LEDs for water quality monitoring), and Substrates (bulk AlN substrates). The products are built on Crystal IS's proprietary bulk Aluminum Nitride technology, which enables higher internal efficiency and lower internal absorption compared to sapphire-based alternatives. The portfolio serves water, air, and surface disinfection markets across consumer, commercial, and industrial applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Klaran: UVC LEDs and systems for water disinfection applications
- Optan
- Substrates
Products and services
- Klaran UVC Disinfection LEDs UVC LED product line emitting germicidal light in the 260–270 nm range for point-of-use and point-of-entry water disinfection; sold to OEM manufacturers for integration into water treatment appliances, dispensers, and industrial systems.
- Optan UVC Sensor LEDs UVC Sensor LEDs for absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, gas sensing, and online real-time water quality monitoring, offering low power usage and high accuracy for instrument OEMs and research institutions.
- Bulk Aluminum Nitride (AlN) Substrates Bulk Aluminum Nitride substrates with low defect density, high UV transparency, and low impurity concentrations, serving as the foundation for high-performance UVC LEDs and supplied to semiconductor manufacturers and research institutions.
- Klaran UVC LED Reactor UVC LED-based water reactor systems designed for integration into water dispensers, coolers, and beverage equipment, offering maintenance-free operation lasting the lifetime of the host product.
- Klaran WS Series UVC LED Retrofit Kit UVC LED Retrofit Kit for water cooler systems providing microbiological disinfection capability for existing equipment.
- Klaran WR Series UVC LED Reactor UVC LED Reactor designed for water cooler systems with proven microbiological effectiveness testing protocols for commercial water disinfection.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 25% more energy efficient than mercury lamp-based systems
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Crystal IS
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Crystal IS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Crystal IS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- AmwayflagshipAmway selected Crystal IS to treat and disinfect water in its new eSpring Water Treatment System. Crystal IS's Klaran UVC LEDs provide point-of-use disinfection ensuring reliable purification without affecting temperature, taste, or smell of the water.
- Asahi KaseicoreIn 2011, Crystal IS was acquired by Asahi Kasei, a diversified Japanese holding company with more than 45,000 employees serving customers in over 100 countries through technical innovation in materials, homes and healthcare business sectors. Crystal IS operates as a subsidiary maintaining its brand and operations.
- Cornell UniversityminorCornell researchers collaborated with Crystal IS to produce ultra-low dislocation density AlN single crystals used in development of next-generation XHEMT RF transistors for 5G/6G networks and defense radar systems.
- WatersprintcoreWater reactor design partner providing complete UVC LED-based water disinfection solutions integrated with Crystal IS LEDs for commercial applications.
- AquisensecoreWater reactor design partner specializing in UVC LED disinfection systems for commercial and industrial water treatment applications.
- UVDFcoreWater reactor design partner offering UVC LED-based disinfection solutions for point-of-use and point-of-entry water treatment.
- CDI (Component Distributors Inc.)minorPrototype development partner providing distribution and support for Crystal IS products in prototype development and evaluation.
- SEMIminorIndustry association membership supporting the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing industry.
- WaterCooler EuropeminorIndustry association membership for water cooler and dispensers industry in Europe.
- UVSAFEminorIndustry coalition focused on safe use of UV technology for disinfection and sterilization applications.
- Advanced UV for LifeminorIndustry initiative promoting UV technology applications for life sciences and healthcare disinfection.
- International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA)minorProfessional association dedicated to the advancement of ultraviolet disinfection and treatment technologies.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Crystal IS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seoul Viosys: South Korean LED manufacturer and one of the leading global suppliers of UVC LEDs under its Violeds brand. Competes directly with Crystal IS's Klaran line in water, air, and surface disinfection applications, with a broader product portfolio across visible and UV wavelengths.
- Bolb Inc. Emerging US-based UVC LED company developing high-output deep-UV LEDs for disinfection and sterilization. Competes with Crystal IS in germicidal UVC LED performance and is targeting similar water, air, and surface disinfection use cases.
- Nichia: Japanese LED market leader with a strong UVC LED product line used in sterilization and water treatment. As the largest general LED manufacturer, Nichia competes directly with Crystal IS in UVC LEDs while offering broader illumination and specialty lighting products.
- AquiSense Technologies: US-based specialist in UVC LED water treatment systems and a Crystal IS channel partner. Competes directly in UVC LED-based point-of-use, point-of-entry, and industrial water disinfection, often sourcing LEDs from Crystal IS or peer manufacturers like Seoul Viosys.
- Luminus Devices: US-based specialty LED manufacturer offering UV/UVC, visible, and infrared LEDs for industrial, medical, and horticultural applications. Luminus's UV LED portfolio competes directly with Crystal IS's Klaran disinfection LEDs and Optan sensor LEDs.
Broad incumbents
- Halma plc: UK-listed safety and environmental technology group owning UV water treatment brands including Hanovia and Berson. Halma serves municipal, industrial, and commercial UV disinfection markets with traditional lamp-based systems and is a comparable incumbent to Crystal IS in the broader water disinfection space.
- Trojan Technologies: Specialist in UV water treatment systems for municipal, industrial, and recreational water applications. A long-standing incumbent in UV disinfection whose transition to UV LED technology would intersect with Crystal IS's growth opportunity.
- ams Osram: Large European optoelectronics conglomerate producing LEDs, lasers, and sensors including UVC LEDs for disinfection and horticultural lighting. While not exclusively focused on UVC, ams Osram's scale, automotive and industrial channels, and UV portfolio position it as a broad incumbent competitor.
- Xylem: Global water technology company with significant UV disinfection systems under the Wedeco and other brands, serving municipal and industrial water treatment. While primarily a system integrator using mercury and UV lamp technology, Xylem represents the incumbent installed base that UVC LED suppliers like Crystal IS are disrupting.
- Lumileds: Global LED lighting company producing automotive, specialty, and illumination LEDs. While not a pure-play UVC competitor, Lumileds is a broad optoelectronics incumbent whose general LED scale and R&D resources overlap with Crystal IS's addressable customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Crystal IS social profiles
Digital presenceCrystal IS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Crystal IS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crystal IS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Crystal IS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crystal IS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Crystal IS
What does Crystal IS do?
Crystal IS manufactures UVC LEDs, UVC LED-based water disinfection reactors, and bulk Aluminum Nitride (AlN) substrates. Its products emit germicidal light in the 260–270 nm range for water, air, and surface disinfection and are sold as discrete components and integrated systems to OEM manufacturers, appliance makers, and semiconductor companies for incorporation into consumer, commercial, and industrial applications.
Is Crystal IS a public or private company?
Crystal IS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Crystal IS founded?
Crystal IS was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Crystal IS based?
Crystal IS is headquartered in Troy, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crystal IS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. UVC LED Components are the primary driver. The others are UVC LED Systems, alN Substrates and optan UVC Sensor LEDs.
Who are Crystal IS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seoul Viosys, Bolb Inc., Nichia, AquiSense Technologies and Luminus Devices. Broad incumbents are Halma plc, Trojan Technologies, ams Osram, Xylem and Lumileds.
Does Crystal IS have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crystal IS.
What industry is Crystal IS in?
Crystal IS's product category is UVC LED Components and Aluminum Nitride Substrates. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAJAF, Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors). Its NAICS code is 335139 and its SIC code is 3640.