Oxford Instruments

Name

Oxford Instruments

Legal name

Oxford Instruments plc

Website

https://oxinst.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems (HLAGAIAA), Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB), Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Scientific instrumentation
• Plasma etch systems
• Atomic force microscopy
• Electron microscopy
• Cryogenic systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Abingdon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instruments and Hardware Sales: Oxford Instruments generates the majority of revenue through the sale of high-value scientific instruments and hardware systems, including plasma processing tools, atomic force microscopes, electron microscopes, Raman spectrometers, NMR systems, X-ray cameras, and cryogenic dilution refrigerators. Products are sold directly to academic institutions, semiconductor manufacturers, and industrial R&D organizations. Revenue is recognized upon delivery of equipment with typical deal sizes ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds for complex systems.
2. Software Licenses and Upgrades: The company generates recurring revenue from software licenses, upgrades, and subscriptions for image analysis software (Imaris), microanalysis platforms (AZtec), and spectroscopy control software. Software updates and new versions (e.g., Imaris 11, AZtec 6.3) are sold as upgrades to existing customer bases.
3. Service, Support and Spares: Oxford Instruments provides ongoing service contracts, maintenance agreements, spare parts, application support, training, and upgrades for installed equipment. Service offerings include Contracts & Agreements, Spares, Upgrades, Training, Application & Product Support, and LiveAssist remote support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oxford Instruments designs, manufactures, and supplies high-technology scientific instruments and related software used for fabrication, analysis, and manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular scale. Its portfolio includes plasma etch and deposition tools for semiconductor manufacturing, atomic force and electron microscopes for materials characterization, confocal Raman spectrometers, NMR systems, cryogenic dilution refrigerators for low-temperature and quantum physics, and high-performance scientific cameras, complemented by imaging analysis software such as Imaris.

Product overview

Oxford Instruments provides a comprehensive portfolio of high-technology scientific instruments and systems for research and industry, organized into two main divisions: Advanced Manufacturing (plasma deposition and etch tools for semiconductors, microelectronics, and quantum technologies) and Imaging & Analysis (microscopy, spectroscopy, and material characterization solutions). The Advanced Manufacturing division offers Plasma Technology systems including ALD, ALE, ICP Etch, and PECVD tools for compound semiconductor, GaN, SiC, and quantum device manufacturing. The Imaging & Analysis division encompasses atomic force microscopy (Cypher, Jupiter platforms), electron microscopy analytical tools (AZtec, EBSD, EDS), light microscopy and cameras (Andor, Dragonfly, BC43), confocal Raman imaging (WITec alpha300, witec360), NMR spectroscopy (X-Pulse, MQC+), and 3D image analysis software (Imaris). The company also provides cryogenic solutions including dilution refrigerators for quantum computing applications. Products serve academic research, semiconductor manufacturing, life sciences, and industrial quality control across applications in quantum technologies, power electronics, datacom, and materials science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Andor: Scientific cameras, microscopy, and spectroscopy solutions for research applications
• Asylum Research
• WITec
• Imaris
• AZtec
• Proteox
• Atomfab
• PlasmaPro
• X-Pulse
• MQC+
• BC43
• Dragonfly
• Vero
• Jupiter
• witec360

Products and services

• Plasma Etch and Deposition Systems Plasma etch and deposition tools (PlasmaPro series, Atomfab ALD) used by semiconductor fabs and compound-semiconductor manufacturers for wafer processing at advanced technology nodes.
• Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM) Atomic force microscopes (Asylum Research brand, including Vero AFM) for high-resolution nanoscale imaging and measurement in materials science and life sciences.
• Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Tools Electron microscopes, EDS and EBSD detectors, and AZtec microanalysis software for materials characterization, failure analysis, and process control.
• Confocal Raman Microscopes Confocal Raman microscopes (WITec brand) for non-destructive chemical imaging and correlative Raman analysis in materials and life sciences.
• Scientific Imaging Cameras and Detectors High-performance scientific CMOS, EMCCD, and sCMOS cameras and detectors (Andor brand) used for low-light imaging across microscopy, spectroscopy, and physical sciences.
• Imaris Image Analysis Software 3D and 4D image visualization, analysis, and rendering software (Imaris) for microscopy datasets across life sciences and materials research.
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Systems NMR instrumentation for chemical analysis, materials characterization, and research applications in academic and industrial laboratories.
• X-Ray Detectors and Analysis Systems X-ray detectors and analysis systems for spectroscopy, diffraction, and materials characterization across research and industrial applications.
• Nanoindentation Systems Nanoindentation instruments for measuring mechanical properties (hardness, modulus) of materials at the micro- and nano-scale.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3x faster ALD processing speed with PlasmaPro ASP compared to alternatives
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rigetti ComputingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Oxford Instruments entered an agreement to supply its PlasmaPro 100 Cobra atomic layer etch (ALE) system to Rigetti Computing for deployment at Rigetti's Fab-1 quantum fabrication facility in Fremont, California. The ALE technology enables sub-nanometer precision control and reduced plasma-induced damage, addressing a critical manufacturing bottleneck in scaling superconducting quantum processors from experimental prototypes to fault-tolerant systems with thousands or millions of qubits.
• ROHM SemiconductorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Oxford Instruments enabled ROHM's in-house GaN manufacturing with advanced etch technology for 200mm production. The partnership supports ROHM's compound semiconductor power device manufacturing expansion using Oxford Instruments' advanced plasma etch solutions.
• CovalentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Covalent and Oxford Instruments announced a strategic collaboration to expand semiconductor characterization capabilities. The partnership integrates Oxford Instruments' WITec360 Raman technology with dual 355nm and 532nm laser excitation into Covalent's application-driven environment, enabling high-resolution wafer-level Raman and photoluminescence workflows for defectivity analysis, stress/strain mapping, process development, and failure analysis. The integrated solution supports compound semiconductors like silicon carbide and gallium nitride across R&D and high-volume production, targeting wafers up to 300mm.
• NYU Nanofabrication CleanroomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Oxford Instruments partnered with NYU Nanofabrication Cleanroom to install a PlasmaPro ASP atomic layer deposition system at the Brooklyn facility, marking the first US installation of this tool for superconducting quantum applications. The acquisition was funded by the US Microelectronics Commons through the NORDTECH hub under the Lab-to-Fab initiative launched in 2022 as part of the US CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to enable next-generation quantum hardware development and strengthen microelectronics research prototyping and workforce development.
• Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Oxford Instruments announced a plasma equipment supply agreement with Applied Optoelectronics Inc. to provide etch and deposition cluster systems for AOI's facility in Sugar Land, Texas. The agreement supports AOI's expansion in indium phosphide (InP) optoelectronic device manufacturing for AI datacenter optical transceivers. Oxford Instruments is supplying fully automated 3-6 inch capable production systems and expanding its service capabilities in the Texas region to support AOI's production scale-up.
• Lake Shore CryotronicsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Oxford Instruments collaborates with Lake Shore Cryotronics on electrical transport measurement solutions, combining cryogenic temperature control with electrical characterization for advanced materials research.
• QuantemolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Oxford Instruments and Quantemol announced a plasma modelling R&D collaboration project supported by Innovate UK, focused on advancing plasma process simulation for semiconductor manufacturing applications.
• Quantum MachinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025Oxford Instruments NanoScience makes Quantum Machines products available through its channel, enabling streamlined purchasing of quantum control electronics alongside dilution refrigerator systems for quantum computing researchers.
• Quantum DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Oxford Instruments sold its NanoScience (quantum computing-focused) division to Quantum Design in June 2025. The NanoScience division, which produced dilution refrigerators and cryogenic platforms, was divested as part of Oxford Instruments' strategic portfolio optimization.
• FemtoTools AGminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2024Oxford Instruments acquired FemtoTools AG, expanding its nanoindentation and nanomechanical testing capabilities for materials characterization applications.
• First Light Imaging SASminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2023Oxford Instruments acquired First Light Imaging SAS, a French company specializing in high-speed cameras for scientific imaging, expanding Andor's capabilities in high-performance scientific camera technology.
• WITec GmbHcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2021Oxford Instruments acquired WITec GmbH, a German company specializing in confocal Raman imaging microscopes, in 2021. WITec's alpha300 series and subsequent products (alpha300 apyron, Suite SIX/SIX/SEVEN software) are now fully integrated into Oxford Instruments' portfolio, with WITec's headquarters in Ulm, Germany serving as the Raman technology center.
• attocube systems AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021WITec and attocube launched cryoRaman, a combined cryogenic microscopy and Raman spectroscopy system, co-developed to enable Raman measurements at cryogenic temperatures for quantum materials research.
• ULVAC Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology collaborates with ULVAC Inc. on vacuum coating and plasma processing technologies, combining ULVAC's vacuum expertise with Oxford Instruments' plasma systems for advanced applications.
• Direct ElectronminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Oxford Instruments partnered with Direct Electron in Europe for direct electron detector distribution, complementing its electron microscopy portfolio with high-speed direct electron detection capabilities.
• Asylum ResearchcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2012Oxford Instruments acquired Asylum Research, a US-based atomic force microscopy company, adding the Cypher, Jupiter, and MFP-3D AFM product lines to its portfolio. Asylum Research operates from Santa Barbara, California and Bristol, UK, and continues to serve as Oxford Instruments' AFM center of excellence. Asylum Research products have won multiple R&D 100 and Frost & Sullivan awards.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bruker Corporation: US-listed scientific instruments company making AFMs, electron microscopes, NMR and mass spectrometers that directly compete with Oxford Instruments' Imaging & Analysis division across academic and life-science research customers.
• Renishaw plc: UK-based peer offering Raman spectroscopy, AFM, and industrial metrology systems; comparable in scale and product mix to Oxford Instruments, with overlap in confocal Raman and semiconductor measurement tools.
• HORIBA Scientific: Division of HORIBA Ltd providing Raman spectrometers, fluorescence spectroscopy, and analytical instruments that compete with Oxford's WITec Raman and Andor spectroscopy portfolios in academic and industrial research.
• JEOL Ltd: Japanese manufacturer of electron microscopes, NMR spectrometers, and scientific instruments directly overlapping with Oxford Instruments' electron microscopy and NMR product lines, particularly in academic and materials research.

Broad incumbents

• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Division of Carl Zeiss AG offering light, electron, and X-ray microscopy solutions that compete with Oxford's microscopy and imaging portfolio, but as part of a broader optics and medical technology conglomerate.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global analytical instruments and life sciences giant whose electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and materials characterization portfolios overlap with Oxford Instruments, though Oxford is more specialized and semiconductor-focused.
• Agilent Technologies: Major analytical instrument maker with NMR, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopy products that overlap with Oxford's analytical instruments and NMR franchises, but with a much broader chemicals and diagnostics portfolio.
• Hitachi High-Tech: Japanese conglomerate offering electron microscopes, analytical instruments, and semiconductor metrology equipment; Oxford Instruments sold its Industrial Analysis business to Hitachi in 2017, illustrating overlap.
• Shimadzu Corporation: Japanese scientific instruments company manufacturing mass spectrometers, chromatographs, and spectroscopic equipment that partially overlap with Oxford Instruments' analytical instruments and spectroscopy portfolio.

Emerging players

• Lam Research: US semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment leader in plasma etch and deposition; not a direct scientific instruments peer but a relevant adjacent player as Oxford Instruments scales its PlasmaPro products into high-volume semiconductor manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oxinst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/oxinst
• Facebookfacebook.com/oxinst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oxford-instruments

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A15 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Oxford Instruments