What Sensofar does

Sensofar Group is a precision metrology company headquartered in Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain, that develops, manufactures, and sells non-contact 3D optical metrology systems. Founded in 2001 as a spin-off from CD6-UPC (Centre for Sensors, Instrument and Systems Development of the Technical University of Catalonia), the company operates through two divisions: Sensofar Metrology, which serves manufacturers and research institutions with 3D surface profilers for quality control, process optimization, and R&D, and Sensofar Medical, founded in 2012, which provides optical inline inspection systems for implantable medical devices such as stents and heart valves. Customers span advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, medical devices, optics, aerospace and automotive, consumer electronics, and research and academia, across more than 30 countries.

The core technology integrates four complementary optical techniques - confocal, interferometry, focus variation, and spectroscopic reflectometry - within a unified measurement platform. Proprietary capabilities include Confocal Fusion (which combines confocal and focus variation for transparent materials), Continuous Confocal, AI Focus Variation, and the Encoded Search Focal Scan (ESFS) patent granted in 2023. The hardware portfolio spans the S lynx 2, S neox, S neox Five Axis, S neox Grand Format, and S wide (large-area 300x300mm) profilers; integrable sensors including S mart 2, S neox sensor, S neox Cleanroom, and S wide sensor for OEM integration; software platforms SensoCOMP, SensoVIEW, SensoMAP, SensoPRO (with PROCanvas), and the SensoSCAN SDK; and medical inspection systems Q vix, Q vix Pivot, and AVIT 5 with associated mandrel fixtures. The platform supports ISO 25178 areal texture compliance and addresses sub-5nm semiconductor process measurement.

Sensofar monetizes primarily through direct sales of high-end hardware instruments under quote-based, consultative pricing, supplemented by recurring service contracts (calibration, maintenance, validation, support), one-time software licenses, and turn-key professional services. Go-to-market combines direct regional sales offices in Spain, China (Shanghai and Taipei), Germany (Langen), the United Kingdom (Gloucester), and the United States (Newington, CT) with a global distributor network spanning more than 30 countries and OEM partnerships with Leica Microsystems (DCM8) and GF Machining Solutions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and enterprise equipment is typically procured under multi-year contracts.

Name

Sensofar

Legal name

SENSOFAR-TECH, SL

Website

https://sensofar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sensofar Group is a Spanish precision metrology company founded in 2001 that develops non-contact 3D optical profilers and medical-device inspection systems. It sells through direct offices in Spain, China, Germany, the UK, and the USA, alongside a distributor network spanning more than 30 countries. Customers span advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, medical devices, and research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Optical Profilometer Systems: Sale of high-end non-contact 3D optical profilometers including S lynx 2, S neox, S neox Five Axis, S neox Grand Format, and S wide. These are precision measurement instruments for surface characterization in research and industrial applications.
2. Medical Inspection Systems: Sale of inline inspection systems including Q vix, Q vix Pivot, and AVIT 5 for quality assurance of implantable medical devices such as stents and heart valves.
3. Software Licenses: Software products including SensoCOMP (CAD-based analysis), SensoVIEW (visualization), SensoMAP (analysis), and SensoPRO (automation). Software may be bundled with hardware or sold separately.
4. Integrable Sensor Solutions: Sale of integrable metrology sensors (S mart 2, S neox sensor, S neox Cleanroom, S wide sensor) for OEM and custom integration applications.
5. Professional Services: Training programs, calibration services, validation services, installation qualification protocols, and turn-key service offerings for customers and distributors.
6. Service Contracts: Post-sales services including calibration, maintenance, and support contracts for installed base customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sensofar develops, manufactures, and commercializes high-end non-contact 3D optical metrology instruments through two divisions: Sensofar Metrology provides 3D surface profilers based on confocal, interferometry, focus variation, and spectroscopic reflectometry techniques for industry and research; Sensofar Medical provides in-line optical inspection systems for quality assurance of implantable medical devices including stents and heart valves.

Product overview

Sensofar operates two main divisions under a unified group structure: Sensofar Metrology and Sensofar Medical. Sensofar Metrology provides high-end non-contact 3D surface profilers based on complementary confocal, interferometry, focus variation, and spectroscopic reflectometry techniques. The product portfolio includes industry & research systems (S lynx 2, S neox, S neox Five Axis, S neox Grand Format, S wide), integrable sensors (S mart 2, S neox sensor, S neox Cleanroom, S wide sensor), and software solutions (SensoCOMP, SensoVIEW, SensoMAP, SensoPRO, SensoSCAN SDK). Sensofar Medical provides state-of-the-art in-line inspection systems for implantable medical devices including stents and heart valves, with products such as Q vix, Q vix Pivot, AVIT 5, and mandrel fixtures. The company is headquartered in Barcelona with sales offices in Asia, Germany, UK, and USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• S lynx 2: 3D optical profiler system for industry and research applications
• S neox
• S wide
• SensoCOMP
• SensoPRO
• Q vix
• Q vix Pivot
• Q six
• AVIT 5

Products and services

• S neox High-performance non-contact 3D optical profiler for QA/QC and R&D applications, combining confocal, interferometry, focus variation, and spectroscopic reflectometry techniques. Designed for advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, and research customers.
• S neox Five Axis Advanced configuration of S neox with five-axis positioning capability for complex measurement scenarios including steep angles and small cutting-edge measurements of a few micrometers.
• S neox Grand Format Large-format 3D optical profiler designed for measuring larger samples while maintaining high precision surface analysis capabilities.
• S lynx 2 3D optical profiler for industry and research applications within Sensofar's non-contact surface metrology portfolio.
• S wide High-performance non-contact 3D optical large area metrology system for micro-scale measurement, measuring large sample areas up to 300 x 300 mm in a single click for roughness, flatness, critical dimensions, GD&T, and CAD comparisons.
• S mart 2 sensor Integrable 3D optical sensor for in-line manufacturing applications, designed for OEM and process integration.
• S neox sensor Integrable version of the S neox optical profiler technology for embedding into customer systems and OEM applications.
• S neox Cleanroom Cleanroom-compatible version of the S neox sensor for semiconductor and other controlled environment OEM integration.
• S wide sensor Integrable large-area sensor for measuring large sample areas in manufacturing integration scenarios.
• SensoCOMP CAD-based dimensional analysis software solution for 3D measurement workflows, making surface analysis more intuitive and efficient.
• SensoPRO 5 Quality control software with PROCanvas for customizable automated 3D surface analysis workflows.
• SensoMAP Analysis software for 3D surface texture analysis supporting ISO 25178 standards, developed under technology agreement with Digital Surf.
• SensoVIEW Analysis software for viewing and interpreting 3D surface measurement data.
• SensoSCAN SDK Software Development Kit enabling integration of Sensofar optical metrology sensors into custom applications and OEM workflows.
• Q vix Comprehensive inline optical inspection system for quality assurance of stents and heart valves.
• Q vix Pivot Specialized inline inspection system for contoured stents and heart valve frames with non-cylindrical geometries.
• AVIT 5 Inline optical inspection system for quality assurance of implantable medical devices and components.
• Q six System for assisted stent inspection, the first product of the Sensofar Medical division.

Quantifiable outcome

• Large area measurement up to 300x300mm in single click with S wide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CD6-UPCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Centre for Sensors, Instrument and Systems Development of the Technical University of Catalonia (CD6-UPC). Sensofar originated as a spin-off from CD6-UPC in 2001 and maintains close collaboration combining new product lines with value-added improvements based on comprehensive knowledge of optical metrology field.
• Leica MicrosystemsmajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnological partnership (since 2008) supplying Europe with technology and component systems to complement Leica's industrial line of 3D metrology instruments. First OEM contract in 2006. Launched DCM3D and later DCM8 OEM system designed for Leica.
• GF Machining SolutionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership established 2016 for integrating Sensofar's products in customized projects for advanced manufacturing applications.
• SECPhOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of SECPhO (founded 2010), an organization likely related to photonics industry development in Spain.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership (2019) for pursuing advanced manufacturing and surface metrology. Sensofar and MTC working closely together to innovate future technologies alongside industry and academia.
• BRETmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for integrable solutions, successfully providing combined solutions to customers. Collaboration showcased at SPIE events.
• CCATmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in USA (2022) as part of expanding partnerships and building trust relationships nationwide.
• NewLabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in USA (2022) as part of developing long-lasting partnerships to make Sensofar a strong brand within the US.
• 360 CARLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project that promotes career development pathways in the photonics ecosystem and connects emerging talent with real industrial applications.
• Catalan Semiconductor and Chips AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSensofar is part of this growing ecosystem that brings together companies, research centers, and institutions to foster public-private collaboration, attract talent, and enhance global competitiveness. Aims to position Catalonia as key international hub in semiconductors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bruker (Alicona): Bruker acquired Alicona, a manufacturer of 3D optical surface metrology systems based on focus variation. Directly competes with Sensofar's S neox and S wide in industrial and research surface measurement.
• Zygo (AMETEK): Zygo is a long-standing maker of interferometric 3D optical profilers and surface metrology instruments under AMETEK. Directly competes with Sensofar in precision interferometry and confocal profilometry.
• Keyence: Keyence offers a broad line of optical profilometers and non-contact measurement systems for industrial QA. Directly competes with Sensofar across precision surface measurement use cases, often at lower price points.
• Taylor Hobson (AMETEK): Taylor Hobson manufactures high-precision surface profilers and form measurement instruments. Directly competes with Sensofar in sub-micron surface texture measurement and is part of the same AMETEK umbrella as Zygo.
• Renishaw: Renishaw provides industrial metrology including optical encoders and surface measurement systems. It overlaps with Sensofar in precision measurement for advanced manufacturing and serves similar industrial customers.
• Polytec: Polytec manufactures optical measurement solutions including laser vibrometry and 3D surface metrology. Compares to Sensofar in non-contact optical instrumentation for industrial and research customers.

Emerging players

• Nanovea: Nanovea specializes in 3D non-contact profilers and mechanical testers using confocal and interferometry. Smaller and more specialized than Sensofar but addresses the same core metrology market.

Broad incumbents

• KLA Corporation: KLA is a dominant semiconductor process control and yield management company. While not a direct competitor in standalone profilometry, it is a broad incumbent competing for the same semiconductor metrology budget.
• Hitachi High-Tech: Hitachi High-Tech provides semiconductor metrology and inspection equipment. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Sensofar's cleanroom-compatible sensors and semiconductor process control offerings.

Others

• Leica Microsystems: Leica Microsystems is Sensofar's largest OEM partner (since 2008) and also sells industrial microscopy and metrology solutions. The relationship is partner-enabling rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sensofar
• Xx.com/sensofar

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Sensofar