SwissOptic
SwissOptic AG is a Swiss-based OEM manufacturer of precision optical components and optomechanical subsystems, serving semiconductor inspection, medical technology, industrial/manufacturing, and metrology customers from facilities in Heerbrugg and Wuhan under Jenoptik ownership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersHeerbrugg, Switzerland
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SwissOptic does
SwissOptic AG is a Swiss-headquartered precision optics manufacturer that develops, produces, and integrates optical, mechanical, and electronic subsystems for OEM customers worldwide. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, the company operates a dual-site footprint with its Swiss headquarters and a wholly-owned Chinese manufacturing subsidiary, SwissOptic (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. Its core product portfolio spans ultra-planar optics and prisms, spherical optics (lenses, achromates, encapsulated systems, mirrors), aspheres and freeform optics, coatings and microstructures across a 190–6000 nm spectral range, opto-mechanical assembly, and dedicated DUV (<300 nm) optics for semiconductor wafer inspection. Engineering services — optical design, mechanical design, coating design, system measurement, and systems engineering/project management — are bundled with the product line, enabling delivery from concept through volume production.
SwissOptic generates revenue exclusively through B2B OEM contracts, with no consumer-facing distribution or published pricing. It serves four vertical end-markets: semiconductor inspection, medical technology (ISO 13485 certified, including ophthalmology and life sciences), industrial manufacturing/security/multimedia, and metrology. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales supported by a bilingual corporate website, LinkedIn and YouTube presence, downloadable technical datasheets, and participation in industry trade shows.
In November 2021 SwissOptic AG, together with BG Medical Applications, was acquired by Jenoptik, a German photonics and laser technology group, and now operates as a wholly-owned core subsidiary under the Jenoptik umbrella while retaining the SwissOptic brand. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications across its Swiss and Chinese operations and ISO 13485 for its medical technology division.
SwissOptic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SwissOptic
- Legal name
- SwissOptic AG
- Website
- https://swissoptic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- SwissOptic AG is a Swiss-based OEM manufacturer of precision optical components and optomechanical subsystems, serving semiconductor inspection, medical technology, industrial/manufacturing, and metrology customers from facilities in Heerbrugg and Wuhan under Jenoptik ownership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SwissOptic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Optical Components and Systems
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD), Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)
Keywords
Where SwissOptic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Heerbrugg
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
SwissOptic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SwissOptic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SwissOptic AG is a Swiss precision optics manufacturer that develops, produces, and integrates custom optical components and optomechanical systems for OEM customers in light-using industries. Its portfolio spans prisms, spherical and aspherical lenses, freeform optics, thin-film coatings across 190–6000nm, opto-mechanical assemblies, and specialized DUV (<300 nm) optics for semiconductor inspection, complemented by in-house optical, mechanical, and coating design engineering and system measurement services.
Product overview
SwissOptic AG is a Swiss-based company specializing in high-precision optical systems. The company operates a platform-plus-modules architecture, offering both standard product lines and customized solutions. Core products include Prisms & Plane-Parallel Optics, Spherical Optics, Aspherical & Freeform Optics, Coatings & Microstructures, Assembly & System Testing, and OEM Optics for the Semiconductor Industry. These are complemented by add-on modules such as Customized Modules and Customized Lenses. The company also provides engineering services including Optical Design, Mechanical Design, Coating Design, System Measurement, and Systems Engineering & Project Management. SwissOptic serves specialized markets including Semiconductor Industry, Medical Technology, Industrial Manufacturing/Security/Multimedia, and Metrology, offering products from concept through volume production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Prisms & Plane-Parallel Optics
Companies that use SwissOptic
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SwissOptic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
SwissOptic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- JenoptikcoreBG Medical Applications, SwissOptic Heerbrugg and Wuhan became part of Jenoptik through a successful closing in November 2021. SwissOptic AG operates as a subsidiary within the Jenoptik Group, which is a global photonics and laser technology company.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SwissOptic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OptoSigma: OptoSigma is a Japanese manufacturer of optical components, optomechanical systems, and coating services for semiconductor, life sciences, and industrial OEM customers. Comparable to SwissOptic in offering precision lenses, mirrors, prisms, and coated optics with an OEM B2B go-to-market.
- Thorlabs: Thorlabs is a US-headquartered manufacturer of photonics equipment including precision optical components (lenses, prisms, aspheres, coatings), optomechanical assemblies, and laser systems. Highly comparable OEM-style optics manufacturing across semiconductor, life sciences, and metrology end markets.
- Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics manufactures and distributes precision optical components including lenses, prisms, aspheric optics, coatings, and optomechanical assemblies for semiconductor inspection, life sciences, and industrial metrology. A direct competitor in OEM optics with comparable product breadth and multi-segment exposure.
- Berliner Glas: Berliner Glas is a German precision optics manufacturer producing optical components, assemblies, and systems for semiconductor, medical, and industrial customers. Closely comparable to SwissOptic in product scope (lenses, prisms, coatings, optomechanical assemblies) and OEM B2B go-to-market; SwissOptic's website even references a shared "berlinerglas" theme asset, suggesting historical brand overlap.
Broad incumbents
- SCHOTT: SCHOTT is a German specialty glass and optics manufacturer producing optical glass substrates, coated optical components, and photonic components used in semiconductor, medical, and industrial applications. A broad incumbent comparable to SwissOptic in substrate and coated optics supply for OEM customers.
- II-VI / Coherent: Coherent (formerly II-VI) is a large US photonics materials and components company producing optoelectronic components, laser optics, and precision optics for semiconductor, industrial, and life sciences markets. A broad incumbent competing with SwissOptic in OEM photonics components.
- Jenoptik: Jenoptik is the German photonics parent company that acquired SwissOptic in November 2021. It is a broad incumbent operating across light & optics, laser technology, and optical systems with a global manufacturing footprint; directly comparable as the larger group within which SwissOptic now operates its precision optics business.
- MKS Instruments: MKS Instruments is a US-based broad incumbent in photonics and precision optics, producing optical components, coatings, and laser systems for semiconductor, life sciences, and industrial OEM customers. Comparable in end-market exposure to SwissOptic, particularly in semiconductor process control and DUV optics.
- Carl Zeiss (ZEISS Industrial Quality & Research): Carl Zeiss is a German global incumbent in optics and optoelectronics, producing precision lenses, optical systems, and DUV optics for semiconductor lithography/inspection through its Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment. A much larger incumbent competing in the same precision optics OEM markets as SwissOptic.
Emerging players
- Asphericon: Asphericon is a German specialist in aspheric lenses and freeform optical surfaces for laser, semiconductor, and life sciences applications. Closely comparable to SwissOptic's aspheres and freeform optics product line with overlapping customer base in laser-based metrology and OEM optics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SwissOptic social profiles
Digital presenceSwissOptic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
SwissOptic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SwissOptic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
SwissOptic subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
SwissOptic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SwissOptic 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 SwissOptic
What does SwissOptic do?
SwissOptic AG is a Swiss precision optics manufacturer that develops, produces, and integrates custom optical components and optomechanical systems for OEM customers in light-using industries. Its portfolio spans prisms, spherical and aspherical lenses, freeform optics, thin-film coatings across 190–6000nm, opto-mechanical assemblies, and specialized DUV (<300 nm) optics for semiconductor inspection, complemented by in-house optical, mechanical, and coating design engineering and system measurement services.
Is SwissOptic a public or private company?
SwissOptic is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SwissOptic founded?
SwissOptic was founded in 1997. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is SwissOptic based?
SwissOptic is headquartered in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
Who are SwissOptic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OptoSigma, Thorlabs, Edmund Optics and Berliner Glas. Broad incumbents are SCHOTT, II-VI / Coherent, Jenoptik, MKS Instruments and Carl Zeiss (ZEISS Industrial Quality & Research). Asphericon is listed as an emerging player.
Does SwissOptic have an API?
No public API is recorded for SwissOptic.
What industry is SwissOptic in?
SwissOptic's product category is Precision Optical Components and Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs), with a secondary code of HLAHAJAD, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3827.