Thermionics

What Thermionics does

Thermionics Laboratory, Inc. is a privately held U.S. manufacturer founded in 1958 that designs, builds, and sells ultra-high vacuum (UHV) equipment for thin-film deposition, particle-accelerator, semiconductor, aerospace, energy-storage, and cryogenic-research applications. The company's core product platform is the e-Gun™ family of electron beam guns, offered in single-pocket and multi-pocket configurations at 3 kW to 15 kW power ratings, complemented by a broad accessory ecosystem including 4–12 kW solid-state power supplies, digital sweep controllers, UHV valves, electrical feedthroughs, flanges (including the proprietary XHV PyraFlat™ metal-sealed flange line), vacuum gauges and controllers, viewports, and custom-engineered UHV chambers and complete deposition systems. It also operates a wholly-owned services subsidiary, TMPI (Thermionics Manufacturing & Precision Inc.), which delivers precision parts cleaning, media blasting, passivation, cleanroom packaging, and shield cleaning for vacuum and semiconductor components.

The company operates a B2B, quote-based enterprise field-sales motion, selling directly from its Hayward, California headquarters via phone and email and through regional channel partners DE TECH (China), R-DEC (Japan), and NEYCO/HEF Group (France). End-customers include U.S. national laboratories (SLAC, Oak Ridge, Lawrence Livermore, Fermilab, Berkeley Lab), aerospace and defense buyers (Lockheed Martin), and the global semiconductor capital-equipment and fab ecosystem (LAM Research, Applied Materials, KLA, Tokyo Electron, TSMC, IBM, Intel, ASM International). Marketing is concentrated on industry events such as SEMICON West, AVS symposia, the Battery Show, SPIE Photonics West, and MRS meetings, supported by a product-catalog website and a LinkedIn corporate presence. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the firm has no institutional funding rounds, M&A, or leadership-change history in the available record.

Thermionics' competitive positioning is built on 65+ years of accumulated vacuum-engineering expertise, proprietary e-Gun™ and PyraFlat™ technology, custom-engineering capability for non-standard research and production setups, and an unusually complete single-vendor product range covering the deposition workflow from source to chamber. Risks for an investor include the absence of disclosed financials, a heavy reliance on cyclical semiconductor and government-research capex, dependence on a small set of channel partners for international reach, and the absence of any visible AI/ML or software differentiation in a market where adjacent semiconductor equipment vendors are increasingly competing on software-defined process control.

Name

Thermionics

Legal name

Thermionics Laboratory, Inc.

Website

https://thermionics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Thermionics Laboratory, Inc., founded in 1958 and headquartered in Hayward, California, is a privately held manufacturer of ultra-high vacuum equipment and electron beam guns (e-Gun™) for thin-film deposition, serving semiconductor capital-equipment buyers, U.S. national laboratories, aerospace and defense, and energy-storage research customers via direct sales and regional channel partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ultra High Vacuum Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Vacuum Pumps & Systems (IMAHANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers) (IMAHAGAN), Cryogenic Vacuum, Pumps & Thermal Management (HDAGABAD)

Keywords

• Ultra high vacuum equipment
• Electron beam guns
• Thin film deposition
• Vacuum chamber manufacturing
• Physical vapor deposition

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Townsend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ultra High Vacuum Equipment Sales: Sale of ultra-high vacuum systems, electron beam guns, chambers, valves, and components. Products are sold as one-time capital equipment purchases with optional accessories and replacement parts.
2. Precision Parts Cleaning Services: Associated TMPI brand provides precision cleaning, passivation, media blasting, and cleanroom packaging services for critical components.
3. Custom Systems and Integration: Design, development, and integration of custom vacuum systems and deposition chambers for specific client requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Thermionics manufactures and sells ultra-high vacuum (UHV) equipment, with its core product being the proprietary e-Gun™ electron beam gun line for thin film deposition in HV/UHV environments. The company also produces complementary vacuum infrastructure including chambers, valves, flanges, feedthroughs, gauges, power supplies, sweep controllers, and custom vacuum systems, alongside precision parts cleaning services through its TMPI subsidiary.

Product overview

Thermionics, founded in 1958, is a manufacturer of Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) solutions for academic, governmental, and industrial institutions worldwide. The company's product portfolio centers on e-Guns™ (electron beam guns) — high-precision instruments for thin film deposition in HV/UHV applications — supported by a comprehensive ecosystem of chambers, valves, feedthroughs, gauges, power supplies, and sweep controllers. The e-Gun™ line encompasses multi-pocket systems (HCL, HYDRATM, HM2 Triad, HCR, ICR, RCL/RCR series) for codeposition and multi-material processing, and single-pocket systems (HC, HM2, HCCS, RC, RCF, Classic series) for simpler applications. Accessories include crucible assemblies, indexers, liners, emitters, filaments, insulators, and sweep coils. Chambers and accessories provide complementary UHV infrastructure including custom vacuum chambers, electrical feedthroughs, flanges, gauges, controllers, and various valve types (butterfly, angle, gate, inline). Precision cleaning services (via TMPI) cover media blasting, passivation, and cleanroom packaging. The portfolio serves industries including thin film deposition, semiconductor fabrication, aerospace, energy storage, particle accelerators, and research & development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• e-Gun™ Electron Beam Guns High-precision electron beam gun instruments that emit electrons using thermal energy or field emission mechanisms for thin film deposition in High Vacuum (HV) and Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) applications, sold to academic, government, semiconductor, aerospace, and industrial clients.
• Multi-Pocket Electron Beam Guns Versatile e-Gun systems with multiple material sources for efficient material indexing and deposition precision, including HCL, HYDRA, HM2 Triad, HCR, ICR, and RCL/RCR series with various pocket configurations and power ratings, used for codeposition and multi-material processing.
• Single Pocket Electron Beam Guns Engineered e-Guns for simplicity and accurate electron control, featuring adjustable beam spot sizes and seamless emitter replacement for high-purity material evaporation in semiconductor fabrication and energy storage solutions, including HC, HM2, HCCS, RC, RCF, and Classic series.
• UHV Chambers and Accessories Ultra-high vacuum chambers and precision-engineered accessories including electrical feedthroughs, flanges, gauges, valves, viewports, and custom vacuum systems designed for demanding research and industrial applications.
• UHV Systems Complete electron beam gun deposition systems and custom vacuum systems designed for specific research or production requirements, providing turnkey thin film deposition solutions.
• UHV Valves Comprehensive line of Ultra High Vacuum isolation valves including butterfly, angle, bakeable, gate, inline, straight-thru, and tee valves in various sizes and metal-seal configurations.
• Electrical Feedthroughs FEP multi-conductor instrumentation feedthroughs and FHC/FMC series electrical feedthroughs for power and signal transmission into vacuum environments.
• Flanges, Fittings and Hardware CF style flanges, edge welded bellows, formed bellows, ISO components, XHV PyraFlat™ metal-sealed flanges, vacuum tubing, and precision hardware for UHV system construction.
• Gauges and Controllers Vacuum measurement equipment including cold cathode ionization gauges, thermocouple gauge controllers, ionization gauges, and thermocouple vacuum gauge tubes.
• Electron Beam Gun Power Supplies Solid state power supplies (4 kW to 12 kW) designed for stable, high-efficient performance with advanced control options and reliable power management for e-Gun systems.
• Sweep Controllers Precision controllers that control electron beam movement across target material for uniform evaporation, improved deposition consistency, and reduced material waste with programmable beam patterns and real-time adjustments.
• Resistive Evaporation Source Thermal evaporation source designed for material evaporation with thermal control, ideal for advanced applications requiring versatility.
• e-Gun™ Accessories and Replacement Parts Comprehensive range of electron beam gun components including crucible assemblies, indexers, liners, cooling shrouds, magnets, thickness monitors, emitter anodes, cathodes, filaments, insulators, sweep coils, source flanges, and power supplies sold as standalone replacement parts and consumables.
• Precision Parts Cleaning Services Critical parts cleaning services including media blasting, passivation of stainless steel, cleanroom packaging, and shield cleaning for semiconductor and vacuum science equipment maintenance, provided through the wholly-owned TMPI subsidiary.
• Media Blasting Services Bead blasting services for precision parts cleaning and surface preparation, provided by the TMPI subsidiary.
• Passivation Services Passivation of stainless steel for enhanced corrosion resistance and longevity of vacuum components, provided by the TMPI subsidiary.
• Cleanroom Packaging Services Cleanroom packaging services ensuring contamination-free handling and storage of precision vacuum components, provided by the TMPI subsidiary.
• Shield Cleaning Services Specialized cleaning services for vacuum shields and protective components, provided by the TMPI subsidiary.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65 years of continuous operation in vacuum science industry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• DE TECHregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner representing Thermionics products in China. Enables local sales support and customer engagement for the Chinese market.
• R-DECregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner representing Thermionics products in Japan. Provides local sales and support services for Japanese customers.
• NEYCO/HEF GroupregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner representing Thermionics products in France. Part of the HEF Group, provides sales and distribution services for the French market.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pfeiffer Vacuum: Pfeiffer Vacuum is a large global manufacturer of vacuum pumps, components, and systems for semiconductor, analytical, and industrial applications. Comparable as a broad vacuum technology supplier, though Pfeiffer's portfolio spans far more product categories than Thermionics' focused UHV/e-beam niche.
• Leybold (Atlas Copco): Leybold, part of Atlas Copco, manufactures vacuum pumps, systems, and components for semiconductor, research, and industrial vacuum applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same end markets, though with significantly larger scale and a more diversified product portfolio.
• Edwards Vacuum: Edwards Vacuum (Atlas Copco) manufactures vacuum pumps, abatement systems, and integrated vacuum solutions for semiconductor and industrial customers. Comparable in end-market focus but operates at much larger scale and broader product scope than Thermionics' UHV components focus.
• ULVAC: ULVAC is a large Japanese manufacturer of vacuum equipment, semiconductor production systems, and thin film deposition tools. Comparable as a major incumbent in vacuum and thin film technology, particularly relevant given Thermionics' Japanese market presence and semiconductor customer base.
• Ferrotec: Ferrotec manufactures vacuum feedthroughs, chambers, e-beam evaporation sources, and thermoelectric modules for semiconductor, industrial, and research customers. Directly comparable in vacuum components and e-beam source products, with a broader portfolio spanning multiple industrial segments.

Direct peers

• VAT Group: VAT is a leading global manufacturer of vacuum valves, gate valves, and related UHV components used in semiconductor, display, and industrial vacuum processes. Directly comparable to Thermionics as both serve the same end-customer base with specialized UHV valve and component solutions.
• MDC Vacuum Products: MDC Vacuum Products manufactures UHV components, fittings, flanges, feedthroughs, valves, and custom vacuum chambers for research, semiconductor, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to Thermionics' chambers and accessories business, with similar product breadth in vacuum hardware.
• Angstrom Sciences: Angstrom Sciences specializes in electron beam evaporation sources and crucibles for thin film deposition, directly competing with Thermionics' core e-Gun™ product line. The closest pure-play competitor in e-beam source technology for research and industrial PVD applications.
• Kurt J. Lesker Company: Kurt J. Lesker manufactures vacuum components, thin film deposition equipment, and UHV chambers for research and industrial customers. Highly comparable to Thermionics given the overlapping focus on e-beam evaporation sources, vacuum chambers, and custom UHV systems for academic and industrial users.

Others

• HEF Group (NEYCO): HEF Group, parent of NEYCO, is a French surface engineering and vacuum distribution company. Relevant as Thermionics' distribution partner in France and as a complementary provider of vacuum and thin film equipment to European research and industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thermionics-laboratory-inc
• Xx.com/Thermionics_vac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Thermionics