What Photon Systems Instruments does

Photon Systems Instruments (PSI), legally PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r.o., is a privately-held Czech scientific instrument manufacturer founded in 1994 and headquartered in Drasov near Brno. The company designs, manufactures, and sells professional instruments for plant science research and algae biotechnology, with a product portfolio spanning chlorophyll fluorescence imaging systems (FluorCams), automated high-throughput phenotyping platforms (PlantScreen), controlled-environment growth chambers and greenhouses, handheld measurement devices (FluorPen, AquaPen, PlantPen, SpectraPen, PolyPen, LaiPen, N-Pen), hyperspectral cameras, photobioreactors, LED cultivation lights, thermoluminescence and mass spectrometer instruments, laboratory robotics, and environmental data loggers (EnviLog). Core measurement technologies include proprietary PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulated) fluorometry, hyperspectral imaging, and integrated multi-sensor phenotyping, supported by dedicated Windows-based data acquisition software shipped under perpetual license.

PSI generates revenue primarily through one-time capital sales of instruments with perpetual software licenses, supplemented by accessories and consumables (cuvettes, probes, battery packs) and fee-for-service phenotyping and plant cultivation work performed through the PSI Research Center. Pricing ranges from entry-level handheld devices (€1,289-€2,699) to sophisticated automated phenotyping systems (€9,390-€16,189+), with custom-built equipment available on inquiry. The company sells globally through direct enterprise field sales with quote-based ordering, dedicated sales contacts per product category, and international shipping under DAP Incoterms. Customer segments include academic research institutions, algae biotechnology companies, agricultural science and plant breeding organizations, and controlled-environment agriculture operations.

The company operates with 51-100 employees from a single manufacturing and administrative facility in the Czech Republic, markets under the PSI brand, and supports sales through participation in plant science conferences (including IPAP 2026), scientific publication references, technical documentation, and a device loan evaluation program. Ownership and financial details are not disclosed; the company appears independently operated with no parent, institutional, or private equity backing identified in the available source data.

Name

Photon Systems Instruments

Legal name

PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r.o.

Website

https://psi.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Photon Systems Instruments (PSI) is a Czech manufacturer founded in 1994 that designs and sells scientific instruments — fluorometers, automated phenotyping platforms, handheld devices, and growth chambers — for plant science research and algae biotechnology customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instruments for Plant Science Research

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Scientific instrument manufacturing
• Chlorophyll fluorescence measurement
• Plant phenotyping systems
• PAM fluorometry devices
• Environmental monitoring sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Drasov

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrument Sales: PSI generates revenue through the sale of specialized scientific instruments for plant science research. Products are sold as one-time capital purchases with perpetual license for included software. Pricing ranges from entry-level handheld devices (€1,289-€2,699) to sophisticated automated phenotyping systems (€9,390-€16,189+).
2. Research Services: The PSI Research Center provides fee-for-service phenotyping, plant cultivation, and data analysis services to academic and industrial researchers on a collaboration project basis.
3. Accessories and Consumables: Sale of spare parts, accessories, and consumables including cuvettes, probes, battery packs, and calibration services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PSI manufactures and sells specialized scientific instruments for plant science and algae biotechnology research, including fluorescence imaging systems (FluorCams), PAM fluorometers, handheld chlorophyll fluorescence and reflectance devices (FluorPen, AquaPen, PlantPen, PolyPen, SpectraPen, LaiPen, N-Pen), controlled environment chambers and greenhouses, LED lights, photobioreactors, automated PlantScreen phenotyping platforms, hyperspectral imaging cameras, environmental data loggers (EnviLog), and other specialized instruments such as the PlanTherm PT 200, Gas Mixing System GMS 150, and Spectrometer SM 9000.

Product overview

Photon Systems Instruments (PSI) manufactures professional scientific instruments for plant science and algae biotechnology research. The product portfolio consists of standalone instruments and integrated systems organized into distinct product lines: (1) Fluorometers and FluorCams for chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and measurement; (2) Handheld Devices including FluorPen, AquaPen, PlantPen, SpectraPen, PolyPen, LaiPen, and N-Pen for portable measurements; (3) Imaging Sensors including fluorescence, hyperspectral, and other specialized cameras; (4) Controlled Environment products including Growth Chambers, Greenhouses, and LED Lights; (5) Phenotyping Systems (PlantScreen) for automated high-throughput plant analysis; (6) Photobioreactors for algae cultivation; (7) Environmental Sensors (EnviLog) for environmental monitoring; (8) Other specialized instruments including Thermoluminescence, Mass Spectrometer, Gas Mixing Systems, Spectrometers, and PlanTherm for heat tolerance testing. The handheld devices are complemented by dedicated FluorPen and SpectraPen software packages for Windows-based data management and analysis. Several instruments can function as standalone devices or integrate with PlantScreen phenotyping platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FluorCams Fluorescence imaging systems for non-invasive measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics in plants and algae.
• Fluorometers Fluorometer instruments for measuring chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in various samples.
• Growth Chambers and Incubated Shakers Controlled environment chambers for plant cultivation with precisely adjustable temperature, humidity, and photoperiod settings.
• Greenhouses Greenhouse systems for large-scale plant cultivation under controlled environmental conditions.
• Handheld Devices (FluorPen, AquaPen, PlantPen, SpectraPen, PolyPen, LaiPen, N-Pen family) Portable, battery-powered measurement devices for field and laboratory measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, reflectance, light spectra, and leaf area index.
• HySpec Cams Hyperspectral imaging cameras for spectral analysis of plant and algae samples.
• LED Lights LED lighting systems for plant cultivation with customizable light spectra for controlled environment agriculture.
• Photobioreactors Bioreactor systems for algae and cyanobacteria cultivation with precise environmental control.
• Phenotyping Systems (PlantScreen) Automated phenotyping platforms combining robotic plant handling with multi-sensor imaging for high-throughput plant analysis.
• Thermoluminescence Instruments for investigating the structure of energetic levels in Photosystem II through light-induced thermoluminescence measurements.
• Mass Spectrometer MS GAS Gas analyzer for measuring gas exchange and isotopic composition in photosynthesis research.
• Laboratory Automation & Robotics Robotic systems for automated sample preparation and processing in plant research applications.
• Production Systems Industrial-scale robotic platforms for automated plant processing and high-capacity production in agricultural research.
• Environmental Sensors (EnviLog) Compact, battery-powered data loggers for monitoring environmental parameters including temperature, humidity, light, CO2, and soil moisture in indoor and outdoor settings.
• PlanTherm PT 200 Device for fast estimation of heat tolerance in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria by simultaneously monitoring conductivity and chlorophyll a fluorescence during controlled heating from 25 to 75°C.
• Gas Mixing System GMS 150 Gas mixing system that produces precise mixtures of up to 4 different gases using thermal mass flow meters and controllers, for controlling air, CO2, and nitrogen in research and industrial applications.
• Spectrometer SM 9000 High-resolution, high-sensitivity spectrometer for fiber optic spectroscopy covering UV/VIS to NIR spectral range (200-980 nm), used for precise analysis of spectral curves in irradiance, absorption, and emission modes.
• FluorPen FP 110 (incl. PAR-FluorPen FP 110) Portable, battery-powered PAM fluorometer for quick and precise measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Ft, QY, OJIP, NPQ, LC) in laboratory, greenhouse, or field conditions; PAR version adds integrated PAR light meter (400-700 nm).
• Monitoring Pen MP 100 Long-term autonomous chlorophyll fluorescence monitoring device with rugged metal case, available in splash-proof (MP 100-E) and waterproof submersible versions (MP 100-A) for underwater and extreme environment applications.
• AquaPen AP 110 Handheld PAM fluorometer for quick, reliable measurements of photosynthetic parameters in algal and cyanobacterial suspensions, available in cuvette (AP 110-C) and probe (AP 110-P) versions.
• PlantPen NDVI 310 and PlantPen PRI 210 Handheld reflectance-based devices for measuring Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess chlorophyll content and Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) to assess carotenoid-based photosynthetic efficiency in plants.
• N-Pen N 110 Lightweight reflectance-based instrument for nitrogen management in plants by measuring nitrogen content correlation with Normalized Difference Greenness Index (NDGI).
• PolyPen RP 410 Handheld instrument for measuring spectral reflectance of leaves with internal Xenon lamp and automatic calculation of vegetation indices (NDVI, PRI, MCARI, and others).
• PolyPen-Aqua PA 210 Portable handheld spectrophotometer for quick measurements of absorbance and transmittance in liquid samples (algal suspensions) in 380-790 nm or 640-1050 nm ranges.
• SpectraPen LM 510 Handheld portable spectroradiometer with radiometric calibration for measuring light intensity and spectral quality in research and agricultural applications (340-1050 nm range).
• SpectraPen mini Small, portable, and affordable calibrated spectroradiometer and quantum light meter controlled via mobile application (Android), measuring visible light 400-850 nm.
• SpectraPen SP 110 Low-cost handheld spectrophotometer for rapid measurements of solar irradiance and spectral light quality with external light source for reflectance, transmittance, and absorption measurements.
• LaiPen LP 110 Handheld device for measuring Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) from solar radiation measurements in broadleaf canopies.
• PSI Research Center services Fee-for-service phenotyping, plant cultivation, and data analysis services provided to academic and industrial researchers on a collaboration project basis.
• Device Loan Program Loan program allowing customers to evaluate instruments before purchase, coordinated through [email protected].

Quantifiable outcome

• EnviLog supports up to 12 months of battery life for long-term environmental monitoring deployments
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LI-COR Biosciences: LI-COR is the dominant supplier of portable photosynthesis and gas-exchange systems (LI-6400, LI-6800) and chlorophyll fluorescence instruments used in plant science research. It directly competes with PSI's FluorCams, fluorometers, and gas exchange product lines, serving the same academic and crop research customers.
• Heinz Walz GmbH: Walz manufactures the PAM-2500 and MINI-PAM pulse-amplitude-modulated fluorometers, which are foundational instruments for chlorophyll fluorescence measurement and directly compete with PSI's PAM fluorometry portfolio including the FluorPen and AquaPen lines.
• Hansatech Instruments: Hansatech produces chlorophyll fluorescence measurement systems, oxygen electrodes, and leaf disc electrodes for photosynthesis research. It competes head-on with PSI's FluorPen, AquaPen, and Monitoring Pen product lines in academic and applied plant physiology labs.
• PP Systems: PP Systems manufactures the CIRAS series of portable photosynthesis and gas exchange analyzers alongside handheld chlorophyll fluorescence and spectral reflectance instruments. It serves the same plant physiology research customer base as PSI, with overlapping product categories in gas exchange and field measurement.
• ADC BioScientific: ADC BioScientific produces leaf area meters (AM series), portable photosynthesis systems, and chlorophyll content meters, addressing the same plant science research applications as PSI's LaiPen, N-Pen, and field fluorometers.
• Phenospex: Phenospex builds automated plant phenotyping platforms (PlantEye, FieldPhenom) using 3D and multispectral imaging, directly competing with PSI's PlantScreen phenotyping systems for high-throughput plant screening applications in greenhouses and fields.
• LemnaTec: LemnaTec provides high-throughput plant phenotyping platforms combining robotic plant handling with multi-sensor imaging, serving the same large-scale plant breeding and academic phenotyping installations targeted by PSI's PlantScreen systems.

Broad incumbents

• Carl Zeiss (Research Microscopy): Zeiss offers a broad portfolio of optical and imaging systems including fluorescence microscopy that overlaps with PSI's FluorCams and HySpec imaging cameras. As a much larger generalist, Zeiss competes where high-end imaging capability matters but does not specialize in plant physiology workflows.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher operates across the entire analytical instrument spectrum, including mass spectrometers and laboratory instruments that overlap with PSI's mass spectrometry MS GAS and laboratory spectroscopy products. Its scale and breadth allow it to compete for larger institutional contracts where PSI is too small to bid.
• Agilent Technologies: Agilent manufactures a wide range of analytical instruments including spectrometers and chromatography systems that overlap with parts of PSI's spectroscopy and gas analysis portfolio. As a broad incumbent, Agilent serves large industrial and pharmaceutical labs where PSI's plant-science focus is not directly relevant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PhotonSystemsInstruments
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/photon-systems-instruments-spol.-s-r.o.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Photon Systems Instruments