Planet Eclipse

What Planet Eclipse does

Planet Eclipse Ltd is a privately held UK-headquartered manufacturer of professional paintball markers and supporting equipment, founded in Manchester, England in 1991 (originally as a retail store called Paintball Planet). The company designs and builds electronic and mechanical markers spanning premium tiers (CS3 Pro, GEO R5, GTEK 180R, LV 2), mid-range spool valve models (Etha 3, Etha 3M, Etha 2 PAL), and mechanical magfed/entry-level lines (Emek EMF 100, Emek PAL, EMF 200). Core technology centres on proprietary spool and poppet valve architectures, custom PCBs with solenoid-controlled firing, precision-machined aluminium bodies with bespoke anodising, and an integrated accessories/software stack including the battery-free PAL loader, CF20 continuous feed magazines, S63 barrel systems, and E-Portal/E-Portal Lite firmware and configuration software.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model: exclusive worldwide distribution through an authorised dealer network and regional exclusive distributors (e.g., Pe-Paintball.De Gmbh for Germany/Austria), B2B ordering through the EDO portal, regional e-commerce storefronts in the UK, USA and Europe, a physical retail store in Düsseldorf, and certified Eclipse Service Centres. Revenue is generated primarily from hardware sales (markers, loaders, magazines, barrels, spares), supplemented by warranty/service work and a paid tier (E-Portal 2) within an otherwise free firmware software family. Customer segments span sports and recreation consumers, paintball park rental operators, professional tournament teams (supported via the Factory Teams, Women Teams, and E-Mortals ambassador programmes), and government/defence buyers using 68-caliber projectile launchers for military training, law enforcement, and coast guard/border patrol applications.

The company maintains wholly-owned subsidiaries in the United States (Planet Eclipse LLC, Rhode Island) and Germany (Pe-Paintball.De Gmbh), with manufacturing split between UK (high-end markers) and Taiwan (mid-range and rental products), and enforces geographic distribution discipline through MAP pricing and restricted-territory sales rules. Brand heritage of over 30 years, a registered trademark portfolio, and a community ecosystem (Factory Teams, Women Teams, E-Mortals, Eclipse Tech certification tiers, Facebook Tech Hub) underpin the company's market position in a niche sporting equipment segment.

Name

Planet Eclipse

Legal name

Planet Eclipse Ltd

Website

https://planeteclipse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Planet Eclipse is a privately held UK-based manufacturer, founded in 1991, that designs and sells professional electronic and mechanical paintball markers, loaders, magazines, and barrel systems, serving sports/recreation consumers, rental field operators, professional tournament teams, and military/law enforcement less-lethal customers through a worldwide authorised dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Trafford Park

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paintball Marker Sales: Planet Eclipse manufactures and sells a range of electronic and mechanical paintball markers (CS3 Pro, CS3, GEO R5, GTEK 180R, LV 2, Etha 3, Etha 3M, Emek EMF 100, Emek PAL) at various price points from entry-level to professional grade. High-end markers are built in the UK; mid-range and rental markers are built in UK or Taiwan facilities.
2. Accessories and Loader Systems: Sale of proprietary accessories including the PAL Loader System (battery-free), PAL QD Loader, Protoyz Speedster powered loader, CF20 and CF20 Pro continuous feed magazines, S63 barrel systems, and spare parts.
3. Wholesale to Dealers and Distributors: Wholesale distribution through an authorised dealer network and regional exclusive distributors. Dealers purchase via the EDO (Eclipse Direct Ordering) B2B portal. Paintball parks and rental fleet operators purchase in bulk.
4. Professional Services and Technical Support: Marker servicing, warranty repairs, and technical support services. 24-month limited warranty on markers (or 12 months with proof of purchase). Marker must be less than 5 years old to be eligible.
5. E-Portal Software: E-Portal 2 is a paid/purchased product requiring a USB adaptor board upgrade kit. E-Portal 3, E-Portal 4, and E-Portal Lite are offered free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Planet Eclipse designs, manufactures, and sells professional-grade electronic and mechanical paintball markers (CS3 Pro, CS3, GEO R5, GTEK 180R, LV 2, Etha 3, Etha 3M, Emek EMF 100, Emek PAL, EMF 200) together with a proprietary accessory ecosystem of loaders (PAL, PAL QD, Protoyz Speedster), magazines (CF20, CF20 Pro), and barrel systems (S63), supported by the E-Portal firmware software. The company's primary customers are recreational and professional tournament paintball players, paintball parks and rental operators, and government/defence organisations purchasing 68-caliber less-lethal launchers.

Product overview

Planet Eclipse is a manufacturer of professional paintball markers and equipment with a diversified product portfolio. The core product line consists of electronic and mechanical paintball markers across multiple tiers: premium models (CS3 Pro, CS3, GEO R5, GTEK 180R, LV 2), mid-range spool valve markers (Etha 3, Etha 3M, Etha 2 PAL), and MagFed/mechanical options (EMF 200 projectile launcher, Emek EMF 100, Emek PAL). The accessory ecosystem includes the PAL battery-free loader system, Protoyz Speedster powered loader, CF20/CF20 Pro continuous feed magazines (compatible with Dye DAM platform), and S63 barrel systems with PWR inserts. Software offerings include E-Portal desktop and mobile applications for firmware updates and marker configuration. The company serves both recreational and professional paintball markets, as well as specialized sectors including military training, law enforcement, and home defense through their 68-caliber projectile launchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• E-Portal: Software application for updating Eclipse paintball marker firmware and settings
• Protoyz
• PAL Loader
• CF20
• S63

Products and services

• CS3 Pro Flagship electronic paintball marker with advanced spool valve technology, designed for professional tournament play and customisable via E-Portal software. UK-built.
• CS3 Professional-grade electronic paintball marker with spool valve design, positioned as a tier below the CS3 Pro for competitive players.
• GEO R5 High-end electronic paintball marker with advanced poppet valve technology, designed for precision and reliability in tournament play.
• GTEK 180R Professional spool valve paintball marker with advanced features targeted at competitive tournament play.
• LV 2 Professional-level electronic paintball marker designed for high-performance tournament play.
• Etha 3 Mid-range spool valve electronic paintball marker offering professional features at an accessible price point.
• Etha 3M Mechanical version of the Etha 3, providing spool valve performance with mechanical simplicity.
• Etha 2 PAL Entry-level PAL-enabled electronic paintball marker with spool valve design, integrated with the battery-free PAL loader system.
• Emek EMF 100 MagFed (magazine-fed) mechanical paintball marker designed for tactical and scenario play, also compatible with the PAL loader system.
• Emek PAL Mechanical paintball marker with integrated PAL system for battery-free operation, popular in rental fleets and entry-level play.
• EMF 200 MagFed 68-caliber paintball marker / projectile launcher designed for tactical, military simulation, law enforcement, and professional training applications, including less-lethal use cases.
• PAL Loader System Battery-free loader system that uses breech pressure from PAL-enabled Eclipse markers to pneumatically agitate paintballs, eliminating the need for batteries, hoses, or external moving parts.
• Protoyz Speedster Loader Battery-powered paintball loader/hopper with tool-less construction and Light Barrier technology, feeding both 68cal and 50cal paintballs at 10+ bps feed rates.
• CF20 Continuous Feed Magazine Fully injection-moulded 20-round continuous feed magazine compatible with EMF100, EMF200, and Dye DAM platforms, supporting 68cal round ball and First Strike Rounds (shaped rounds) with toolless loading.
• CF20 Pro Magazine Enhanced version of the CF20 continuous feed magazine with additional features for high-performance MagFed play, compatible with EMF100/EMF200 and Dye DAM platforms.
• S63 Barrel System Advanced 3-piece and 4-piece precision-engineered aluminium barrel system with colour-coded micro-honed PWR Bore Control Inserts (0.677"–0.693") and Autococker quick-threads; Tactical variant includes Lapco rifled inserts optimised for First Strike Rounds.
• E-Portal Software Proprietary desktop (E-Portal 4) and iOS mobile (E-Portal Lite) software for updating Eclipse marker firmware, adjusting firing parameters, configuring settings, and managing Bluetooth connectivity on compatible markers.

Quantifiable outcome

• NXL World Cup 2025: Eclipse teams dominated the event, with multiple Factory and Women Teams achieving top results.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pe-Paintball.De Gmbh (Paintball.de)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPe-Paintball.De Gmbh operates as the exclusive distributor and retail store for Planet Eclipse products in Germany and Austria. The company runs a physical retail store in Düsseldorf and manages European distribution. Hours: MON-FRI 11:00-18:00 MEZ (phone/shop), SAT 10:00-16:00 MEZ (shop). Phone: +49 (0) 211 210 230-0.
• NXL (National Xball League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNXL is the primary professional paintball tournament series where Planet Eclipse Factory Teams compete. The relationship involves sponsored teams competing at NXL events globally, with Planet Eclipse providing on-site tech support at all NXL events.
• BelsalesminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBelsales supplies metalwork components for Planet Eclipse's high-end markers. High-end markers are all built in the UK and still use Belsales for metalwork, maintaining UK manufacturing for premium products.
• DropboxminorOthersDropbox is used as a file-sharing platform for dealer resources. The Dealer Dropbox contains the latest Eclipse product specs and imagery for authorised dealers.
• Eclipse Tech Hub (Facebook Group)coreOthersThe Eclipse Tech Hub is a Facebook group community where Eclipse marker owners and certified Eclipse Techs interact. It serves as the primary community support channel, enabling users to ask technical questions and share knowledge. Official Eclipse Techs are active in the group.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• WGP (Worr Games Products): Heritage autococker and mechanical marker brand, historically significant in competitive paintball. Overlaps with Planet Eclipse's mechanical offerings (Emek, Etha 3M) and shares the same pro-circuit sponsorship heritage.
• Lapco Paintball: Specialist manufacturer of rifled barrel inserts, including the PWR inserts built exclusively for Planet Eclipse's S63 Tactical. Adjacent competitor in precision-bore accessories and a tactical-paintball specialist that overlaps with Eclipse's MagFed segment.

Direct peers

• Valken: Manufacturer and distributor of paintball markers, loaders, BBs, and tactical airsoft equipment with significant U.S. retail footprint. Comparable as a broad-line paintball/airsoft supplier competing across price tiers and accessories.
• HK Army: Paintball lifestyle brand producing markers, loaders, masks, packs, and apparel, with strong social-media presence and professional team sponsorships. Competes with Planet Eclipse across performance gear, sponsored pro teams, and aspirational consumer positioning.
• Tippmann: Long-established manufacturer of mechanical and entry-level paintball markers (98, A5, Cronus, TMC), strong in rental/fleet and woodsball segments. Comparable to Planet Eclipse's Emek and rental-tier offerings and a direct head-to-head competitor for paintball park and beginner customers.
• Empire Paintball: Mid-tier paintball marker and loader manufacturer (Empire Axe, Empire Vanquish) with strong presence in rental fleets and entry-level tournament markets. Competes directly with Planet Eclipse's Etha 3, CS3, and Emek lines on price/performance positioning.
• First Strike / United Tactical Systems: Producer of First Strike Rounds (FSR) shaped projectiles and less-lethal launchers, and an integration partner with Planet Eclipse's CF20 magazines. Comparable on the less-lethal/MagFed side of the business and a logical co-development counterpart for milsim/tactical customers.
• Dye Precision: Direct competitor manufacturing high-end electronic paintball markers (Dye M-series, Dye DAM), loaders, and accessories. Overlaps with Planet Eclipse across tournament, MagFed, and accessory categories and is the closest like-for-like rival for premium marker share.
• Virtue (Spire): Manufacturer of high-end paintball loaders (Spire series) and electronic upgrade boards. Direct competitor to Planet Eclipse's PAL and Protoyz Speedster loaders, and to the E-Portal firmware/electronics ecosystem on third-party markers.

Broad incumbents

• Byrna Technologies: Public less-lethal launcher company (Byrna HD, Byrna SD) selling to civilian self-defence, law enforcement, and security markets. Comparable to Planet Eclipse's EMF 200 less-lethal push and a benchmark for the consumer/government less-lethal category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/planeteclipse
• Facebookfacebook.com/planeteclipsetv
• Instagraminstagram.com/planeteclipse

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 Planet Eclipse