Applied Image
Applied Image is a Rochester, NY-based manufacturer founded in 1978 that designs and produces precision-imaged optical components and NIST-traceable calibration standards for machine vision, aerospace and defense, medical device, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersRochester, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Applied Image does
Applied Image, Inc. is a Rochester, NY-based specialist manufacturer of precision-imaged optical components and calibration standards, founded in 1978 and operating as a privately held corporation with 11-50 employees. The company produces patterns down to 20 microns on photographic materials and structures as small as 700 nanometers on glass substrates via lithography, and operates an ISO 17025:2017 accredited calibration laboratory providing NIST-traceable services alongside an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing facility. Its product portfolio spans standard catalog items — test targets and charts, machine vision standards, image analysis micrometers, sinusoidal targets, Ronchi gratings, gray scales, reticles and apertures, and barcode conformance standards — plus custom optical components, photomasks (via the Microtronics Photomask site), and bespoke test targets and barcodes. Approximately 80% of revenue is derived from custom solutions developed collaboratively with customer engineering teams.
The company sells primarily through a direct sales motion staffed by technical sales engineers who engage customer executives, product managers, and engineers on design, evaluation, and calibration of photonics-based systems, supplemented by a website storefront for standard catalog purchases. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with standard commercial terms of F.O.B. Rochester, Net 30 days, and a 25% inspection and restocking fee on standard catalog returns. Revenue streams consist of one-time sales of standard and custom optical components plus professional services revenue from the calibration laboratory. Since the January 1, 2022 ownership transition to Glenn Jackling, the company has repositioned its go-to-market around five target verticals — machine vision and industrial automation, aerospace and defense, medical devices, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing — supported by a strategic partnership with Bell Collaborative and a refreshed brand identity. Named reference customers span NASA (Mars Rover imaging standards), the W.M. Keck Observatory (Keck Planet Finder optical components), and a mix of industrial automation, imaging science, forensic technology, and government reconnaissance customers.
Applied Image firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Applied Image
- Legal name
- Applied Image, Inc.
- Website
- https://appliedimage.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Applied Image is a Rochester, NY-based manufacturer founded in 1978 that designs and produces precision-imaged optical components and NIST-traceable calibration standards for machine vision, aerospace and defense, medical device, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Applied Image industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Optical Components & Calibration Standards
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Calibration, Metrology & QA Consumables (Calibration Artifacts, Test Coupons, Gauge Tools) (IMAAAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Photomask Blanks, Masks & Reticles (Quartz/PELlicles) (HDAHAGAD), Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC), Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)
Keywords
Where Applied Image is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Applied Image business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Standard Products: Sale of standard calibration standards, test targets, charts, reticles, and optical components from product catalog.
- Custom Optical Components: Custom precision-imaged optical components and standards designed to specific customer requirements including photomasks, custom test targets, and bespoke calibration standards.
- Calibration Services: ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory services providing measurement confidence and performance validation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Catalog Products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Applied Image product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Applied Image designs and manufactures precision-imaged optical components and calibration standards used to test, calibrate, align, control, and measure optics, photonics, and imaging systems. The company produces patterns down to 20 microns on photographic materials and structures as small as 700 nanometers on glass substrates via lithography. Approximately 80% of work is custom solutions developed through collaboration with customers from ideation through prototyping, testing, and implementation.
Product overview
Applied Image is a manufacturer of precision-imaged optical components and calibration standards founded in 1978, offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around precision measurement and imaging quality assurance. The product line includes standard catalog products such as Test Targets and Charts, Robotic & Machine Vision Standards, Image Analysis & Stage Micrometers, SINE (Sinusoidal) Targets & Arrays, Ronchi Gratings, Gray Scales & Step Tablets, Reticles/Optical Slits/Apertures, and Barcode Conformance Calibration Standards. Supporting infrastructure includes the Applied ImageCheck Version 1 Software for image quality analysis and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited Calibration Services. The company's differentiation lies in extensive custom solutions capabilities, including Custom Optical Components And Standards (with patterns down to 20 microns on photographic materials and structures as small as 700 nanometers on glass substrates via lithography), Custom Test Targets and Charts, Photomasks, and Custom Barcode Calibration Standards. Approximately 80% of the company's work involves custom solutions for specific customer requirements across photonics-driven industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Test Targets and Charts Imaging quality standards used to test and calibrate optical imaging systems across various industries and applications.
- Robotic & Machine Vision Standards Calibration standards designed for robotic and machine vision applications to ensure precise measurement and quality control in automated systems.
- Image Analysis & Stage Micrometers Micrometers and calibration slides for image analysis and stage calibration in microscopy and precision measurement applications.
- SINE (Sinusoidal) Targets & Arrays Sinusoidal targets and arrays for specialized optical testing and frequency analysis in imaging systems.
- Ronchi Gratings Precision gratings used in optical testing, spectroscopy, and dispersion measurement applications.
- Gray Scales & Step Tablets Calibration standards for measuring and verifying tonal response and contrast in imaging systems.
- Reticles, Optical Slits, Optical Apertures Precision optical components including reticles, slits, and apertures for defining measurement references and light control in optical systems.
- Barcode Conformance Calibration Standards Calibration standards for verifying and validating barcode scanning and printing systems, including 1D and 2D symbologies.
- Applied ImageCheck Version 1 Software Software tool for image quality analysis and calibration verification supporting precision imaging standards.
- Calibration Services ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory services providing NIST traceable calibration for precision optical components and imaging standards.
- Custom Optical Components and Standards Bespoke precision-imaged optical components and calibration standards manufactured to customer specifications, including patterns down to 20 microns on photographic materials and structures as small as 700 nanometers on glass substrates via lithography.
- Custom Test Targets and Charts Custom-designed test targets and charts tailored to specific customer imaging and calibration requirements.
- Photomasks Custom photomasks manufactured to precise specifications for semiconductor, photonics, and advanced manufacturing applications.
- Custom Barcode Calibration Standards Custom barcode calibration standards designed for specific barcode verification and quality control applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Patterns down to 20 microns on photographic materials
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Applied Image
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Applied Image technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Applied Image partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bell CollaborativecoreStrategic partnership for positioning and customer expansion following ownership transition. Bell Collaborative supports Applied Image's go-to-market strategy and helps drive growth across photonics-driven industries.
- SPIEminorCorporate membership providing industry visibility and access to photonic imaging community. Applied Image exhibits at SPIE events including Photonics West.
- Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC)minorRegional industry association membership supporting the photonics cluster in Rochester, NY area.
- AIIM (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility)minorCorporate membership supporting automatic identification and mobility industry standards and community.
- IS&T (Imaging Society)minorCorporate membership in imaging science society supporting industry standards and research community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Applied Image competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Edmund Optics: Major manufacturer and distributor of optical components, including calibration targets, test targets, reticles, and machine vision standards. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base in machine vision and photonics.
- Sill Optics: Manufacturer of precision optics and optical assemblies, including test and calibration components. Comparable in precision optical components for industrial and laser applications.
- Photronics: Pure-play photomask manufacturer for semiconductor and display applications. Directly comparable in Applied Image's photomask product line for semiconductor and advanced manufacturing.
- Toppan Photomasks: Global photomask manufacturer serving semiconductor and adjacent industries. Comparable in the photomask segment of Applied Image's custom solutions portfolio.
- OptoSigma (Sigma Koki): Manufacturer of optical components, including calibration targets, reticles, and test charts. Comparable precision optical components for industrial and research applications.
- Standa: Supplier of optical and photonic components including test targets, calibration tools, and optomechanical systems for research and industrial customers.
Broad incumbents
- Newport Corporation (MKS Instruments): Photonics and precision motion/measurement supplier serving semiconductor, aerospace, and research customers. Overlaps in optical test, calibration, and metrology components.
- Thorlabs: Large photonics and optical components manufacturer with extensive calibration and test target offerings. Broader catalog but overlapping customer base in imaging, photonics, and research.
- Teledyne Technologies: Diversified industrial conglomerate with imaging sensors, instrumentation, and calibration offerings serving aerospace, defense, and semiconductor markets with overlapping customer base.
- Ocean Insight (formerly Ocean Optics): Spectral imaging, optical sensing, and photonics measurement solutions provider. Overlaps in optical measurement and calibration applications for research and industrial customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Applied Image social profiles
Digital presenceApplied Image compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Applied Image financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Applied Image leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Applied Image funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Applied Image 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 Applied Image
What does Applied Image do?
Applied Image designs and manufactures precision-imaged optical components and calibration standards used to test, calibrate, align, control, and measure optics, photonics, and imaging systems. The company produces patterns down to 20 microns on photographic materials and structures as small as 700 nanometers on glass substrates via lithography. Approximately 80% of work is custom solutions developed through collaboration with customers from ideation through prototyping, testing, and implementation.
Is Applied Image a public or private company?
Applied Image is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Applied Image founded?
Applied Image was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Applied Image based?
Applied Image is headquartered in Rochester, United States, in the North America region.
How does Applied Image make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Standard Products are the primary driver. The others are custom Optical Components and calibration Services.
Who are Applied Image's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Edmund Optics, Sill Optics, Photronics, Toppan Photomasks, OptoSigma (Sigma Koki) and Standa. Broad incumbents are Newport Corporation (MKS Instruments), Thorlabs, Teledyne Technologies and Ocean Insight (formerly Ocean Optics).
Does Applied Image have an API?
No public API is recorded for Applied Image.
What industry is Applied Image in?
Applied Image's product category is Precision Optical Components & Calibration Standards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAAIAG, Calibration, Metrology & QA Consumables (Calibration Artifacts, Test Coupons, Gauge Tools), with a secondary code of HDAHAGAD, Photomask Blanks, Masks & Reticles (Quartz/PELlicles). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3827.