Psylotech

What Psylotech does

Psylotech Inc., founded in 2006 and headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, designs, manufactures, and integrates precision mechanical load frames with advanced imaging systems for multi-scale materials testing. Its core platforms are the µTS, purpose-built for Digital Image Correlation (DIC) on optical, confocal, and scanning electron microscopes, and the xTS, a rotating load train for in-situ X-ray tomography on beamlines, microCT, and nanoCT. Underlying technology includes minimized out-of-plane motion architecture, capacitive load cells with 400mV/V sensitivity (~100x higher resolution than strain-gauge alternatives), direct-drive ballscrew actuators with 15 picometer control capability, dual-LVDT local displacement sensors, and torsion actuators using zero-backlash strain wave gearing. The Psylotest control software is LabVIEW-based and user-modifiable. Temperature options span -100°C convective chambers to 1600°C furnaces (licensed from University College London) and laser heating to 2500°C for early adopters.

The company sells primarily to academic and government research institutions conducting materials science, mechanical engineering, and biomaterials research, with named customers including UT Dallas, Waterloo, Purdue, Northwestern, Utah, Clemson, Seoul National University, NASA Marshall, and Argonne National Laboratory. Industrial R&D is listed as a secondary segment but no commercial logos are disclosed. Psylotech monetizes through direct hardware sales of integrated testing systems, accessories and grip options, and customization services; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with regional representatives in the Americas (Matthew Struve), China (Dr. Bill Chao), and Continental Europe (Jack Luft), complemented by authorized distributors in the UK/Ireland (EPT), Korea (ISG), Japan (Laser Measurement Corporation), Taiwan (Alpha Precision Instrumentation), and Israel (Ammo Engineering). Alex Arzoumanidis is President and founder. A single 2020 Startmate funding event is the only disclosed capital event; the company remains privately held with 1-10 employees.

Name

Psylotech

Legal name

Psylotech Inc.

Website

https://psylotech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Psylotech designs and manufactures precision mechanical load frames (µTS, xTS) that integrate with X-ray tomography, SEM, and optical microscopes for multi-scale materials testing using DIC/DVC, selling primarily to academic and government research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Testing Equipment

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology & Dimensional Measurement (CMMs, laser trackers, gauges, surface/roughness) (IMAGAFAD), CT/X-ray & Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for AM Parts (IMAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Mechanical testing systems
• Materials characterization equipment
• Digital image correlation
• Load frames
• X-ray tomography testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

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

Revenue model

1. Mechanical Testing Systems (Hardware): Sale of multi-scale universal mechanical testing systems (xTS, uTS) with various force capacities. Systems integrate load frames with imaging equipment. Product variants include standard configurations for different microscopy and tomography applications.
2. Accessories and Options: Grips (tension, compression, 4 & 3 point bending, mixed-mode Arcan), temperature chambers (-100 to 300C convective, 800/1600C furnaces, 2500C laser heating), centering stages, high speed/fatigue options, extended stroke options, and SEM-compatible variants.
3. Customization Services: Customization services to meet specific user needs for grip configurations and system adaptations. LabVIEW-based software can be modified for individual requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Psylotech designs, builds, and integrates multi-length-scale universal mechanical testing systems (xTS and µTS families) that combine load frames with imaging platforms such as beamlines, microCT, nanoCT, XRD, and optical, confocal, and scanning electron microscopes. The systems leverage Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) to characterize materials across length scales, and are sold alongside modular accessories (temperature chambers, grips, centering stages, high-speed/fatigue and extended stroke options) and customization services.

Product overview

Psylotech offers a portfolio of multi-length-scale, multi-speed, and multi-force universal mechanical testing systems designed for integration with various imaging systems. The core product line includes the xTS (X-ray Tomography) and µTS (Optical/Confocal Microscopy) platforms, both supporting SEM compatibility. These systems are complemented by modular add-ons including temperature chambers (-100 to 2500°C), grip accessories (tension, compression, bending, mixed-mode), centering stages, high-speed/fatigue options, extended stroke capabilities, and X-ray diffraction adaptations. All systems leverage Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) technologies for materials characterization across length scales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• xTS – X-ray Tomography Testing System Multi-length-scale universal mechanical testing system designed for X-ray tomography applications including beamlines, microCT, and nanoCT. Features a rotating load train that maximizes spatial resolution and reduces scan times, with sub-micron spatial resolution capability. Lightweight and portable for shipping to beamlines. Post-imaging software corrects runout and wobble.
• µTS – Optical/Confocal Microscopy Testing System Purpose-built mechanical testing system for Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and optical/confocal microscopy applications. Designed with low out-of-plane motion to keep samples in focus, enabling local strain measurement on small samples. The fountainhead of Psylotech's technology development.
• µTS – SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) Compatible System Vacuum-hardened µTS variant designed for SEM environments. Implements a ring encoder to shorten the actuator. The type-c variant is lightweight and well suited to EBSD (Electron Backscatter Diffraction) applications. Low out-of-plane motion is critical for DIC to reduce false strain measurements in SEM.
• µTS – Mixed Mode Fracture System Dual axis load frame providing a wide range of mode-mixes (combination of tension and shear) for comprehensive fracture analysis, leveraging DIC technology. Enables a relatively simple approach to mixed-mode fracture characterization.
• Temperature Chamber Options Microscope-compatible convective temperature chambers ranging from -100°C to 300°C, with integrated 800°C and 1600°C furnace designs licensed from University College London, and laser heating options up to 2500°C for early adopters.
• Grip Accessories Standard grip options including tension, compression, 4-point and 3-point bending, and mixed-mode Arcan configurations. Customization services available for specific user needs.
• Centering Stage Servo-controlled centering stage that keeps the sample's area of interest under the microscope even during large deformation. Software-settable relative motion for monitoring beam bending samples. A more compact stepper-based variant is also available. Dual moving cross heads can alternatively provide centering.
• High Speed/Fatigue Option Dual moving cross-heads option that doubles system speed and acceleration. Includes lubricant reservoir option for high cycle fatigue testing.
• Extended Stroke Option Ring encoder-enabled stroke extension where extra ball screw length protrudes through the rear of the actuator, enabling stroke longer than the actuator itself.
• X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Adaptation XRD adaptation for µTS and xTS systems, easily deployable in Synchrotron and Neutron Line applications. Features dual actuator option for sample centering, and extended strokes and temperature chamber options are available.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100x higher resolution load cells enabling a 100N load cell to perform like a 2N strain gauge sensor
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Texas at Dallas (Prof. Hongbing Lu)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Built the first rotating load train in-situ X-ray tomography system for Prof. Hongbing Lu, chair of Mechanical Engineering. This partnership resulted in the xTS product line for X-ray tomography applications.
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Prof. Ioannis Chasiotis)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Academic partnership for development of microscope compatible miniature universal load frame for DIC. This collaboration led to the 2009 Army Research Lab SBIR award with WMRD and the foundational technology development for Psylotech's uTS product line.
• University College LondoncoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed furnace designs (800°C and 1600°C) from University College London for integration into Psylotech's temperature testing chamber options.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker Corporation: Bruker is a large scientific instruments company spanning X-ray tomography, XRD, and microCT systems used in the same research labs as Psylotech's customers. Its broad portfolio of imaging and analytical instruments is a complementary platform competitor.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss makes optical, confocal, and electron microscopes used by Psylotech customers. As an incumbent microscope OEM with deep R&D budgets, Zeiss could vertically integrate in-situ testing stages, threatening Psylotech's integration moat.

Emerging players

• Gatan (AMETEK): Gatan produces in-situ stages, cameras, and accessories for electron microscopy, including tensile and heating stages. It overlaps with Psylotech's SEM-compatible uTS offering and is owned by AMETEK, giving it greater scale to compete.
• Deben UK Ltd: Deben manufactures in-situ mechanical testing stages specifically for SEM and synchrotron use. It is the closest direct competitor to Psylotech's SEM-compatible uTS and xTS rotating load train, focused on a similar small-sample, microscope-coupled niche.

Direct peers

• ZwickRoell: ZwickRoell is a German manufacturer of materials testing systems with strong presence in academic and industrial R&D. It directly competes with Psylotech in static and dynamic testing of small specimens for materials characterization.
• MTS Systems (Amphenol): MTS is a long-established leader in universal mechanical testing systems for materials and structures. It directly competes with Psylotech's uTS and xTS platforms, particularly in static and dynamic load frame applications, although MTS lacks Psylotech's microscope-coupled out-of-plane motion specialization.
• Instron (Illinois Tool Works): Instron is a dominant universal materials testing system manufacturer serving academic and industrial labs. It competes head-to-head with Psylotech's uTS for DIC and microscopy-coupled testing on the high end and competes at the broader testing system level.
• Tinius Olsen: Tinius Olsen is a long-standing manufacturer of mechanical testing equipment used in academic, industrial, and government materials labs. Its product line overlaps with Psylotech's universal testing systems on force capacity and standard grips.
• ADMET Inc. ADMET is a smaller specialist in materials testing systems, particularly electromechanical and servo-hydraulic frames, with a presence in academic and industrial labs. It competes with Psylotech's uTS family for DIC and small-sample testing applications.
• Shimadzu Scientific Instruments: Shimadzu offers a broad line of precision universal testing machines for materials evaluation, including high-precision systems used in academic and industrial R&D. It is a direct alternative to Psylotech's load frame platform in materials research labs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/psylotech
• Facebookfacebook.com/psylotech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Psylotech