Blue Ridge Optics
Blue Ridge Optics designs and manufactures precision thin film coatings and advanced optical components (DUV-FIR, 170nm-20μm) for high-power laser systems, serving aerospace/defense, medical, OEM, and scientific research customers across two U.S. facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBedford, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blue Ridge Optics does
Blue Ridge Optics, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Bedford, Virginia, designs, manufactures, and supplies precision thin film coatings and advanced optical components for high-power laser systems. Its technical portfolio spans custom thin film coatings across the DUV-FIR wavelength range (170nm to 20μm), sub-angstrom RMS superpolished optics, off-axis parabolic mirrors, large optics up to 300-700mm, and a broad catalog of windows, mirrors, beam splitters, thin-film polarizers, laser rods and crystals, ultrafast optics, and optical filters. The company operates three advanced deposition platforms—Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS), Advanced Plasma Sputtering (APS), and Electron Beam Deposition with Ion-Assist (E-beam IAD)—alongside Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF), CNC optical fabrication, and a full metrology suite including Zygo interferometers and Perkin Elmer spectrophotometers.
The company's customer base spans aerospace and defense (including U.S. Department of Defense directed energy, missile defense, and drone defense programs), medical devices (surgical and diagnostic laser systems), OEM manufacturers, and science and laboratory end markets, with named anchor engagements including the National Ignition Facility, the James Webb Space Telescope program, and LIGO. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct enterprise sales staffed by application engineers handling custom RFQs with sub-24-hour quote turnaround, combined with a self-serve e-commerce web shop for standardized windows, mirrors, and sapphire windows priced between $36 and $925 per unit. The firm operates a 40,000+ sq ft optics facility in Virginia and a 20,000 sq ft assemblies and vacuum brazing facility in Gray Court, South Carolina, the latter integrated following its 2023 acquisition by MPF Products, Inc. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015 (renewed 2025-2028), ITAR registration with the U.S. DDTC, and DFARS/NIST cybersecurity compliance, qualifying the company for sensitive defense and homeland security work.
Blue Ridge Optics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Ridge Optics
- Legal name
- Blue Ridge Optics
- Website
- https://blueridgeoptics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blue Ridge Optics designs and manufactures precision thin film coatings and advanced optical components (DUV-FIR, 170nm-20μm) for high-power laser systems, serving aerospace/defense, medical, OEM, and scientific research customers across two U.S. facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Ridge Optics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Optical Components
- NAICS
- Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aerospace Transparent Materials & Windows (Acrylic/Polycarbonate/Glass) (IMABANAH)
Keywords
Where Blue Ridge Optics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bedford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Blue Ridge Optics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Precision Optical Components Sales: Sale of standard and custom optical components including optical windows, mirrors, beam splitters, lenses, and sapphire windows. Products are sold through web shop (self-serve) and custom RFQ process. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with pricing based on specifications, materials, and coatings required.
- Custom Optical Manufacturing Services: Custom optical fabrication, thin film coating development, and sub-assembly services. Blue Ridge Optics is a make-to-order custom optical supplier offering prototype to production capabilities. Services include optical polishing, MRF finishing, metrology and testing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Optical Windows - AR Coated (Fused Silica) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Optical Windows - Super Polished |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sapphire Windows |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | High-Power Optical Mirrors |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Blue Ridge Optics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Ridge Optics manufactures precision optical components and thin film coatings for aerospace, defense, medical, OEM, and scientific research applications. The company produces optical windows, mirrors, lenses, beam splitters, polarizers, laser rods, and optical filters, and supports them with in-house optical fabrication, metrology, and testing services.
Product overview
Blue Ridge Optics is a fully integrated manufacturer of precision optics and thin film coatings (DUV-FIR, 170nm-20μm) serving aerospace, medical, OEM, science, and laboratory markets. The product portfolio centers on precision optical components including Optical Windows (AR-coated, DBAR, super-polished, uncoated variants in fused silica, NBK7, sapphire), Optical Mirrors (HR mirrors at 532/1064/1540nm, Off-Axis Parabolic mirrors), Sapphire Windows, Large Optics (300-700mm), Thin Film Coatings (AR, HR, dielectric, ITO, partial reflector), High-Power Laser Optics, Beam Splitters (plate and cube), Thin Film Polarizers, Laser Rods and Crystals, Ultrafast Optics, and Optical Filters. Supporting services include optical fabrication (lapping, polishing, CNC manufacturing, MRF finishing) and optical metrology/testing. The company recently added Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS) coating capabilities. The Virginia facility handles optics manufacturing and thin film coating; a South Carolina facility handles assemblies and vacuum brazing products (viewports, feedthroughs).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Reflectance specifications R > 99.8% for high-reflective mirror coatings
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Blue Ridge Optics
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Blue Ridge Optics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Blue Ridge Optics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association (APOMA)supportingIndustry association membership providing platform for manufacturers, suppliers, and experts within optics field to collaborate, share knowledge, and advocate for industry standards. Founded in 1982, APOMA promotes educational initiatives, fosters networking opportunities, and provides resources to advance optics manufacturing capabilities.
- MPF Products, Inc.coreBlue Ridge Optics was acquired by MPF Products, Inc. in 2023. MPF Products, Inc. operates an Assemblies and Vacuum Brazing Facility in Gray Court, South Carolina (20,000 sq ft) producing UHV viewports, power feedthroughs, and various feedthrough products. The acquisition expanded Blue Ridge Optics' capabilities to include optical and system sub-assembly services.
- MPF Products, Inc. - Hermetic SealingsupportingBlue Ridge Optics offers Hermetic Sealing capabilities through MPF Products, Inc., providing integrated solutions for viewports and feedthroughs as part of their product offerings.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Blue Ridge Optics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Blue Ridge Optics social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Ridge Optics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Blue Ridge Optics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Ridge Optics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Blue Ridge Optics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Ridge Optics 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 Blue Ridge Optics
What does Blue Ridge Optics do?
Blue Ridge Optics manufactures precision optical components and thin film coatings for aerospace, defense, medical, OEM, and scientific research applications. The company produces optical windows, mirrors, lenses, beam splitters, polarizers, laser rods, and optical filters, and supports them with in-house optical fabrication, metrology, and testing services.
Is Blue Ridge Optics a public or private company?
Blue Ridge Optics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Blue Ridge Optics founded?
Blue Ridge Optics was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blue Ridge Optics based?
Blue Ridge Optics is headquartered in Bedford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blue Ridge Optics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Precision Optical Components Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Optical Manufacturing Services.
Does Blue Ridge Optics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Ridge Optics.
What industry is Blue Ridge Optics in?
Blue Ridge Optics's product category is Precision Optical Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs), with a secondary code of IMABANAH, Aerospace Transparent Materials & Windows (Acrylic/Polycarbonate/Glass). Its NAICS code is 32721 and its SIC code is 3827.