Optimax

What Optimax does

Optimax is a privately held UK industrial metrology and inspection solutions provider, founded in 2002 in York and headquartered since 2017 in purpose-built premises in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The company supplies optical and tactile measuring equipment, AI-driven visual inspection systems, videoscopes, force and materials testing instruments, and precision hand tools, primarily to UK-based OEMs and Tier 1/2/3 suppliers in aerospace, automotive, precision engineering, medical devices, packaging, and cutting tools. It also operates a UKAS-accredited calibration laboratory (ISO 17025), notably the first in the UK to hold ISO 10360-7 accreditation for CMMs with optical probes, and provides repair/refurbishment, contract inspection, equipment rental, and training services.

The core of the business is a multi-vendor distribution and integration model: Optimax acts as the UK channel partner for more than ten premium international manufacturers including Bruker Alicona, Starrett, Vision Engineering, Mahr, Nikon, Hawkeye, EviXscan, Inspekto, Kitov, Optivu, and Photonic. Its go-to-market is consultative and field-led, with regional sales and support engineers, an in-house Customer Application Suite for demonstrations, and recurring calibration-driven engagement that produces multi-year enterprise relationships (e.g., Federal Mogul Coventry, Nevo Developments, Senior Aerospace Weston). Recent product activity has emphasised AI-driven automated visual inspection (Inspekto, Kitov, ProteQ), cobot-mounted optical measurement, and 3D structured-light scanning integrated into production environments, as demonstrated at MACH 2026.

Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales — ranging from bench magnifiers to Alicona InfiniteFocus and EviXscan 3D scanners — alongside higher-margin recurring streams from UKAS calibration, repair/refurbishment, training, and equipment rental, with quotation-based pricing. The company is founder/management-controlled, with CEO Pete Clements also heading the UKAS laboratory, and operates on a UK-only basis without disclosed institutional funding, M&A, or international expansion.

Name

Optimax

Legal name

Optimax

Website

https://optimaxonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Optimax is a privately held UK industrial metrology and inspection solutions distributor, supplying optical, tactile, and AI-driven visual inspection equipment alongside UKAS-accredited calibration services to aerospace, automotive, precision engineering, medical device, packaging, and cutting-tool manufacturers across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metrology Equipment and Calibration Services

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Quality Inspection & Metrology (Machine Vision) (IMAIAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB), Metrology & Inspection Systems (CMM, Laser Trackers, Optical Comparators) (IMAAAHAC), Metrology Automation & Robotics (Automated Cells, In-Line Gauging) (IMAAAHAH), Metrology & Scanning Services (Inspection Labs, On-Site Measurement) (IMAAAHAJ), Calibration, Traceability & Quality Standards (ISO/ASTM) (IMAAAHAI)

Keywords

• Optical metrology equipment
• Non-contact measurement systems
• Industrial inspection solutions
• UKAS calibration services
• AI visual inspection systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Market Harborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metrology Equipment Sales: Sale of optical metrology, tactile metrology, visual inspection, borescopes, force testing, and measurement hand tools. Products range from bench magnifiers to advanced 3D scanning systems and automated inspection solutions.
2. Calibration Services: UKAS-accredited calibration services for metrology equipment. Includes cleaning, adjustment and minor repairs as part of standard calibration visits.
3. Repair and Refurbishment: Repair and refurbishment services for metrology equipment with detailed quotes for parts and extensive repairs.
4. Contract Inspection: Outsourced inspection services using state-of-the-art metrology systems, ideal for one-off medical device inspection, testing and calibration tasks.
5. Equipment Rental: Rental services for metrology equipment, allowing customers temporary access to inspection technology.
6. Training Services: Training packages for customers on metrology equipment usage and best practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Optimax supplies optical, tactile, and visual inspection metrology equipment from global manufacturers (Bruker Alicona, Starrett, Vision Engineering, Mahr, EviXscan, Hawkeye, Inspekto, Kitov, Nikon) to UK precision manufacturing industries. The company complements this distribution role with a UKAS-accredited calibration laboratory (ISO 17025, ISO 10360-7), plus repair, contract inspection, training, and equipment rental services delivered from its Market Harborough facility.

Product overview

Optimax is a UK-based industrial metrology and inspection solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of optical and tactile measurement systems. The product portfolio encompasses: Optical Metrology (shadowgraph profile projectors from Starrett including HE/VB/HB/HD/HF/VF/HS series, video vision systems (LVC/TVM/Swift Pro from Vision Engineering, HVR/KMR/AV/MVR from Starrett), Alicona FocusX/µCMM/InfiniteFocus/EdgeMaster/IF-Profiler optical measurement systems, EviXscan 3D scanners (Quadro+/Optima+/FinePrecision/WideRange), Mahr MarShaft shaft scanning equipment, surface roughness/characterisation tools, multi-sensor CNC machines); Tactile Metrology (Deltron CMMs, Mahr Digimar height gauges, MarSurf roughness testers, contour/roundness measurement); Visual Inspection (AI defect detection from Inspekto/Kitov/ProteQ, EVO Cam/DRV-Z1/Mantis/Lynx Evo/Vision SX stereo microscopes, Nikon compound industrial microscopes); Videoscopes & Borescopes (Hawkeye X-PLOR/V3/Q2 series); Force & Materials Testing; Measurement Hand Tools; and Lighting for Inspection. The company also provides UKAS calibration services, repair/refurbishment, contract inspection, training, and rental services from its Market Harborough facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Operator-free automation providing rapid ROI for customers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bruker AliconacoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax represents Bruker Alicona products including the FocusX, µCMM, InfiniteFocus G6 and SL, Cobot measurement systems, Edgemaster X/G4, Portable RL, and IF-Profiler for 3D optical measurement and surface characterisation.
• EviXscancoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax distributes EviXscan industrial-grade 3D scanners for metrology, reverse engineering, and quality control applications. Products include Quadro+, Optima+M, FinePrecision, and WideRange 65.
• Hawkeye GradientcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax supplies Hawkeye borescopes and videoscopes for industrial inspection applications including rigid endoscopes, flexible endoscopes, and video borescopes.
• InspektocoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax represents Inspekto AI-driven automated optical inspection equipment, including the S70 system for operator-free quality control on production lines.
• KitovcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax distributes Kitov robotised AI inspection solutions with full CAD model programming for complex, safety-critical applications in aerospace and other industries.
• MahrcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax represents Mahr products including MarShaft shaft measurement systems (250, 350, 600, 750, 850, 1000), Digimar height gauges, and MarSurf surface roughness testers.
• OptivucoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax distributes Optivu products including AccuTrans casting materials, bespoke fixtures, and Synergy shadowgraph software solutions.
• PhotoniccoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax supplies Photonic lighting products for inspection including high-power spots and industrial illumination solutions.
• StarrettcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax represents Starrett metrology products including profile projectors (HE, HB, HD, HF, HS, VB, VF series), video measuring systems (AV, MVR, KMR, HVR), and multi-sensor CNC systems (AVR).
• Vision EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax distributes Vision Engineering products including LVC400, TVM, Swift Pro, Hawk Elite/Duo, Makrolite 4K, Deltron CMM, Mantis stereo microscopes, and Evo Cam digital microscopes.
• NikoncoreTechnology or IntegrationOptimax supplies Nikon industrial microscopes including LV-UDM materials microscope and compound industrial microscopes with modular reflected and transmitted light configurations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Starrett (L.S. Starrett Company): US-based manufacturer of metrology equipment including profile projectors, video measuring machines, and multi-sensor CNC systems. Optimax is a UK distributor for the metrology line; both companies serve aerospace, automotive, and precision engineering with overlapping product portfolios.
• Mahr GmbH: German manufacturer of precision measurement equipment including MarShaft shaft measurement, Digimar height gauges, and MarSurf surface roughness testers. Optimax distributes Mahr in the UK; both serve dimensional metrology use cases for automotive and precision engineering.
• Nikon Metrology: Manufactures CMMs, industrial microscopes (Optimax already distributes Nikon industrial microscopes), laser scanners, and X-ray CT systems. Direct overlap with Optimax on optical measurement, microscopy, and 3D scanning product categories serving UK aerospace and medical device manufacturers.
• Vision Engineering Ltd: UK-based manufacturer of stereo microscopes, video measuring systems, and digital inspection technology (LVC, Mantis, Lynx, Swift Pro). Optimax is a UK distribution partner; both companies sell overlapping products into the same precision manufacturing customer base in the UK.
• EviXscan: Polish/European manufacturer of industrial-grade 3D structured-light scanners (Quadro+, Optima+M, FinePrecision, WideRange). Optimax distributes EviXscan in the UK for metrology, reverse engineering, and quality control — directly competing with other 3D scanner brands in the same space.
• Bruker Alicona: Austria-based manufacturer of optical 3D metrology systems (FocusX, InfiniteFocus, EdgeMaster, Cobot). Optimax is a UK distributor; the products directly compete with and complement Optimax's optical metrology portfolio across aerospace, automotive, and cutting tool inspection.

Broad incumbents

• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Global leader in metrology software, sensors, and CMM/optical measurement systems. Sells directly and through partners into the same UK aerospace, automotive, and precision engineering segments Optimax serves, competing across optical comparators, vision systems, and 3D scanning.
• Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology: Division of Zeiss offering CMMs, optical and CT-based metrology systems. Targets the same UK precision manufacturing and aerospace customers with a broad portfolio, including ZEISS PRISMO CMMs and O-INSPECT optical systems that overlap with Optimax's Starrett and Bruker Alicona lines.
• Renishaw: UK-based global metrology and additive manufacturing OEM offering CMM probes, scanning systems, and industrial measurement solutions. Overlaps with Optimax on precision metrology distribution to UK aerospace and automotive customers, though Renishaw manufactures its own products rather than distributing third parties.

Emerging players

• Bowman Metrology / MetLogix: Specialist provider of digital readouts, measurement software, and metrology workflow tools. Optimax integrates MetLogix readouts with Starrett optical comparators; the companies address overlapping UK customers looking to digitize traditional profile projector inspection workflows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/optimaxiim

Compliance3 records

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 Optimax