Astera LED Technology
Astera LED Technology GmbH designs and manufactures battery-powered, wireless LED lighting fixtures for film, television, broadcast, live events, and concert touring, selling through 50+ distributors across more than 50 countries with approximately 400 employees based in Munich, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Astera LED Technology does
Astera LED Technology GmbH is a German-headquartered designer and manufacturer of battery-powered, wireless LED lighting fixtures for the film, television, broadcast, live-events, and concert-touring industries. Founded in 2005 by Norbert Ernst (relocating operations to China in 2007), the company sells through Astera Manufacturing Limited in Shenzhen and Astera Distribution Limited in Hong Kong, employing approximately 400 people across three sites in Munich, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Its product portfolio spans tubes (Titan, Helios, Hyperion), bulbs (NYX, LunaBulb, SolaBulb), Fresnels (PlutoFresnel, LeoFresnel), spotlights (QuikBeam, QuikPunch, QuikSpot), wash and panel lights (HydraPanel, PixelBrick), and accessories, with the AsteraApp providing iOS/Android control.
The core technology centers on proprietary battery management (up to 20-hour runtime, 15+ years of in-house expertise), LumenRadio CRMX/W-DMX wireless DMX built into every fixture since 2015, IP65/IP55 weather-resistant housings, and digital color calibration across RGB/RGBMA engines. Astera sells and rents through a network of 50+ distributors and certified service centers in more than 50 countries, supplemented by direct quote inquiries via its website. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales and rental-fee transactions; no subscription, SaaS, or licensing revenue streams are disclosed. The customer base spans professional cinematographers, gaffers, lighting designers, rental houses, and event production companies, with documented film credits including Tron: Ares and Netflix's How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.
Astera operates as a privately held GmbH with no disclosed external funding rounds or institutional investors. Growth has been organic, supported by a near-doubling of Shenzhen production capacity to 10,000 m² in 2018/2019 and ongoing product launches, including the award-winning QuikBeam spotlight at NAB Show 2026. The company holds granted design, utility, and invention patents across China, the EU, Germany, the UK, and the US, alongside a broad product trademark portfolio.
Astera LED Technology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Astera LED Technology
- Legal name
- Astera LED Technology GmbH
- Website
- https://astera-led.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Astera LED Technology GmbH designs and manufactures battery-powered, wireless LED lighting fixtures for film, television, broadcast, live events, and concert touring, selling through 50+ distributors across more than 50 countries with approximately 400 employees based in Munich, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Astera LED Technology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional LED Lighting
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Task/Workstation Lighting (Inspection/task lights, cleanroom/food-grade, portable work lights) (IMAGAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Camera Lighting & Flash (Speedlights, Continuous Lights, LED Panels) (CRACAPAG), Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting) (IMAGAIAI)
Keywords
Where Astera LED Technology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Astera LED Technology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- LED Lighting Fixtures Sales: Astera generates revenue through the sale of wireless LED lighting products including tubes, bulbs, spot lights, wash lights, soft lights, and accessories. Products are sold through a global dealer and distributor network.
- Equipment Rental: Products are available for rent through rental companies and dealers, supporting temporary production needs for film, events, and concerts.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Astera LED Technology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Astera LED Technology designs, manufactures and sells 100% wireless, battery-powered LED lighting fixtures—including tubes, bulbs, spotlights, wash lights, soft lights and Fresnels—for film, television, studio, events, concerts and touring productions. Each fixture integrates proprietary battery management, LumenRadio CRMX wireless DMX and IP-rated housings, and is operated through the AsteraApp mobile application. Products are sold outright and made available for rent through a global network of dealers, distributors and rental companies.
Product overview
Astera LED Technology GmbH is a German company specializing in 100% wireless, battery-powered LED lighting fixtures for the film, television, video, events, concerts, and touring industries. The product portfolio centers on wireless LED tubes (Titan Tube, Helios Tube, Hyperion Tube, AX1 PixelTube), bulbs (NYX Bulb, LunaBulb, SolaBulb), spot lights (QuikBeam, QuikPunch, QuikSpot, AX10 SpotMax, AX7 SpotLite), wash lights and uplights (AX5 TriplePAR, AX9 PowerPAR, AX2 PixelBar, PixelBrick), soft lights/Fresnels (PlutoFresnel, LeoFresnel, HydraPanel), and panels. Fixtures are controlled via the AsteraApp mobile application using built-in wireless DMX (CRMX by LumenRadio) and Bluetooth. The company offers a comprehensive ecosystem including controllers (ART7 AsteraBox CRMX), accessories (QuikBrick batteries, PowerBox, RuntimeExtender), kits, and the proprietary AsteraApp software for fixture management, color control, and effect programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Titan Tube Flagship wireless, battery-powered LED tube for film, studio, stage and events with built-in battery management and wireless DMX control.
- HydraPanel Small battery-powered, wireless-controllable LED panel for flexible film and studio illumination.
- PlutoFresnel Battery-powered RGBMA Fresnel equivalent to 300W Tungsten with wireless control and IP65 rating.
- QuikBeam Compact LED spotlight with 200W Tungsten power, 13º–60º Fresnel zoom, swappable QuikBrick batteries, and built-in PoE.
- QuikPunch Wireless spotlight with Fresnel lens, 13º–60º zoom, zero stray light, delivering 8,000 lux at 3 meters.
- QuikSpot Battery-driven uplight with precise zoomable Fresnel, functioning as a versatile, compact wireless spotlight.
- SolaBulb 50W PAR-bulb-equivalent, zoomable wireless LED luminaire for flexible lighting applications.
- Helios Tube
- Hyperion Tube
- NYX Bulb
- LunaBulb
- PixelBrick
- LeoFresnel Battery-powered RGBMA Fresnel equivalent to 400W Tungsten; wireless Fresnel spotlight.
- AX1 PixelTube Pixel-controlled LED tube for creative lighting effects in film and events.
- AX2 PixelBar Pixel-controlled LED bar available in 50cm and 100cm lengths for flexible lighting layouts.
- AX3 LightDrop Battery-powered LED downlight for film and event applications.
- AX5 TriplePAR Three-in-one PAR-style fixture combining multiple lighting functions in a single unit.
- AX7 SpotLite Compact spotlight fixture for film and event applications.
- AX9 PowerPAR High-power PAR fixture for demanding film and event lighting applications.
- AX10 SpotMax Maximum-output spotlight fixture for professional film and event applications.
- ART7 AsteraBox CRMX
- AsteraApp
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 20 hours battery runtime on a single charge
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Astera LED Technology
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Astera LED Technology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Astera LED Technology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- LumenRadiocoreAll Astera fixtures manufactured since 2015 contain a wireless DMX module by LumenRadio, enabling CRMX and W-DMX wireless control alongside other wireless fixtures. This is a core technology partnership embedded in all products.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Astera LED Technology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ARRI: German incumbent and dominant supplier of professional cinema lighting and camera systems. Directly comparable to Astera's cinema-lighting fixtures and increasingly overlapping in wireless LED product lines.
- Mole-Richardson: Long-established US manufacturer of incandescent and LED studio/location lighting for film and TV. Comparable in end use, with Astera representing a wireless-LED-native alternative to its traditional fixtures.
- Kino Flo: Pioneer of professional fluorescent and LED lighting for film and broadcast. Competes with Astera in studio/film panels (Celeb, FreeStyle) and shares the same cinematographer and gaffer customer base.
Direct peers
- LiteGear: US-based manufacturer of LED lighting for film and broadcast, including battery-powered LiteMat and LiteTile panels. Most direct competitor to Astera in wireless, battery-powered cinema lighting.
- Quasar Science: US manufacturer of LED tube lights (Q-LED, Rainbow) widely used on film sets. Closely comparable product form factor to Astera's Titan/Helios/Hyperion Tubes and overlapping customer base.
- Aputure: Manufacturer of LED lighting for filmmakers and content creators, including battery-powered lights (Amaran, MC Pro). Directly competes with Astera in portable, app-controlled LED lighting for film.
- Nanlite (Nanguang): Chinese-affiliated manufacturer of LED lights for photo, video and film. Comparable in app-controlled, battery-powered fixtures and competing on price-performance in the same cinematographer segment.
Emerging players
- Digital Sputnik: Smaller specialist in modular LED lighting systems for film. Comparable in wireless, modular, and app-controlled product philosophy but with narrower installed base than Astera.
- BB&S Lighting: Boutique manufacturer of professional LED lighting for film, broadcast and events. Comparable in B2B event/cinema customer profile, with partial product overlap in compact LED fixtures.
Others
- Rosco: Supplier of color filters, gobos and lighting fixtures for entertainment. Comparable end customer (gaffers, lighting designers) and color-science ecosystem; AsteraApp even integrates Rosco gel libraries, indicating functional adjacency rather than direct product overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Astera LED Technology social profiles
Digital presenceAstera LED Technology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Astera LED Technology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Astera LED Technology subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Astera LED Technology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Astera LED Technology 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 Astera LED Technology
What does Astera LED Technology do?
Astera LED Technology designs, manufactures and sells 100% wireless, battery-powered LED lighting fixtures—including tubes, bulbs, spotlights, wash lights, soft lights and Fresnels—for film, television, studio, events, concerts and touring productions. Each fixture integrates proprietary battery management, LumenRadio CRMX wireless DMX and IP-rated housings, and is operated through the AsteraApp mobile application. Products are sold outright and made available for rent through a global network of dealers, distributors and rental companies.
Is Astera LED Technology a public or private company?
Astera LED Technology is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Astera LED Technology founded?
Astera LED Technology was founded in 2005. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Astera LED Technology based?
Astera LED Technology is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Astera LED Technology make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. LED Lighting Fixtures Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rental.
Who are Astera LED Technology's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ARRI, Mole-Richardson and Kino Flo. Direct peers are LiteGear, Quasar Science, Aputure and Nanlite (Nanguang). Emerging players are Digital Sputnik and BB&S Lighting. Rosco is listed as an others.
Does Astera LED Technology have an API?
No public API is recorded for Astera LED Technology.
What industry is Astera LED Technology in?
Astera LED Technology's product category is Professional LED Lighting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAIAK, Specialty & Task/Workstation Lighting (Inspection/task lights, cleanroom/food-grade, portable work lights), with a secondary code of CRACAPAG, Camera Lighting & Flash (Speedlights, Continuous Lights, LED Panels). Its NAICS code is 33513 and its SIC code is 3640.