Active Silicon
Active Silicon, a UK-based subsidiary of Solid State plc, designs and manufactures machine vision hardware — frame grabbers, autofocus-zoom cameras, and rugged vision computers — serving industrial automation, medical, defense, and scientific OEMs worldwide via direct sales and distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersIver, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Active Silicon does
Active Silicon, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Langley, United Kingdom, designs and manufactures computer imaging hardware and embedded vision systems for industrial machine vision applications. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solid State plc (LSE: SOLP) and operates additional sales operations in the United States. Its product portfolio centers on the FireBird family of frame grabbers supporting CoaXPress, CXP over Fiber, and Camera Link interfaces; Harrier autofocus-zoom block cameras (10x to 55x optical zoom); Oncilla rugged industrial machine vision computers; custom embedded vision systems; and camera interface boards and accessories. Technical differentiation rests on proprietary ActiveDMA technology (RISC-based DMA engine enabling zero-CPU, high-speed, low-latency image transfer), full GenICam compliance, ActiveSDK software for Windows and Linux, NVIDIA GPUDirect for Video integration, and PoCXP/PoCL power-over-cable mechanisms with safe-power detection. Active Silicon was a primary author of the CoaXPress international standard hosted by the JIIA.
The company monetizes through three streams: (1) hardware product sales of frame grabbers, cameras, machine vision computers, embedded systems, and accessories sold direct (UK and US offices) and through distribution partners such as Urvision in APAC; (2) ActiveSDK software licensing across Windows and Linux platforms; and (3) custom design services for OEM embedded vision programs that retain fit, form, and function over multi-year deployment windows. Pricing is entirely quote-based, consistent with an enterprise B2B motion. Customer segments are diversified across industrial automation and quality control (primary), medical and life sciences, security and defense, scientific and aerospace research, and OEM camera manufacturers. Marketing is a blend of content-driven website presence, monthly email newsletters, broad social media (LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram), and event-driven demand generation at major trade shows such as VISION Stuttgart and Automation Taipei.
Active Silicon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Active Silicon
- Legal name
- Active Silicon Ltd
- Website
- https://activesilicon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Active Silicon, a UK-based subsidiary of Solid State plc, designs and manufactures machine vision hardware — frame grabbers, autofocus-zoom cameras, and rugged vision computers — serving industrial automation, medical, defense, and scientific OEMs worldwide via direct sales and distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Active Silicon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Machine Vision Hardware
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Machine Vision & Industrial Imaging Systems (IMAHAHAE)
Keywords
Where Active Silicon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Iver
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Active Silicon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Products: Sale of imaging hardware including frame grabbers (FireBird family), cameras (Harrier AF-Zoom), machine vision computers (Oncilla), camera interface boards, and accessories. Products are sold directly and through distribution channels to industrial OEM customers.
- Software Licensing: Software Development Kit (ActiveSDK) licensing for Windows and Linux platforms, enabling customers to develop applications using FireBird frame grabbers. Part numbers include AS-ACTIVESDK-WIN and AS-ACTIVESDK-LIN.
- Custom Design Services: Bespoke embedded systems design services for OEM applications, providing custom solutions with retained fit, form and function over many years, compliant to quality and medical standards.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Active Silicon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Active Silicon designs and manufactures computer imaging products including high-speed frame grabbers (FireBird family), autofocus-zoom block cameras (Harrier), rugged industrial machine vision computers (Oncilla), custom embedded vision systems, and camera interface boards. The company specializes in CoaXPress and Camera Link interfaces for industrial machine vision, providing components and turnkey systems to OEM customers, system integrators, and research organizations.
Product overview
Active Silicon designs and manufactures computer imaging products and embedded vision systems. The product portfolio centers on the FireBird frame grabber family supporting CoaXPress, CXP over Fiber, and Camera Link interfaces, complemented by Harrier autofocus zoom cameras, and Oncilla rugged industrial machine vision computers. The company also provides custom embedded vision systems for OEM applications, camera interface boards and adapters, comprehensive software including ActiveSDK, GenICam support, and third-party application drivers. The product ecosystem is designed for industrial machine vision, scientific imaging, medical imaging, and defense applications with a focus on high-speed, real-time image acquisition and processing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FireBird: FireBird frame grabbers - high-speed, real-time acquisition cards for CoaXPress, CXP over Fiber and Camera Link interfaces
- Harrier
- Oncilla
- ActiveSDK
- ActiveCapture
Products and services
- FireBird Frame Grabbers High-speed, real-time acquisition cards for CoaXPress, CXP over Fiber, and Camera Link interfaces. Features ActiveDMA technology for zero CPU usage, GenICam compliance, and comprehensive I/O for triggers and lighting control. Targeted at industrial OEM customers, system integrators, and machine vision application developers needing reliable, high-throughput image data capture.
- Harrier AF-Zoom Cameras Compact autofocus zoom block cameras with multiple video output options (USB3, SDI, HDMI, IP) including global shutter and rolling shutter variants. Optical zoom ranges from 10x to 55x. Designed for OEM integration into industrial, surveillance, medical, and other machine vision applications.
- Oncilla Machine Vision Computers Rugged industrial PCs with integrated FireBird frame grabbers (CoaXPress, Camera Link, or CXP over Fiber). Features Intel Core i7 processors, long product life (7+ years), and comprehensive I/O for machine vision applications. Certified to MIL-STD-810G/H and UL/cUL/CB/IEC/EN 62368-1 for harsh environments including rail and defense deployments.
- Embedded Vision Systems Custom embedded systems for OEM applications including COM Express modules, ETX systems, and USB3 Vision Processing Units. Designed for high reliability and long product life, compliant to quality and medical standards. Used by OEM customers needing bespoke PC interfaces, video acquisition, and processing in compact form factors.
- Camera Interface Boards and Adapters Small interface boards for autofocus zoom block cameras that convert data from camera interfaces into 3G-SDI/HD-SDI, USB 3.0, HDMI and IP video formats, with bespoke video processing available. Targeted at OEMs integrating block cameras into larger systems requiring standardized video outputs.
- ActiveSDK Software Development Kit Comprehensive SDK for OEMs and integrators using FireBird frame grabbers. Provides libraries for PHX (setup, acquisition and control), Active Display Library (Windows only), Active Image Processing Library, Active Browser widget, GenTL Producer, and GPUDirect for Video. Supports Windows and Linux (64-bit) via a common API in C, C++, and C#.
- Accessories & Cables Comprehensive range of cables and accessories including CoaXPress cables (HD-BNC to HD-BNC, BNC to HD-BNC, DIN1.0/2.3), Camera Link cables (SDR to SDR, MDR to SDR, MDR to MDR), fiber optic cables, I/O adapters, and connector cleaners.
- Custom Design Services Bespoke embedded systems design services for OEM applications, providing custom solutions that retain fit, form and function over many years and are compliant to quality and medical standards. Targeted at OEM customers needing tailored imaging hardware and embedded platforms.
Companies that use Active Silicon
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Active Silicon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
Active Silicon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- UrvisionregionalUrvision is Active Silicon's official distributor in Taiwan for the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership enables local sales, support, and demonstration of FireBird frame grabber products at regional trade shows including Automation Taipei.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Active Silicon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teledyne DALSA: Teledyne DALSA designs and manufactures image sensors, cameras, and frame grabbers for industrial machine vision, including CoaXPress and Camera Link products. It directly competes with Active Silicon in high-speed frame grabbers and industrial cameras.
- Matrox Imaging: Matrox Imaging produces frame grabbers (e.g., Rapixo, Radient) for CoaXPress, Camera Link, and other interfaces, plus vision software. It is a direct peer in the frame grabber / machine vision components market.
- Euresys: Euresys is a Belgian vendor of CoaXPress and Camera Link frame grabbers (Coaxlink, Grablink) and machine vision software (Open eVision). It competes head-to-head with Active Silicon's FireBird family in high-speed image acquisition.
- BitFlow: BitFlow specializes in frame grabbers for CoaXPress, Camera Link, and other high-speed interfaces used in industrial and scientific imaging. It is a niche direct peer competing on interface coverage and acquisition performance.
- Stemmer Imaging: Stemmer Imaging is a European machine vision components and software distributor and integrator, offering Common Vision Blox and a broad portfolio of cameras and frame grabbers. It is a partner-channel peer and sometimes competitor in vision stack delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Basler AG: Basler is a leading global manufacturer of industrial cameras (including CoaXPress) and machine vision components. While broader in portfolio, it overlaps Active Silicon on Harrier-class cameras and vision interfaces for OEM customers.
- Cognex Corporation: Cognex is a global leader in machine vision systems and software (VisionPro). Active Silicon's frame grabbers integrate with Cognex VisionPro, making it both a partner and a broad incumbent competing for end-customer spend.
- Allied Vision: Allied Vision manufactures industrial cameras for machine vision with multiple interface options including CoaXPress. It competes with Active Silicon's Harrier cameras and shares the same OEM and integrator customer base.
- National Instruments (NI): NI sells test, measurement, and vision systems (now under Emerson), including frame grabbers and machine vision software (Vision Builder, LabVIEW). It competes broadly in industrial imaging and test systems.
Others
- MVTec Software: MVTec develops HALCON and MERLIC machine vision software. Active Silicon frame grabbers integrate with HALCON, positioning MVTec as an enabling software partner and ecosystem peer in the same machine vision stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Active Silicon social profiles
Digital presenceActive Silicon compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Active Silicon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Active Silicon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Active Silicon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Active Silicon 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 Active Silicon
What does Active Silicon do?
Active Silicon designs and manufactures computer imaging products including high-speed frame grabbers (FireBird family), autofocus-zoom block cameras (Harrier), rugged industrial machine vision computers (Oncilla), custom embedded vision systems, and camera interface boards. The company specializes in CoaXPress and Camera Link interfaces for industrial machine vision, providing components and turnkey systems to OEM customers, system integrators, and research organizations.
Is Active Silicon a public or private company?
Active Silicon is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Active Silicon founded?
Active Silicon was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Active Silicon based?
Active Silicon is headquartered in Iver, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Active Silicon make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Products are the primary driver. The others are software Licensing and custom Design Services.
Who are Active Silicon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teledyne DALSA, Matrox Imaging, Euresys, BitFlow and Stemmer Imaging. Broad incumbents are Basler AG, Cognex Corporation, Allied Vision and National Instruments (NI). MVTec Software is listed as an others.
Does Active Silicon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Active Silicon.
What industry is Active Silicon in?
Active Silicon's product category is Machine Vision Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAB, Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination), with a secondary code of IMAHAHAE, Machine Vision & Industrial Imaging Systems. Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3827.