Photofabrication Engineering

What Photofabrication Engineering does

Photofabrication Engineering, Inc. (PEI) is a US-based specialty manufacturer founded in 1968 and headquartered in a 40,000-square-foot facility in Milford, Massachusetts. The company operates Precision Chemical Machining (PCM), a subtractive photochemical etching process in which photoresist-coated metal sheets are dissolved under controlled acid etching to produce burr-free, stress-free thin-gauge metal components with tolerances as tight as ±0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm). PEI works across a broad materials set including titanium, stainless steel, copper, beryllium copper, Inconel, molybdenum, hafnium, aluminum, and tungsten, and produces parts ranging from 0.0005" ultra-thin foils to 0.1250" durable sheet metal. Its product portfolio includes EMI/RFI shields, titanium surgical mesh, lead frames, step lids, bipolar plates for fuel cells and electrolyzers, shims, encoders, springs, stators/rotors, filters, bus bars, anodes/cathodes, and titanium implants.

The company's primary verticals are aerospace, defense, medical, microelectronics, and renewable energy, with secondary exposure to automotive/EV, telecommunications, and decorative applications. PEI holds ITAR registration, AS9100:2016, ISO9001:2015, MIL-STD-45662, MIL-STD-105/1916, and ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 compliance, and counts tier-1 customers including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, General Electric, EaglePicher, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, and MKS Instruments. Its go-to-market is direct B2B enterprise sales via a Request-for-Quote (RFQ) process with 2-3 business day quote turnaround, engineering collaboration on custom specifications, and cross-selling through The Partner Companies network of eight sister specialty manufacturers.

PEI has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Partner Companies (TPC), an industrial holding platform, since 2021. TPC closed a $100M+ equity investment from Tensile Capital Management in November 2025 as part of a $300M+ capital raise and $200M+ syndicated credit facility earmarked for growth, acquisitions, and technological advancement. Revenue is generated through project-based manufacturing contracts with quote-driven pricing and is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Photofabrication Engineering

Legal name

Photofabrication Engineering, Inc.

Website

https://photofabrication.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Photofabrication Engineering (PEI) is a US precision manufacturer that uses photochemical etching to produce burr-free, tight-tolerance thin-gauge metal components in titanium and exotic metals for aerospace, defense, medical, microelectronics, and renewable energy customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Precision Metal Components Manufacturing: Photochemical etching services producing custom precision metal parts for customers across aerospace, defense, medical, electronics, and renewable energy industries. Revenue generated through project-based manufacturing contracts with pricing based on complexity, materials, quantities, and specifications.
2. Precision Chemical Machining Services: Additional manufacturing services including forming, laser cutting, diffusion bonding, finishing, assembly, and quality assurance offered as value-added services through The Partner Companies network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Photofabrication Engineering (PEI) manufactures custom photochemically etched precision metal components using controlled acid etching of metal sheets, producing burr-free, stress-free parts with tolerances within ±0.0005 inches. The company specializes in titanium etching (world leader) and works with materials including titanium, stainless steel, copper, beryllium copper, Inconel, molybdenum, nickel silver, aluminum, hafnium, and tungsten across thicknesses from 0.0005" to 0.1250". Output includes EMI/RFI shields, surgical mesh, lead frames, bipolar plates, step lids, shims, encoders, springs, stators/rotors, filters/screens, contact strips, carrier plates, bus bars, and anodes/cathodes, with complementary forming, laser cutting, diffusion bonding, finishing, assembly, and quality assurance services.

Product overview

Photofabrication Engineering Inc. (PEI) operates as a single precision manufacturing platform centered on photochemical etching (precision chemical machining), producing thin metal components from sheet metal with tolerances as tight as ±0.0005". The core offering is their photochemical etching process, which is enhanced by complementary manufacturing services including forming, laser cutting, diffusion bonding, finishing, assembly, and quality assurance. PEI's product portfolio includes precision components such as EMI/RFI shields, titanium surgical mesh, step lids for microelectronics, lead frames for semiconductors, bipolar plates for fuel cells and electrolyzers, shims, encoders, springs, stators/rotors, filters/screens, contact strips, carrier plates, bus bars, and anodes/cathodes. The company works with diverse materials including titanium, stainless steel, copper, beryllium copper, Inconel, molybdenum, nickel silver, aluminum, hafnium, and tungsten, serving aerospace, defense, medical, electronics, telecommunications, automotive, and renewable energy industries. As a member of The Partner Companies (TPC), PEI offers value-added services such as part numbering and can leverage sister company capabilities for expanded manufacturing needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Chemical Machining (Photochemical Etching) PEI's flagship manufacturing capability using controlled acid etching to produce accurate, burr-free metal parts from sheet metal, maintaining full material integrity. Used across aerospace, defense, medical, electronics, and telecom applications by enterprise OEMs.
• EMI/RFI Shields Lightweight, burr-free electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference shielding components manufactured via photochemical etching. Includes patented easy-access removable cover design for quick internal component replacement. Used in microelectronics, aerospace, and defense electronics.
• Titanium Surgical Mesh Medical-grade titanium surgical mesh for hernia repair, cranial, maxillofacial, and orthopedic applications, produced via precision chemical machining with burr-free edges for biocompatibility and tissue safety. Used by medical device OEMs including St. Jude Medical.
• Step Lids Precisely fabricated components for seam-weldable microelectronic packages that provide protection, hermetic sealing, and heat dissipation. Available with getters for hydrogen and moisture absorption. Used in semiconductor and microelectronics packaging.
• Lead Frames High-precision interconnects for semiconductor packaging, ranging from 0.5 mils to 40 mils thickness with features as small as 4 mils on 0.010 in. centers. Produced via photochemical etching for microelectronics and semiconductor OEMs.
• Bipolar Plates High-performance plates for fuel cell systems and electrolyzers, fabricated from titanium and stainless steel with precision-etched flow field channels. PEI is the world's leading manufacturer of titanium-etched bipolar plates. Used by fuel cell, hydrogen, and electrolyzer OEMs.
• Shims Custom, high-quality photochemically etched shims designed and manufactured to meet exact tolerances for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.
• Encoders Precision-etched encoder components for position sensing and motion control applications across electronics and industrial automation.
• Springs Precision-etched spring components for electronic and mechanical applications, leveraging burr-free and stress-free etching for consistent performance.
• Stators & Rotors Precision-etched stator and rotor components for electric motors and generators, supporting tight-tolerance applications including EV propulsion and industrial motors.
• Filters & Screens Precision-etched metal filters and screens for filtration and screening applications across industrial, medical, and electronics use cases.
• Contact Strips Precision-etched contact strips for electrical connections and interfaces in electronics and microelectronic assemblies.
• Carrier Plates Precision-etched carrier plates for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing applications.
• Bus Bars Conductive metal strips for power distribution in electrical systems, supplied to EV, energy, and electronics OEMs.
• Anodes/Cathodes Titanium anodes and cathodes for fuel cell and battery applications, manufactured via photochemical etching with precision flow features.
• Engineering Services Design-for-manufacturing and engineering collaboration services supporting customers with CAD files (DXF/DWG), drawings, and tolerancing for photochemical etching projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tolerances as tight as ±0.0005 inches (0.0127mm)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• The Partner Companies (TPC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021PEI was acquired by The Partner Companies in 2021, setting the stage for prolonged growth. TPC is an advanced manufacturing firm and industrial holding platform focused on U.S. manufacturing and mission-critical engineering markets. TPC supports PEI with business growth, finance, HR, and supply chain management expertise. PEI's expertise complements TPC's menu of capabilities.
• E-FabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company specializing in precision manufacturing. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers.
• Elcon PrecisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers sharing commitment to excellence, precision, and innovation.
• Fotofab, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers sharing commitment to excellence, precision, and innovation.
• L&T Precision, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers sharing commitment to excellence, precision, and innovation.
• Lattice Materials, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company specializing in precision manufacturing. Lattice Materials broke ground on an 80,000-square-foot facility in Bozeman, Montana supported by an $18.5 million Defense Production Act investment.
• MicrophotocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers sharing commitment to excellence, precision, and innovation.
• Optiforms, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers sharing commitment to excellence, precision, and innovation.
• Pinnacle PrecisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister TPC company. Part of The Partner Companies network of advanced specialty manufacturers sharing commitment to excellence, precision, and innovation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Materion Corporation: Materion is a larger publicly traded specialty alloys supplier producing beryllium copper, nickel, titanium, and other advanced materials used in etched components for aerospace, defense, and electronics, overlapping with PEI on material supply and certain processed parts.

Direct peers

• Tech-Etch: Tech-Etch is a U.S. precision photochemical etching and metal fabrication company producing thin metal parts, EMI/RFI shielding, and lead frames for medical, aerospace, electronics, and defense customers, directly competing with PEI's core capabilities.
• Precision Micro: Precision Micro is one of Europe's largest independent photochemical etching specialists, serving aerospace, medical, electronics, and automotive customers with similar burr-free, tool-free etched components to PEI's offering.
• E-Fab: E-Fab is a TPC sister precision manufacturer providing photochemical etching, laser cutting, and forming services, overlapping with PEI's value-added manufacturing capabilities and shared B2B industrial customer base.
• VACCO Industries: VACCO Industries is a U.S. precision chemical etching and metal fabrication firm specializing in aerospace, defense, and space components, with overlapping precision etching capabilities, ITAR-style certifications, and defense prime customers comparable to PEI.
• Lattice Materials: Lattice Materials is a TPC sister company specializing in precision specialty materials and photochemical-etched components for defense and aerospace, sharing The Partner Companies' advanced manufacturing platform with PEI.
• Elcon Precision: Elcon Precision is a TPC sister company delivering precision metal fabrication and photochemical etching services to similar industrial customers, providing comparable thin-metal component capabilities to PEI.
• Fotofab: Fotofab is a sister company to PEI under The Partner Companies and provides photochemical and photo-etched metal parts for electronics, aerospace, medical, and defense customers, directly overlapping PEI's core precision chemical machining offering and customer verticals.
• Optiforms: Optiforms is a TPC sister company focused on photochemical etching of precision metal parts, serving aerospace, medical, electronics, and telecommunications customers with a comparable zero-tooling, photo-etch process to PEI.
• Microphoto: Microphoto is a TPC sister company specializing in photochemical etching of thin metal parts for electronics, aerospace, medical, and instrumentation customers, with overlapping process capabilities, materials, and customer mix to PEI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1887069

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Photofabrication Engineering