Inrad Optics Inc
Inrad Optics is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer that produces precision optical materials and components — including X-ray crystals, metal mirrors, stilbene neutron detectors, and optical assemblies — for US defense, government labs, aerospace primes, and research institutions from its Northvale, NJ facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersNorthvale, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Inrad Optics Inc does
Inrad Optics Inc is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer founded in 1973 and headquartered in Northvale, New Jersey. The company produces advanced optical materials and precision optical components — including X-ray monochromators, nonlinear crystals (ZGP, stilbene), beryllium and aluminum metal mirrors from 5 mm to 1 meter in diameter, UV-IR optics, Pockels cells, and electro-optical assemblies — at its consolidated 42,000 sq ft facility that spans crystal growth, diamond turning, thin-film plasma-assisted deposition coating (handling optics up to 60 inches), and optical assembly. Its Scintinel™ stilbene crystal product line, originally developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and transitioned to Inrad for commercial production, supports fast neutron detection for homeland security and nuclear nonproliferation.
The company sells through enterprise field sales, a Request-for-Quote system for custom build-to-print optics, online configuration and ordering for standard products (transmission flats, Pockels cells), and an international representative network covering Europe, Asia, and Israel. Primary customer segments are Aerospace & Defense (precision mirrors for fire control, EO assemblies, airborne imaging windows), Process Control & Metrology (X-ray monochromators, spectroscopy components), and Research & Technical Development (national labs, universities). Customers include the US Army, US Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security/DNDO, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (Preferred Supplier), and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The company has won multiple SBIR contracts (DNDO Phase I $149,955 in 2011, Phase II $1.0M in 2012, Phase III in 2014; DOE Phase II $999,926 in 2017), holds ISO 9001:2008 and MIL-PRF-13830B certifications, and was acquired by Luxium Solutions LLC for approximately $19 million in July 2024, completing the company's transition from public (OTC: INRD) to private ownership.
Inrad Optics Inc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Inrad Optics Inc
- Legal name
- Inrad Optics, Inc.
- Website
- https://inradoptics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Inrad Optics is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer that produces precision optical materials and components — including X-ray crystals, metal mirrors, stilbene neutron detectors, and optical assemblies — for US defense, government labs, aerospace primes, and research institutions from its Northvale, NJ facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Inrad Optics Inc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photonics and Precision Optical Components
- NAICS
- Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)
- SIC
- X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors) (EUAKAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Radiography & NDT Services (Gamma radiography, source handling, field inspection) (EUAKAIAF), Inspection, Checkweighing & Detection Systems (Vision, Metal, X-ray) (IMALAOAH)
Keywords
Where Inrad Optics Inc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Northvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Inrad Optics Inc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Optical Components Manufacturing: Build-to-print and custom optical components including crystals, metal optics, glass optics, and assemblies. Revenue generated through one-time purchase orders and long-term contracts with defense and industrial customers.
- Standard Optical Components: Standard and catalog optical components including X-ray imaging crystals, windows, metal mirrors, and UV-IR optics. Includes online configuration tools for transmission flats.
- Government and Defense Contracts: Long-term IDIQ contracts with US Army and other government agencies for precision metal optics. Includes SBIR funding from Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Quote-based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Inrad Optics Inc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Inrad Optics is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer that fabricates advanced optical materials into precision components and assemblies. The company produces crystal, glass, and metal optics including x-ray monochromators, precision metal mirrors, UV-IR optics, stilbene neutron detection crystals, and custom opto-mechanical assemblies for aerospace/defense, scientific research, and industrial process control customers.
Product overview
Inrad Optics is a vertically integrated manufacturer of advanced optical materials and precision optical components. The company's core product portfolio centers on three main areas: Crystal and Devices (including Scintinel™ Stilbene neutron detection crystals, X-ray monochromators, nonlinear crystals like ZGP, and Pockels Cells), Custom Optics (UV-IR optics, windows, optical flats, prisms, beamsplitters, and lenses), and Metal Optics (precision mirrors in aluminum, beryllium, and AlBeMet from 5mm to 1 meter diameter). Manufacturing capabilities include crystal growth, extensive optical fabrication with tolerances to λ/20, precision diamond turning, thin film coating using plasma-assisted deposition for parts up to 60 inches, and optical assemblies. All operations are conducted at the company's 42,000 sq ft facility in Northvale, NJ.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Scintinel™: Brand name for Inrad Optics' stilbene crystal product line used for fast neutron detection in homeland security, physics research, and nuclear nonproliferation applications.
Products and services
- X-Ray Imaging Crystals / Monochromators Bent single crystal x-ray optics including doubly bent crystals with toroidal, ellipsoidal, aspheric, and spherical shapes. Used for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), synchrotron beamline focusing, and plasma diagnostics in nuclear fusion research.
- Metal Mirrors Precision metal optics fabricated from aluminum, beryllium, AlBeMet, electroless-nickel plated substrates, and other materials ranging from 5 mm to 1 meter diameter. Includes scan mirrors, parabolas, polygons, and spheric/aspheric/elliptical mirrors for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.
- UV-IR Optics Custom engineered optics including windows, mirrors, prisms, beamsplitters, lenses, and waveplates fabricated from glass, crystal, metal, and semiconductor materials. Coated for specific wavelengths across broad spectrum with figure tolerances to 1/20th wave.
- Optical Fabrication Services Precision optical fabrication services including grinding, polishing, and diamond machining of glass, crystal, and metal optics. Capable of producing components from 5 mm to 1 meter diameter with figure tolerances of λ/20 and surface quality of 10/5.
- Optical Assemblies Opto-mechanical and electro-optical assemblies including multi-element beam splitters, mounted crystals, laser optic assemblies, and reflective telescope assemblies. Features tight alignment, dimensional tolerance, and performance specifications for challenging environmental conditions.
- Thin Film Coating Advanced thin film coatings using plasma assisted e-beam vacuum deposition. Capable of coating optics up to 60 inches (1.5 meters) in diameter. Includes dielectric HR, enhanced and protected aluminum, silver and gold coatings.
- Scintinel Stilbene Organic scintillator crystals for fast neutron detection. Features fast neutron detection, nanosecond timing, and neutron/gamma radiation discrimination. Used in homeland security, physics research, and nuclear nonproliferation applications.
- Windows and Optical Flats Large form factor, extreme precision optical windows, interferometer reference and transmission flats. EO/IR windows and EMI-shielded window assemblies for aerospace and defense applications.
- Zinc Germanium Phosphide (ZGP) Nonlinear infrared crystal with high nonlinear coefficient (75 pm/V) for frequency conversion applications. Transparent and phase-matchable over 2 μm – 8 μm range. Suitable for high average power mid-IR applications.
- Pockels Cells KD*P and BBO Pockels Cells for Q-switching, coupling and intensity modulation applications. Online configuration and purchasing available.
- Interferometer Transmission Flats Industry-standard 4-, 6- and 12-inch transmission flats in configurable uncoated, standard coating, or custom Plasma Assist E-Beam coating options. Available as standalone optics or mounted in ring-style mounts for Fizeau interferometers.
- UVC7 Ultra-Violet Filter Patented ultra-violet material with high optical transmission in the UV down to 200 nm. Used in solar-blind sensing applications. Absorbs most wavelengths outside UV region.
Quantifiable outcome
- Surface figure accuracy to λ/20 PV achievable
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Inrad Optics Inc
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Inrad Optics Inc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Inrad Optics Inc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)coreCollaborative development of stilbene crystal growth technology for neutron detection. LLNL's solution crystal growth technology for large-scale production of organic scintillators was transitioned to Inrad Optics for commercial production. Ongoing collaboration through DNDO-funded SBIR Phase III program.
- Laser 2000 BeneluxminorInternational sales representative covering Netherlands region
- Laser 2000 SAS (France)minorInternational sales representative covering France region
- Laser 2000 GmbH (Germany & Austria)minorInternational sales representative covering Germany and Austria region
- Advanced Photonics IndiaminorInternational sales representative covering India region
- Rosh Electroptics LTD (Israel)minorInternational sales representative covering Israel region
- Crisel Instruments SRL (Italy)minorInternational sales representative covering Italy region
- Sam Joong Science Corp (Korea)minorInternational sales representative covering Korea region
- GMP SA (Switzerland)minorInternational sales representative covering Switzerland region
- Pro-Lite Technology Ltd (UK & Ireland)minorInternational sales representative covering United Kingdom and Ireland region
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Inrad Optics Inc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Precision Optical (a Halma company): Precision Optical is a custom optics manufacturer serving defense, aerospace, medical, and industrial markets with coated optics, prisms, and assemblies. As a small specialty photonics manufacturer in the same niche, it is comparable to Inrad's custom optics and coating business model.
- Saint-Gobain Crystals: Saint-Gobain Crystals produces scintillation materials (including stilbene and other organic/inorganic crystals), as well as crystal substrates and optical components. It is a direct competitor to Inrad in both stilbene scintillators and the broader custom optical crystal fabrication market.
- Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics is a global manufacturer and supplier of optical components including lenses, mirrors, windows, filters, and assemblies serving research, industrial, and defense markets. Inrad competes with Edmund in standard and custom optics across UV-IR, metrology, and defense applications.
- Thorlabs: Thorlabs is the largest U.S. photonics components and instruments catalog vendor, offering crystals, optics, coatings, and optomechanical assemblies. It directly overlaps with Inrad's UV-IR optics, Pockels cells, and crystal product lines, and Amy Eskilson (Inrad CEO) spent 20 years at Thorlabs before joining Inrad.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu is a leading global manufacturer of scintillator crystals, photodetectors, and radiation detection systems. Its scintillation detector business directly competes with Inrad's Scintinel stilbene neutron detection products in homeland security and nuclear nonproliferation markets.
Broad incumbents
- Coherent (formerly II-VI): Coherent is a large diversified photonics platform covering laser systems, materials, and components. Following the II-VI/Coherent merger it now encompasses crystal growth, optics, and laser components that overlap with Inrad's crystal and optics portfolio, particularly in defense and industrial laser end markets.
- Schott AG: Schott is a global specialty glass and optical materials manufacturer producing substrates, coated optics, and crystal components used in defense, medical, and industrial applications. It competes with Inrad at the substrate and coated optics level but with vastly greater scale and vertical integration.
- Newport (MKS Instruments): Newport, part of MKS Instruments, supplies precision optics, optomechanics, and photonics instrumentation to research, aerospace, and semiconductor customers. It overlaps with Inrad's metrology, UV-IR optics, and custom assembly capabilities within a much broader product portfolio.
Emerging players
- Optovac (MSL Optovac / CRYTUR): CRYTUR (and the legacy MSL Optovac/Optovac brand) are specialty manufacturers of scintillation crystals, optical materials, and crystalline components. They overlap directly with Inrad's crystal growth business, particularly in radiation detection and specialty optical substrates for research.
Regional players
- Janis Research (Lake Shore Cryotronics): Lake Shore Cryotronics, including its Janis Research brand, supplies cryogenic and temperature measurement systems used in physics research and is a related buyer of specialty optical crystals and windows. While not a direct optics manufacturer, it is a comparable supplier into the same national lab and fusion research customer base Inrad serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Inrad Optics Inc social profiles
Digital presenceInrad Optics Inc compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Inrad Optics Inc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Inrad Optics Inc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Inrad Optics Inc subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Inrad Optics Inc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Inrad Optics Inc 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 Inrad Optics Inc
What does Inrad Optics Inc do?
Inrad Optics is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer that fabricates advanced optical materials into precision components and assemblies. The company produces crystal, glass, and metal optics including x-ray monochromators, precision metal mirrors, UV-IR optics, stilbene neutron detection crystals, and custom opto-mechanical assemblies for aerospace/defense, scientific research, and industrial process control customers.
Is Inrad Optics Inc a public or private company?
Inrad Optics Inc is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Inrad Optics Inc founded?
Inrad Optics Inc was founded in 1973. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Inrad Optics Inc based?
Inrad Optics Inc is headquartered in Northvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Inrad Optics Inc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Optical Components Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are standard Optical Components and government and Defense Contracts.
Who are Inrad Optics Inc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Precision Optical (a Halma company), Saint-Gobain Crystals, Edmund Optics, Thorlabs and Hamamatsu Photonics. Broad incumbents are Coherent (formerly II-VI), Schott AG and Newport (MKS Instruments). Optovac (MSL Optovac / CRYTUR) is listed as an emerging player. Janis Research (Lake Shore Cryotronics) is listed as a regional player.
Does Inrad Optics Inc have an API?
No public API is recorded for Inrad Optics Inc.
What industry is Inrad Optics Inc in?
Inrad Optics Inc's product category is Photonics and Precision Optical Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAKAIAK, Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors), with a secondary code of EUAKAIAF, Industrial Radiography & NDT Services (Gamma radiography, source handling, field inspection). Its NAICS code is 334517 and its SIC code is 3844.