CVI Laser LLC

What CVI Laser LLC does

CVI Laser LLC, doing business as CVI Laser Optics, is a precision optical components manufacturer founded in 1972 and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company designs, fabricates, and manufactures high-performance optical components including mirrors, lenses, filters, substrates, and specialized waveplates (zero-order, multiple-order, dual-wavelength quartz retarders, and 90-degree polarization rotators), along with custom AR coatings engineered for high laser damage thresholds and complex optomechanical assemblies. CVI also produces infrared detector and camera shutters for night vision thermography and military/surveillance applications, and operates an extensive in-house metrology department for performance validation. Its technology stack rests on proprietary fabrication and coating capabilities, precision substrates capable of handling spectrally complex coating depositions, and a fully equipped machine shop for custom part manufacture, with vertical integration spanning optical design through metrology.

CVI operates exclusively as an OEM-embedded supplier, partnering with customers from concept through volume production to deliver system-level engineering solutions. Its go-to-motion is direct engagement with OEM customers supported by over a dozen full-time design engineers, with no publicly disclosed pricing or product list; quotes are custom and negotiated. Revenue is generated through three streams: precision optical component sales (hardware), complex optomechanical system assembly (hardware), and custom engineering/design services (professional services). The company serves three primary vertical segments: semiconductor inspection and metrology, directed energy/aerospace/remote sensing, and industrial OEM applications such as additive manufacturing and semiconductor tools. Distribution is global through the IDEX Materials Science Solutions platform following CVI's 2012 acquisition by IDEX Corporation, a publicly traded diversified industrial conglomerate (NYSE: IEX).

Name

CVI Laser LLC

Legal name

CVI Laser LLC

Website

https://cvilaseroptics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CVI Laser LLC (CVI Laser Optics) is an Albuquerque-based precision optical components manufacturer founded in 1972, serving OEM customers in semiconductor inspection, directed energy/aerospace, and industrial laser markets. Operating since 2012 as a subsidiary of IDEX Corporation, it produces custom waveplates, AR coatings, and optomechanical assemblies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Optical Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Precision optical components
• Laser optics manufacturing
• Waveplate manufacturing
• Optomechanical assembly
• Infrared camera shutters

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Optical Components: Design, fabrication, and manufacture of high-performance optical components from prototype to volume production for OEM customers. Revenue generated through direct sales of custom-manufactured optical components including lenses, mirrors, waveplates, and coatings.
2. Optical System Assembly: Designing, developing, building and testing of complex optomechanical assemblies for industrial OEM applications. Revenue from complex assemblies with dozens to hundreds of components for demanding schedule and performance requirements.
3. Custom Engineering Services: System-level engineering design services and optical expertise provided to OEM customers. Includes custom process creation and metrology services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

CVI Laser LLC designs, fabricates, and manufactures high-performance precision optical components including mirrors, lenses, filters, and substrates with proprietary anti-reflection coatings and high laser damage thresholds. The company also produces custom waveplates (zero-order, multiple-order, dual-wavelength quartz retarders and 90° polarization rotators), optomechanical systems assemblies, and infrared detector/camera shutters, delivered from prototype to volume production for industrial OEM customers in semiconductor, aerospace, defense, and industrial laser markets.

Product overview

CVI Laser Optics offers a portfolio of precision optical products and manufacturing services for industrial OEM applications. The core product line centers on high-performance optical components (mirrors, lenses, filters, substrates) with proprietary coating capabilities. Specialty offerings include custom waveplates (zero-order, multiple-order, dual-wavelength) and 90-degree polarization rotators, where the company is one of few worldwide with this expertise. Additional products include infrared detector/camera shutters for military and surveillance applications, and optomechanical systems assembly. All offerings are backed by in-house engineering design, metrology testing, and a fully equipped machine shop, serving semiconductor inspection, directed energy, aerospace, and remote sensing markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Optical Components High-performance optical components including mirrors, lenses, filters, and substrates with high laser damage thresholds and superior surface quality, manufactured from prototype to volume production for OEM customers in semiconductor, aerospace, defense, and industrial markets.
• Waveplates High-performance, high damage threshold quartz retarders including zero-order, multiple-order, and dual-wavelength waveplates, as well as 90° polarization rotators. CVI Laser Optics is one of few businesses worldwide with custom design expertise for these waveplates.
• Optomechanical Systems Assembly Custom optomechanical systems assembly for industrial OEM applications, including designing, developing, building, and testing complex assemblies for additive manufacturing, semiconductor tools, and other industrial OEM applications.
• Infrared Detector and Camera Shutters High-performance infrared detector and camera shutters custom designed for integration in night vision thermography cameras, IR imaging devices, and portable handheld thermal units for military and surveillance applications.
• Optical Assembly Services Optical and optomechanical assembly expertise for complex assemblies with dozens to hundreds of components, delivered to meet demanding schedule and performance requirements for industrial OEM customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• High laser damage thresholds achieved through proprietary coating processes on precision substrates

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sill Optics: Sill Optics designs and manufactures precision optical components and assemblies for laser, semiconductor, and metrology OEM customers, with strong capabilities in coating and lens systems. It is a close European peer to CVI in OEM optical component manufacturing.
• Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics designs and manufactures optical components (lenses, mirrors, filters, waveplates) and assemblies for industrial, semiconductor, and life-science OEM customers. It is a direct competitor to CVI in OEM-embedded precision optics, with overlapping capabilities in coating and custom sub-assemblies.
• Jenoptik: Jenoptik manufactures high-precision optical components, coatings, and complex optomechanical systems for semiconductor equipment, laser material processing, and defense customers. It directly competes with CVI in OEM-embedded laser optics and optomechanical assemblies.
• Inrad Optics: Inrad Optics (now part of LightPath Technologies) fabricates precision optical components and assemblies from crystals, glass, and metals for defense, laser, and process-control OEM customers. It is a direct peer in custom precision optics for high-power laser and IR applications.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs is a leading global manufacturer of photonics components including lenses, mirrors, waveplates, filters, and laser optics, serving research, industrial OEM, and aerospace customers. It is one of the most direct competitors to CVI Laser Optics across the full precision optics portfolio.
• CVI Melles Griot (IDEX): CVI Melles Griot is a sister IDEX brand producing optical components, filters, and laser optics for industrial, life-science, and semiconductor customers. It shares the CVI heritage and is a direct competitor in OEM optical components within the same parent group.
• MKS Instruments (Newport): MKS Instruments, through its Newport and Ophir brands, manufactures precision optical components, optomechanical assemblies, and laser measurement equipment for semiconductor and industrial OEM customers. The Newport optics business directly overlaps with CVI's optical component and system assembly offering.
• Optics Balzers: Optics Balzers provides optical coatings, substrates, and components for photonics, automotive, and sensor applications, with particular strength in high-volume optical coating services. It is a direct peer in precision optical coatings and components for OEM customers.
• Rocky Mountain Instrument (RMI): RMI manufactures high-laser-damage-threshold optics, mirrors, and coatings for high-power laser and military/defense applications. It is a direct peer to CVI in the high-power laser optics niche, with comparable proprietary coating capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Coherent Corp (II-VI): Coherent Corp (formerly II-VI) is a large diversified photonics platform producing laser optics, materials, and subsystems for industrial, semiconductor, and aerospace markets. It is a broad incumbent in the same photonics value chain as CVI, with overlapping laser optics and IR imaging capabilities.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cvi-laser-optics

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 CVI Laser LLC