Opto
Opto GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of pre-calibrated, AI-capable digital microscope sensors and white-label microscopy instruments sold to machine builders and system integrators in electronics, precision manufacturing, and life science markets across 25+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersGräfelfing, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Opto does
Opto GmbH is a privately held German industrial company headquartered in Neuried near Munich that develops and manufactures AI-capable digital microscope sensors and complete white-label microscopy instruments. Its product portfolio centers on three core Imaging Module product lines — IM·compact, IM·linea, and IM·profile — which are pre-calibrated, plug-and-play digital microscopes designed for integration into automated production and inspection systems rather than standalone laboratory use. The IM·profile M speed variant achieves 166 fps for high-speed inspection. The portfolio is extended by the solino® surface reflection analysis system, the CrivaAI AI-powered defect detection software, OptoViewer image processing software, OEM-customized imaging modules and fluorescence/stereo microscopes, and specialized application microscopes such as the Cleanalyzer for filter particle analysis. The technology stack combines proprietary optical-mechanical engineering with computer vision and AI-enabled defect detection, supported by ISO 9001 certification and REACH/RoHS3 compliance.
Opto serves machine builders, system integrators, and industrial manufacturers across three primary verticals: electronics and semiconductor (wafer/PCB inspection, IC/FPGA/BGA quality control), precision manufacturing (watch movement components, weld seam inspection), and life science/medical (microfluidics, biomedical research). The business model is hardware-led B2B sales of configured imaging modules and OEM/white-label instruments, supplemented by software (CrivaAI premium AI capability, OptoViewer bundled with hardware). Pricing is configuration-specific and not publicly disclosed; sales are handled via multi-year contracts through Opto's direct sales force in DACH and Eastern Europe, and through a wholly-owned French subsidiary (Opto S.A.S.), with a global network of 20+ authorized distributors covering 25+ countries across EMEA, Americas, and Asia-Pacific. The company also lists on DirectIndustry and MedicalExpo industrial marketplaces and pursues trade show-driven demand generation (EPHJ 2026).
Opto is led by CEO Markus Riedi and Managing Director Dr. Daniel Kraus, appears to be founder/management-owned with no disclosed external investors, and holds memberships in seven industry associations (VDMA, EMVA, Bayern Photonics, A3, ALDA, SpectroNet, EPIC). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the firm has 7 active job openings and reports a 40+ year heritage of specialized microscope mechanics and accessory design.
Opto firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Opto
- Legal name
- Opto GmbH
- Website
- https://opto-gmbh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Opto GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of pre-calibrated, AI-capable digital microscope sensors and white-label microscopy instruments sold to machine builders and system integrators in electronics, precision manufacturing, and life science markets across 25+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Opto industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Microscopy Equipment
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Machine Vision & Industrial Imaging Systems (IMAHAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection (HDAAAEAG), Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)
Keywords
Where Opto is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gräfelfing
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Opto business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Imaging Modules (Hardware): Sale of digital microscope hardware including the IM·linea, IM·compact, IM·profile product lines. These are sold as standalone imaging hardware to machine builders and system integrators. Revenue is one-time per unit with optional accessories and software add-ons.
- Software Licenses and Updates: Software products including CrivaAI and OptoViewer. OptoViewer is included with every Imaging Module (USB stick), while CrivaAI represents a premium AI-enabled software capability.
- OEM / White-Label Instruments: Complete white-label instruments sold to machine builders who integrate Opto's microscopy technology under their own brand. Includes OEM Imaging Modules, Fluorescence Microscopes, and Stereo Microscopes.
- Application Microscopes and Specialty Systems: Purpose-built microscopes such as the Cleanalyzer for filter particle analysis, portable microscopes for on-site examination, and particle analysis systems for liquids.
- Microscopy Accessories and Consumables: Calibration standards, object micrometers, stands, illumination equipment, microscope drives, and measuring/positioning tables sold as accessories to Imaging Module customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Imaging Modules (IM·linea, IM·compact, IM·profile) — configured to application requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Opto product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Opto develops and manufactures AI-capable digital microscope sensors and complete white-label microscopy instruments for machine builders and system integrators. The core offering comprises pre-calibrated plug-and-play Imaging Modules (IM·linea, IM·compact, IM·profile), AI-powered defect detection software (CrivaAI), image analysis software (OptoViewer), and the solino reflection-based surface analysis system. Specialized application microscopes (Cleanalyzer, Particle Analysis, Portable Microscope, CylinderInspector) and OEM instruments are also sold for industrial inspection and life science applications.
Product overview
Opto develops and manufactures advanced AI-capable microscope sensors and complete white-label instruments for machine builders and system integrators. The product portfolio centers on Imaging Modules (IM·compact, IM·linea, IM·profile) as the core hardware platform, supplemented by software solutions including CrivaAI for defect detection and OptoViewer for image analysis. The solino® system provides reflection-based surface analysis, while specialized application microscopes like Cleanalyzer, Particle Analysis, and Portable Microscope address specific industrial and life science needs. OEM customers can access custom imaging modules, fluorescence microscopes, and stereo microscopes. The offering is completed by calibration standards, objectives, microscope tables, tripods, and oblique vision solutions for complete system integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- solino®: Surface reflection analysis system for detecting defects on surfaces.
- CrivaAI
Products and services
- IM·linea Imaging Module
Quantifiable outcome
- 166 fps frame rate for IM·profile M speed — enabling high-speed inspection of production line components
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Opto
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Opto technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature7 records
Opto partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Opto-Asia (Representative)coreOpto-Asia, represented by Mr. Tan Khiang in Singapore, serves as the representative for Opto across Asia-Pacific markets including Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
- Scitech Pty LtdcoreScitech Pty Ltd, based in Preston, Victoria, Australia, is the authorized distributor for Opto products across Australia and New Zealand.
- Opti-Tech Scientific Inc.coreOpti-Tech Scientific Inc., headquartered in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, distributes Opto products in Canada.
- China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corp.coreChina National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corp. (Sinopharm), represented by Mr. Yuan Shuai in Beijing, distributes Opto products in China.
- Opto S.A.S.coreOpto S.A.S., headquartered in Montboucher-sur-Jabron, France, is Opto's wholly-operated subsidiary serving as the regional headquarters and distributor for France.
- Best ScientificcoreBest Scientific, based in Wroughton, Wiltshire, UK, distributes Opto Imaging Modules in Great Britain.
- AIC-VISION CorporationcoreAIC-VISION Corporation, based in Yokohama, Japan, distributes Opto products in Japan.
- Fainstec Co., Ltd.coreFainstec Co., Ltd., based in Seoul, South Korea, distributes Opto products in Korea.
- SH Tech Co., Ltd.coreSH Tech Co., Ltd., based in Gyeonggi-do, Korea, is an authorized distributor for Opto products in Korea.
- Onset Electro-Optics Co., LtdcoreOnset Electro-Optics Co., Ltd, based in New Taipei City, Taiwan, distributes Opto products in Taiwan.
- G4 TechnologyminorG4 Technology, based in Taipei City, Taiwan, distributes Opto products in Taiwan.
- Microscope WorldcoreMicroscope World, based in Carlsbad, California, USA, distributes Opto products in the United States.
- PT. Supra EngineeringcorePT. Supra Engineering, based in Jakarta, Indonesia, distributes Opto products in Indonesia.
- Dynamic Solutions and MachinerycoreDynamic Solutions and Machinery (DSM Group), based in Hanoi, Vietnam, distributes Opto products in Vietnam.
- bi-polcorebi-pol, based in Kfar Saba, Israel, specializes in live science applications and distributes Opto products in Israel.
- Microcontrol N.T. srlcoreMicrocontrol N.T. srl, based in Milan, Italy, distributes Opto products in Italy.
- iMAGE S S.p.A.coreiMAGE S S.p.A., based in Mariano Comense, Italy, distributes Opto products in Italy.
- Technolutions sp. z o. o.coreTechnolutions sp. z o. o., based in Lowicz, Poland, distributes Opto products in Poland.
- IDC MicroInspectioncoreIDC MicroInspection (Innovation Design Center GmbH), based in Thalwil, Switzerland, distributes Opto products in Switzerland.
- Ab Kimmy Photonics OycoreAb Kimmy Photonics Oy, based in Espoo, Finland, distributes Opto products across Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark).
- LLC OKO MACHINEcoreLLC OKO MACHINE, based in Kharkiv, Ukraine, distributes Opto products in Ukraine.
- VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau)minorOpto is a member of the VDMA, the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, which supports the industrial manufacturing sector.
- EMVA (European Machine Vision Association)minorOpto is a member of the EMVA, the European Machine Vision Association, which promotes the machine vision industry in Europe.
- Bayern Photonics (BPH)minorOpto is a member of Bayern Photonics, the photonics cluster in Bavaria, Germany.
- Automate (A3)minorOpto is a member of A3 (Association for Advancing Automation), which promotes automation and robotics industry initiatives.
- ALDA (Automatic Labelling and Data Acquisition)minorOpto is a member of ALDA, an association focused on automatic labelling and data acquisition technologies.
- SpectroNetminorOpto is a member of SpectroNet, an imaging and spectroscopy network.
- EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium)minorOpto is a member of EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Opto competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Keyence Corporation: Global leader in factory automation, sensors, and machine vision systems with extensive industrial microscopy and inspection offerings. Competes with Opto in automated visual inspection on electronics and precision-manufacturing lines, but operates a much broader portfolio across many automation categories and serves customers through a direct-sales model globally.
- Cognex Corporation: US-based leader in machine vision and industrial barcode reading, with embedded vision systems widely used by machine builders and OEMs for factory-floor QA. Competes with Opto in AI-assisted defect detection and vision-sensor integration, but addresses a much wider customer base and application set.
- Evident (formerly Olympus Scientific Solutions): Industrial and life-science microscopy business spun out of Olympus, offering digital and stereo microscopes for industrial inspection. Overlaps with Opto's industrial and life-science digital microscopy portfolio but with a much broader product line and global sales infrastructure.
- Leica Microsystems (Danaher): Global microscopy leader covering life science, medical, and industrial microscopy. Overlaps with Opto's life-science and OEM microscope offerings but spans a far larger portfolio and markets globally with significantly greater resources.
- Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik: Industrial microscopy and quality assurance arm of Zeiss, covering optical and electron-beam inspection. Comparable to Opto for electronics, semiconductor, and precision-manufacturing QC applications, though at substantially greater scale, brand presence, and R&D footprint.
Direct peers
- Basler AG: German manufacturer of industrial cameras and embedded vision components for OEMs and system integrators. Closely comparable to Opto as a component-level vision supplier to machine builders, with shared European industrial customer base and focus on integration-ready imaging hardware.
- Stemmer Imaging AG: European value-added distributor and system integrator for machine vision, robotics, and imaging components. Comparable to Opto for industrial machine-vision integrators and OEMs sourcing European-grade vision solutions, though operating in distribution rather than proprietary product manufacturing.
- Mahr GmbH: German manufacturer of precision dimensional metrology and industrial measurement equipment, including optical measurement systems. Comparable to Opto in serving German/European precision-manufacturing customers with industrial measurement hardware and in addressing quality-control needs in regulated manufacturing environments.
- IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH: German manufacturer of industrial cameras and embedded vision systems used by machine builders, OEMs, and system integrators. Comparable to Opto in serving DACH machine builders with industrial-grade imaging components and AI-ready vision tools.
- Vision Engineering Ltd. A UK-based manufacturer of ergonomic stereo and digital microscopes for industrial inspection, quality control, and life science applications. Directly comparable to Opto in offering pre-calibrated digital inspection systems sold to machine builders, integrators, and electronics manufacturers, with overlapping use cases in electronics and precision manufacturing QC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Opto social profiles
Digital presenceOpto compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Opto financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Opto leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Opto subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Opto funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Opto 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 Opto
What does Opto do?
Opto develops and manufactures AI-capable digital microscope sensors and complete white-label microscopy instruments for machine builders and system integrators. The core offering comprises pre-calibrated plug-and-play Imaging Modules (IM·linea, IM·compact, IM·profile), AI-powered defect detection software (CrivaAI), image analysis software (OptoViewer), and the solino reflection-based surface analysis system. Specialized application microscopes (Cleanalyzer, Particle Analysis, Portable Microscope, CylinderInspector) and OEM instruments are also sold for industrial inspection and life science applications.
Is Opto a public or private company?
Opto is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Opto founded?
Opto was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Opto based?
Opto is headquartered in Gräfelfing, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Opto make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Imaging Modules (Hardware) is the primary driver. The others are software Licenses and Updates, OEM / White-Label Instruments, application Microscopes and Specialty Systems and microscopy Accessories and Consumables.
Who are Opto's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Keyence Corporation, Cognex Corporation, Evident (formerly Olympus Scientific Solutions), Leica Microsystems (Danaher) and Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik. Direct peers are Basler AG, Stemmer Imaging AG, Mahr GmbH, IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH and Vision Engineering Ltd..
Does Opto have an API?
No public API is recorded for Opto.
What industry is Opto in?
Opto's product category is Industrial Microscopy Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAHAE, Machine Vision & Industrial Imaging Systems, with a secondary code of HDAAAEAG, Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection. Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3827.