T.E.M.
T.E.M. Incorporated is a privately held Japanese specialized trading company that distributes industrial optical equipment, laser scanners, cameras, fibers, and optical design software from 20+ international manufacturers to Japanese industrial, scientific, and biomedical customers, supported by technical seminars and consulting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What T.E.M. does
T.E.M. Incorporated (株式会社ティー・イー・エム) is a privately held Japanese specialized trading company (専門商社) headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, that imports and distributes industrial optical equipment and laser scanners from more than 20 international manufacturers to the Japanese industrial and research market. Its product portfolio spans industrial cameras (IDS USB3 Vision / GigE Vision / 3D / AI edge / event-based models), galvanometer and MEMS laser scanners (Cambridge Technology, REVIBRO, Sercalo), laser sources (COHERENT wavelength-stabilized diodes, IPG fiber and mid-infrared lasers, MPI laser cutters), specialty fibers and micro-optics (CeramOptec, INGENERIC), spectrometers and colorimeters (Wasatch Photonics, Admesy, Westboro Photonics), robotic systems (Techman Robot), and optical design simulation software (Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, LightTrans VirtualLab Fusion and its add-on packages). T.E.M. does not manufacture products; it provides the technical integration, selection consulting, demo lending, and value-added customization layer (cover glass removal, UV coating) that bridges global vendor offerings to Japanese end-users.
The company serves industrial manufacturing (laser processing, machine vision, robotics integration, quality control), scientific research and R&D (optical design, spectroscopy, astronomy, quantum optics), and biomedical/medical technology customers across Japan. Revenue is generated through mark-ups on imported hardware sales, annual subscriptions for optical design software (Zemax OpticStudio, VirtualLab Fusion), and professional services including technical seminars, training, and customization. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining a content-rich website, an aggressive technical seminar and webinar program (30+ sessions annually), and trade show participation across OPIE, Photonix, InterOpto, JASIS, iREX, and Kansai Robot World. Distribution is direct via website, email, and phone inquiries, with an 8-person in-house seminar room used for hands-on Zemax and VirtualLab training.
T.E.M. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- T.E.M.
- Legal name
- 株式会社ティー・イー・エム
- Website
- https://tem-inc.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- T.E.M. Incorporated is a privately held Japanese specialized trading company that distributes industrial optical equipment, laser scanners, cameras, fibers, and optical design software from 20+ international manufacturers to Japanese industrial, scientific, and biomedical customers, supported by technical seminars and consulting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
T.E.M. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Optical Equipment Distribution
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where T.E.M. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
T.E.M. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Import/Distribution): T.E.M. acts as a specialized trading company importing and distributing industrial optical equipment, laser scanners, cameras, optical components, and related peripherals from global manufacturers to the Japanese market. Revenue is generated through the mark-up on imported products sold to industrial and research customers.
- Software Licensing (Zemax OpticStudio, VirtualLab Fusion): T.E.M. distributes and supports optical design simulation software including Ansys Zemax OpticStudio and Wyrowski VirtualLab Fusion in Japan. Revenue includes software licensing fees, annual maintenance, and technical support services.
- Technical Services (Demo, Support, Customization): T.E.M. provides technical support, demo equipment lending, customization services (cover glass removal, UV coating), and technical seminars on optical design and camera applications. These services support product sales and create ongoing customer relationships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | IDS Industrial Cameras - Entry Level |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | IDS Industrial Cameras - High Resolution Global Shutter |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | IDS NXT AI Camera |
| Subscription | Annual | Ansys Zemax OpticStudio |
| Subscription | Annual | Wyrowski VirtualLab Fusion |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
T.E.M. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
T.E.M. is a Japanese specialized trading company (専門商社) that imports and distributes industrial optical equipment, laser scanners, machine vision cameras, galvanometer scanners, fiber lasers, optical fibers, micro-optics, spectrometers, and optical design simulation software from global manufacturers to the Japanese market. The company combines distribution with technical consultation, product selection support (camera, lens, lighting combinations), demo equipment lending, customization services (cover glass removal, UV coating), and technical seminars on optical design.
Product overview
T.E.M. (株式会社ティー・イー・エム) is a specialized trading company (商社会社) for industrial optical equipment and laser scanners based in Japan. The company distributes a broad portfolio of optical, photonic, and imaging products to industrial and research markets. The core offering spans two major software categories — VirtualLab Fusion (physical optics simulation with specialized packages: Grating, Diffractive Optics, Light Shaping, Laser Resonator, AR/VR/XR, Flat Lens) and Ansys Zemax OpticStudio (sequential/non-sequential ray tracing optical design) — and a comprehensive hardware lineup covering IDS industrial/GigE/3D/AI/event-based cameras, NIT SWIR cameras, Wasatch Photonics Raman and OCT spectrometers, Cambridge Technology galvanometer scanners, REVIBRO MEMS mirrors, INGENERIC micro-optics and lens arrays, CeramOptec specialty optical fibers, COHERENT wavelength-stabilized laser diodes, IPG mid-infrared/fiber/thulium lasers, Admesy spectrometers and colorimeters, Westboro Photonics display measurement systems (with Photometrica software), NorthLab fiber inspection tools, and collaborative robots from Techman Robot. T.E.M. provides technical sales, seminars, and consulting alongside product distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IDS Industrial Cameras German-made industrial digital cameras (USB3 Vision, GigE Vision) with over 500 model variants for machine vision, inspection, measurement, and factory automation applications. Includes 2D area scan cameras distributed in Japan by T.E.M. with technical support, demo units, and lens/illumination consultation.
- IDS Ensenso 3D Cameras Structured-light 3D cameras for bin picking, robotic picking, and 3D reconstruction in industrial automation. Available in multiple series (Ensenso S compact low-cost, Ensenso B new generation).
- IDS NXT AI Cameras AI-capable industrial cameras with onboard CNN processing for edge inference, supporting object detection and classification. Models trained via cloud-based IDS NXT lighthouse using Keras/TensorFlow, then converted and deployed on-camera without cloud dependency.
- IDS XCP-E / XLS-E Event-Based Cameras Event-based industrial cameras using Prophesee event-based sensors. Each pixel independently detects brightness changes asynchronously at microsecond resolution, capturing high-speed phenomena without motion blur. USB/GigE interfaces, compatible with metaVision Studio and OpenEB SDK.
- NIT SWIR Cameras (Widy SenS Series) Short-wave infrared (SWIR) cameras (0.9-1.7 μm wavelength) from New Imaging Technologies (France) with HDR and log mode capabilities achieving 120 dB dynamic range. Suitable for smoke penetration imaging, fire detection, and industrial monitoring applications.
- COHERENT Wavelength-Stabilized Laser Diodes Narrow-band wavelength-stabilized semiconductor lasers using Volume Holographic Grating (VHG/PowerLocker) technology from COHERENT (formerly ONDAX/Attalon). Lineup includes TO CAN, CP, BF, OEM-BF, RO, LM, LMFC, BT series, covering 405-1064 nm with single-frequency and narrow-band options.
- IPG Mid-Infrared Lasers (CLPF/CL/CLT Series) Tunable femtosecond and CW mid-infrared lasers using Cr:ZnS/Se gain media excited by Er fiber lasers from IPG Photonics. CLPF series: 2.1-2.6 μm wavelength, up to 6.8 W output. CLT series: 1.9-3.0 μm tunable CW with up to 130 W output.
- IPG Thulium Fiber Lasers (TL Series) Thulium fiber lasers (1.90-2.05 μm) from IPG Photonics for polymer welding applications. Mid-infrared wavelength is absorbed by polymers without requiring absorbers, enabling transparent-to-transparent and transparent-to-colored polymer joining.
- REVIBRO MFC Series MEMS Mirrors High-speed variable parabolic deformable MEMS mirrors from REVIBRO Optics (USA). Electrostatic actuation enables variable focal length from infinity to <67 mm in <200 μs with no moving actuators.
- Cambridge Technology Galvanometer Scanners High-performance galvanometer scanners for laser marking, drilling, trimming, and welding. Models from ultra-compact 6200 series to 6260 series (up to ø100 mm mirror) for industrial laser processing applications.
- INGENERIC Micro-Lens Arrays and Micro-Optics Precision glass-molded micro-optics from INGENERIC (Germany) including micro-lens arrays, fast-axis collimation (FAC) lenses, and monolithic micro-optics for single-mode diode bars. Available in spherical and aspheric configurations.
- CeramOptec Optical Fibers Specialty optical fibers from CeramOptec (Latvia) including UV-resistant fibers (Optran UVNSS), high-power fiber bundles, and radiation-resistant fibers. Used in space applications and UV curing systems.
- Wasatch Photonics Raman Spectrometers Raman spectroscopy solutions from Wasatch Photonics including the Raman XS series for portable applications and SD-OCT spectrometer units. Used in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and industrial inspection applications.
- Admesy Spectrometers and Colorimeters Spectrometers (Neo, Hera, Rhea) and colorimeters (Hyperion, MSE) from Admesy for display measurement, flicker measurement, and spectral analysis. Designed for production line and R&D testing with high speed and accuracy.
- Westboro Photonics 2D Luminance and Colorimeters 2D color luminance meters and luminance meters (WP6 series, SMART series) for display testing, uniformity measurement, and gamma correction. Used with Photometrica software for flat panel display measurement in R&D and production environments.
- CONOMETER 80 Viewing Angle Measurement System Viewing angle measurement system from Westboro Photonics using fisheye lens technology. Compact, low-cost alternative to Fourier lens systems for measuring display viewing angle characteristics, contrast ratio, and display uniformity.
- NorthLab ProView Fiber End-Face Inspection System Fiber optic end-face inspection system from NorthLab for measuring fiber end-face quality, core/cladding geometry, and surface defects. USB3.0 connected, compact, used for quality control of optical fiber termination.
- Ansys Zemax OpticStudio Industry-standard optical design software for lens design and illumination design. Supports sequential ray tracing, non-sequential ray tracing, and physical optics propagation (POP) with optimization, tolerance analysis, and CAD export capabilities. Distributed by T.E.M. in Japan on annual subscription basis.
- VirtualLab Fusion High-speed physical optics simulation software developed by LightTrans (Germany) using electromagnetic field tracing to simulate optical systems including diffraction, interference, and polarization effects across geometric, wave, and electromagnetic optics domains. Sold as annual subscription with trial versions available and multiple packages (Grating, Diffractive Optics, Light Shaping, Laser Resonator, AR/VR/XR, Flat Lens).
- Photometrica Software Proprietary software from Westboro Photonics for display measurement and analysis. Supports luminance, color, viewing angle, gamma, flicker measurement, AOI highlighting, overlay display, Python scripting, COM automation, SOAP/HTTP integration, and DLL plugin extensibility.
- Techman Robot Collaborative Robots Collaborative robots from Techman Robot distributed by T.E.M. in Japan, extending the company's offerings in the robotics space and complementing its industrial camera and machine vision product lines.
- MPI Corporation Laser Cutters Laser cutting systems from MPI Corporation distributed by T.E.M. in Japan, expanding the company's laser processing equipment portfolio.
- Industrial Monitoring Camera SCP/SLE Series Industrial monitoring and surveillance camera products (SCP/SLE series) distributed by T.E.M. in Japan.
- 10GigE Industrial Camera Series High-speed GigE Vision compliant industrial cameras supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface for faster data transfer in industrial vision applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- IDS cameras are manufactured in Germany with weekly direct shipments to T.E.M., enabling shortest delivery times in Japan
Companies that use T.E.M.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
T.E.M. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability13 records
Feature3 records
T.E.M. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbHcoreT.E.M. is an authorized IDS industrial camera distributor in Japan. IDS (Germany) is a leading manufacturer of industrial digital cameras with over 20 years of experience in USB2.0, USB3.0, and USB3.1 Gen1 camera development. T.E.M. provides sales, technical support, demo equipment lending, cover glass removal services, and documentation services for IDS cameras in Japan. T.E.M. has approximately 10 years of experience as an IDS distributor and the products are manufactured entirely in Germany with weekly shipments to Japan.
- Ansys, Inc.coreT.E.M. is an authorized distributor for Ansys Zemax OpticStudio optical design software in Japan. Ansys Zemax OpticStudio is an industry-standard lens and illumination design software. T.E.M. provides sales, annual subscription management, and technical support including troubleshooting and usage guidance for Japanese customers.
- LightTrans / Wyrowski VirtualLabcoreT.E.M. distributes Wyrowski VirtualLab Fusion physical optics simulation software in Japan. VirtualLab Fusion was developed by Prof. Frank Wyrowski at the University of Jena, Germany, based on electromagnetic field tracing concepts. T.E.M. provides software sales, trial versions, seminars, and technical support including the dedicated virtuallab.jp website.
- INGENERIC GmbHcoreT.E.M. distributes INGENERIC precision glass molded micro-optics including micro-lens arrays, fast-axis collimation (FAC) lenses, and monolithic micro-optics for single-mode diode bars. INGENERIC's micro-lens arrays were adopted by NASA for the PACE mission (launched February 2024) for ocean color measurement, demonstrating world-class optical quality. INGENERIC is based in Aachen, Germany.
- CeramOptec GmbHcoreT.E.M. distributes CeramOptec specialty optical fibers including UV-resistant fibers (Optran UVNSS), high-power fiber bundles, and radiation-resistant fibers. CeramOptec fibers were selected for the ITER nuclear fusion project's optical diagnostics and for Blue Skies Space's Mauve satellite (launched November 2025). CeramOptec is based in Latvia.
- COHERENT, Inc. (formerly ONDAX/Attalon)majorT.E.M. distributes COHERENT wavelength-stabilized semiconductor lasers and laser modules using Volume Holographic Grating (VHG/PowerLocker) technology. The portfolio includes TO CAN, CP, Butterfly, OEM-Butterfly, Round Module, Compact Module (LM), Fiber Compact Module (LMFC), and Benchtop (BT) series. COHERENT also provides THz-Raman units and power meters.
- IPG Photonics CorporationmajorT.E.M. distributes IPG Photonics fiber lasers including fiber-coupled PLD series (878-980nm, 10-570W), DLS/DLR direct diode lasers, YL series Yb CW fiber lasers, and mid-infrared tunable lasers (Cr:ZnSe/ZnS femtosecond and CW series, 2.1-6μm). IPG also offers Thulium fiber lasers for polymer welding applications.
- Cambridge TechnologymajorT.E.M. distributes Cambridge Technology galvanometer scanners for laser marking, drilling, trimming, welding, and other laser processing applications. Products range from ultra-compact 6200 series to 6260 series supporting up to φ100mm incident beam diameter. T.E.M. provides domestic technical support including acceptance inspection, quality control, and research/development assistance.
- REVIBRO OPTICSmajorT.E.M. distributes REVIBRO high-speed variable parabolic deformable MEMS mirrors (MFC series) enabling variable focal length control from ∞ to <67mm with 200μs response time. Applications include confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, laser deep drilling, machine vision, and high-speed imaging.
- New Imaging Technologies (NIT)majorT.E.M. distributes NIT (France) SWIR cameras (Widy SenS series) with HDR and log mode capabilities achieving 120dB dynamic range. NIT cameras are suitable for smoke penetration imaging, fire detection, and industrial monitoring applications.
- Wasatch PhotonicsmajorT.E.M. distributes Wasatch Photonics Raman spectrometers, SD-OCT spectrometer units (Cobra-D 800), and transmission gratings. Products support applications in pharmaceutical quality control (Raman + LFIA for DILI screening), non-destructive testing, and optical coherence tomography.
- Admesy (including Admesy Japan)minorT.E.M. distributes Admesy spectrometers and colorimeters for display measurement, flicker measurement, and transmittance measurement. The Neo spectrometer supports integration with Spectragryph general-purpose spectroscopy software.
- Westboro Photonics / ProlinxminorT.E.M. distributes Prolinx 2D colorimeters and luminance meters (SMART series, WP6 series), viewing angle measurement systems (WP214 Conometer 80), and multi-camera colorimetric systems (MCIC) for flat panel display measurement.
- Techman RobotminorT.E.M. began distributing Techman Robot collaborative robots in Japan. The partnership extends T.E.M.'s offerings in the robotics space, complementing their industrial camera and machine vision product lines.
- DIMETIX AGminorT.E.M. distributes DIMETIX high-speed, high-precision laser distance sensors (D series) for industrial measurement applications.
- Sercalo MicrotechnologyminorT.E.M. distributes Sercalo MEMS scanners for optical beam steering and beam pointing applications. Sercalo products complement T.E.M.'s laser scanning portfolio alongside Cambridge Technology galvanometer scanners.
- MPI CorporationminorT.E.M. began distributing MPI Corporation laser cutters, expanding its laser processing equipment portfolio.
- NorthLab PHOTONICSminorT.E.M. distributes NorthLab ProView fiber end-face inspection systems for quality control of optical fiber termination, enabling precise measurement of fiber geometry, core/cladding tilt angle, and contamination inspection.
- greateyes GmbHminorT.E.M. distributes greateyes cooled CCD industrial cameras (ALEX series) optimized for VUV, EUV, and X-ray applications including scientific and industrial imaging.
- autoVimation GmbHminorT.E.M. distributes autoVimation IP66/67-rated industrial camera enclosures (Salamander series) providing robust protection for industrial camera installations.
- Braun & QuehlminorT.E.M. distributes Braun & Quehl laser processing protective windows for industrial laser cutting and welding applications.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
T.E.M. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Teledyne FLIR / Teledyne Imaging: Global supplier of thermal imaging, machine vision cameras, and scientific imaging products. Overlaps with T.E.M.'s industrial camera and SWIR/imaging portfolio at the high-end and competes for similar machine vision integration customers.
- Thorlabs: US-based global manufacturer and distributor of photonics products including optics, lasers, cameras, and fiber optics. Overlaps with T.E.M. in industrial cameras, optical components, lasers, and fiber solutions but at much broader global scale with proprietary products.
- Stemmer Imaging: European machine vision and imaging technology distributor offering industrial cameras, optics, software, and system integration. Directly comparable in machine vision distribution model and customer base (industrial vision integrators), and a potential global consolidator competing for T.E.M.'s segment.
- Edmund Optics: Global optical components, lenses, filters, and imaging systems distributor and manufacturer. Comparable as a large-scale specialist optical supplier; competes with T.E.M.'s portfolio at the component and machine vision level, particularly in Japan where Edmund has expanded local presence.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Major Japanese photonics manufacturer and supplier of imaging detectors, optical sensors, spectrometers, and laser components. Comparable in product categories (cameras, spectrometers, specialty optical fibers) and as a Japan-based photonics company; serves overlapping R&D and industrial customers.
Direct peers
- Sigma Koki (OptSigma): Japanese manufacturer and distributor of optical components, lenses, filters, and laser-related equipment. Directly comparable as a domestic Japanese specialist optical supplier with overlapping product categories (lenses, optical components, laser accessories) and similar B2B engineering customer base.
- OptoSigma (formerly Sigma Plus): Japanese optical components and laser-optics distributor serving R&D and industrial customers in Japan. Comparable to T.E.M. in being a Japan-based specialty optical supplier combining distribution with technical consultation.
- OptoScience Inc. Japanese specialized distributor of optical components, laser equipment, spectrometers, and imaging products serving R&D and industrial customers. Comparable as a domestic specialist optical/laser trading company with similar technical-supply positioning.
Emerging players
- Sciencetech Inc. Canadian specialty distributor of light sources, monochromators, spectrometers, and optics for scientific and industrial applications. Comparable as a niche specialty distributor combining optical components, spectroscopy, and laser sources with technical consulting, similar to T.E.M.'s model.
- Basler AG: German industrial camera manufacturer and computer vision solutions provider. Comparable in product category (industrial cameras for machine vision) where Basler's products directly compete with IDS products T.E.M. distributes; represents both a competitive threat and a potential future principal.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
T.E.M. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
T.E.M. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
T.E.M. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
T.E.M. 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 T.E.M.
What does T.E.M. do?
T.E.M. is a Japanese specialized trading company (専門商社) that imports and distributes industrial optical equipment, laser scanners, machine vision cameras, galvanometer scanners, fiber lasers, optical fibers, micro-optics, spectrometers, and optical design simulation software from global manufacturers to the Japanese market. The company combines distribution with technical consultation, product selection support (camera, lens, lighting combinations), demo equipment lending, customization services (cover glass removal, UV coating), and technical seminars on optical design.
Is T.E.M. a public or private company?
T.E.M. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was T.E.M. founded?
T.E.M. was founded in 1986. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is T.E.M. based?
T.E.M. is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does T.E.M. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Import/Distribution) is the primary driver. The others are software Licensing (Zemax OpticStudio, VirtualLab Fusion) and technical Services (Demo, Support, Customization).
Who are T.E.M.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Teledyne FLIR / Teledyne Imaging, Thorlabs, Stemmer Imaging, Edmund Optics and Hamamatsu Photonics. Direct peers are Sigma Koki (OptSigma), OptoSigma (formerly Sigma Plus) and OptoScience Inc.. Emerging players are Sciencetech Inc. and Basler AG.
Does T.E.M. have an API?
No public API is recorded for T.E.M..
What industry is T.E.M. in?
T.E.M.'s product category is Industrial Optical Equipment Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs). Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3827.