Scientific Vacuum Systems

What Scientific Vacuum Systems does

Scientific Vacuum Systems Ltd (SVS), founded in 1990 and headquartered in Finchampstead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, is a privately held specialist manufacturer of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) systems. The company builds and sells sputtering systems (V6000 confocal, V2000 series in multiple configurations, V2400LL wafer processing), electron beam evaporation systems (e2000 series), and ion beam milling systems (ViB series), supplemented by specialized platforms such as the DCMS30 razor blade deposition system, the WSL369 chop force tester, the VPC5000 valve and pump controller, and vacuum-compatible HEPA filters. The underlying technology platform is anchored in PLC-based automation (Mitsubishi, Siemens, Allen Bradley/Rockwell) with industrial PC and HMI interfaces, and incorporates KRI DC and RF ion sources in the ViB product line; published specifications include etch uniformity of <±3% on ion beam systems and deposition uniformity better than 5% on 8-inch wafer processing.

The company serves a horizontal mix of industrial manufacturers requiring thin-film deposition for production applications and universities and research laboratories needing flexible R&D and small-volume production tools. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct-only: prospective customers reach SVS through the corporate website, email ([email protected]), or telephone (+44 (0) 118 973 1946), and each system is individually configured and quote-priced around end-user requirements. There are no channel partners, distributors, or public pricing listed.

Revenue mechanics combine hardware sales (configured PVD systems) with professional services including annual maintenance contracts, 24-48 hour emergency callout, scroll pump repair (Leybold, Edwards, Iwata Awesta, Varian), helium leak detector calibration, and system upgrades/refurbishment covering cryogenic pumps, control systems, power supplies, and ion/electron beam gun retrofits. Marketing is minimal: a corporate website on Squarespace, a Facebook page, and direct email/phone outreach. Ownership appears founder/owner-operated with Terry Shimell named as the company's Appointed Person, and the legal entity (Companies House registration 2538608, ICO registration ZA432223) is a private UK limited company with no disclosed external funding, M&A, or institutional ownership.

Name

Scientific Vacuum Systems

Legal name

Scientific Vacuum Systems Ltd

Website

https://svs.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scientific Vacuum Systems is a UK-based specialist manufacturer of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) systems — sputtering, electron beam evaporation, and ion beam milling equipment — serving industrial manufacturers and research laboratories worldwide through direct sales of custom-configured systems and supporting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vacuum Coating Equipment

NAICS

Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers) (IMAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vacuum Pumps & Systems (IMAHANAD)

Keywords

• Physical vapor deposition systems
• Vacuum coating equipment
• Sputtering systems
• Electron beam evaporation
• Ion beam milling

Headquarters

HQ city

Newbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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. Vacuum Coating Systems Sales: Manufacture and sale of specialized PVD equipment including sputtering systems, electron beam evaporators, and ion beam milling systems. Systems are individually configured to customer requirements.
2. Servicing and Maintenance: Annual service and maintenance contracts, emergency callout cover (24-48 hours), scroll pump repair, helium leak detector service and calibration.
3. System Upgrades and Refurbishment: Upgrades for existing systems including cryogenic pump upgrades, control systems, power supply upgrades, ion gun and electron beam gun installations. Full refurbishment packages available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Scientific Vacuum Systems is a specialist manufacturer of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) systems, including sputtering, electron beam evaporation, and ion beam milling equipment. The company designs, manufactures, and services custom-configured vacuum coating systems for industrial production and research applications, ranging from R&D scale through to full-scale batch production, and also offers upgrades, refurbishment, and ongoing servicing for installed systems.

Product overview

Scientific Vacuum Systems is a specialist manufacturer of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) systems, established in 1990, offering a portfolio of vacuum coating equipment organized around three core technology platforms: sputtering systems (V6000 Series confocal, V2000/V2400/V2600/V2800/V2900 production sputtering, V2400LL wafer processing), electron beam evaporation (e2000 series), and ion beam milling (ViB series). The product line extends to specialized applications including the DCMS30 razor blade deposition system and WSL369 chop force tester, plus accessories such as the VPC5000 valve/pump controller and vacuum-compatible HEPA filters. The company also provides bespoke system design and services including upgrades, refurbishment, software updates, and maintenance contracts. The portfolio is anchored by PLC-based automation with industrial PC/HMI control interfaces, serving research laboratories through production manufacturing environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• V6000 Series Confocal Sputtering System

Quantifiable outcome

• Etch uniformities of < +/- 3% routinely achieved on ion beam systems
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KRI (Kathrein Raith GmbH)coreTechnology or IntegrationScientific Vacuum Systems has formed partnerships with KRI (Kathrein Raith GmbH), suppliers of DC and RF ion sources. The companies combine many years of experience in Ion Beam and Deposition Systems process knowledge and systems design. KRI sources are incorporated into SVS Ion Beam Milling Systems including the ViB series.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Angstrom Engineering: Canadian manufacturer of PVD, sputtering, and evaporation systems for R&D and pilot production — overlapping closely with SVS's V6000 confocal and bespoke system offerings.
• Plassys Bestek: French manufacturer of electron beam evaporation and sputtering systems targeting research labs and specialty industrial customers — directly comparable to SVS's e2000 and V-series platforms.
• AJA International: US-based manufacturer of sputtering and PVD systems for research and small-scale production, directly competing with SVS in confocal and production sputtering for both academic and industrial customers.
• Intlvac Thin Film Corp: Canadian supplier of custom PVD, magnetron sputtering, and ion beam deposition systems with strong overlap to SVS's bespoke and ion beam milling product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Veeco Instruments: US-listed thin film equipment maker with PVD, MOCVD, and ion beam systems serving semiconductor, photonics, and data storage customers — competes indirectly with SVS in ion beam and PVD.
• Kurt J. Lesker Company: Established global supplier of vacuum and thin film deposition equipment, components, and materials — broader portfolio than SVS but overlapping in PVD systems and sputter targets.
• ULVAC: Major Japanese manufacturer of vacuum and thin-film deposition equipment for semiconductor, display, and industrial customers — addresses the same end applications as SVS at significantly larger scale.
• Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology: Division of Oxford Instruments supplying plasma etch and deposition systems for research and industry — competes with SVS in research-scale sputtering and PVD.

Regional players

• Semicore Equipment: US-based manufacturer of sputtering and PVD systems primarily serving North American customers, comparable to SVS in scale and product mix but operating in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Korvus Technology: Newer entrant in modular PVD and sputtering systems serving academic and startup customers, competing with SVS's V6000 series for R&D budgets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scientificvacuumsystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scientific-vacuum-systems-ltd

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 Scientific Vacuum Systems