What Pacer does

Pacer was a UK-based specialist supplier founded in 1989 in Pangbourne, providing solutions to optoelectronic and display design challenges. The company served engineering customers requiring components and design support in the optoelectronics and display domains, operating with a small specialist headcount of 11-50 employees. Following its acquisition by Solsta — a UK-headquartered multi-brand electronic components distributor — Pacer ceased to operate as an independent entity, and its products, services, marketing channels, and direct sales operations were fully absorbed into Solsta's site structure and central sales functions.

Under Solsta, Pacer's optoelectronic and display offerings now sit within a broader portfolio spanning Connectivity (antennas, Bluetooth, cellular, LoRaWAN, Matter, routers, wired and wireless), Displays (TFT colour LCD panels, industrial monitors, mono LCD, OLED, test equipment), Embedded Computing (boxed PCs, mobile computing, SBCs, panel PCs, SoMs), Processing (data storage, microcontrollers), Optoelectronics (IR sensing, IR sources, laser components, LEDs, opto switches, imaging, SPCMs, Time-of-Flight), Power Solutions (Durakool contactors, Hi-Rel power management, relays, resistors), Sensors (APDs, gas detection, laser range finding, magnetic, photodiodes, radar, thermal/TOF imaging), Hi-Rel Solutions, and Custom Solutions (design and manufacture, value-added services, end-to-end IoT, custom displays). Distribution occurs through Solsta's e-commerce webshop, direct telephone sales (+44 (0) 1527 830800), and email ([email protected]). Solsta's related corporate brands include Steatite, Durakool, Solid State Group, Custom Power, Active Silicon, and Gateway Electronics, with a US presence via Solsta USA.

The revenue model and pricing approach are not publicly disclosed. No financial figures — revenue, ARR, funding rounds, or valuation — are available for either Pacer or Solsta in the supplied data. No AI/ML capabilities, software products, APIs, or proprietary technology platforms are disclosed; Pacer's offering is rooted in hardware component distribution and specialist design support rather than software or data-driven services. As an absorbed entity, Pacer's standalone business model is no longer separable from Solsta's broader distribution and value-added services model.

Name

Pacer

Website

https://pacer.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacer was a UK-based specialist supplier, founded 1989 in Pangbourne, providing optoelectronic and display design solutions to engineering customers. Following its acquisition by Solsta, it ceased independent operations and its offerings were absorbed into Solsta's broader electronic components portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Components Distribution

NAICS

Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Optoelectronic components
• Display solutions
• Electronic component distribution
• Laser components supply
• Industrial display panels

Headquarters

HQ city

Pangbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Pacer supplied optoelectronic and display design solutions to engineering customers requiring components such as IR sensing devices, laser components, LEDs, opto switches, imaging modules, single photon counting modules, Time-of-Flight range finding solutions, and display panels including TFT LCD and OLED displays. Following the company's full acquisition by Solsta, Pacer's products and services have been incorporated into Solsta's broader electronic components and solutions portfolio, with sales now executed through Solsta's e-commerce shop, telephone, and email channels.

Product overview

Pacer has been incorporated into Solsta as part of a merger/acquisition. The combined company (Solsta) offers a broad portfolio of electronic components and solutions organized into the following product categories: Connectivity (including antennas, asset tracking, Bluetooth modules, cellular modules, LoRaWAN modules and sensors, Matter, routers and gateways, wired and wireless connectivity, and Hi-Rel wireless communications); Displays (TFT colour LCD panels, industrial monitors, mono LCD displays, OLED displays, test equipment, and display accessories); Embedded Computing (boxed PCs, mobile computing, motherboards/SBCs, panel PCs, and System-on-Modules/SoMs); Processing (data storage solutions and industry-standard microcontrollers); Optoelectronics (IR sensing, IR sources, laser components and systems, LEDs and light sources, opto switches, imaging, SPCMs, and Time-of-Flight range finding solutions); Power Solutions (Durakool contactors, Hi-Rel power management, relays, and resistors); Sensors (avalanche photodiodes, gas detection, laser range finding, magnetic sensors, photodiodes, radar sensors, and thermal/TOF imaging); Hi-Rel Solutions; and Custom Solutions (design and manufacture, value-added services, end-to-end IoT solutions, and custom display solutions). The specific Pacer product portfolio is no longer detailed as a separate entity on the website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Optoelectronic Components Specialist optoelectronic components supplied by Pacer (now under Solsta) covering IR sensing, IR sources, laser components and systems, LEDs and light sources, opto switches, imaging modules, SPCMs (single photon counting modules), and Time-of-Flight range finding solutions for engineering and product design customers.
• Display Components Display solutions historically supplied by Pacer covering TFT colour LCD panels, industrial monitors, mono LCD displays, OLED displays, test equipment, and display accessories, serving design and integration needs across electronic product builds.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SolstacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacer has been fully acquired and incorporated into Solsta. All of Pacer's products and services have been migrated into the Solsta site structure. Solsta is a UK-based distributor of electronic components and solutions, with related brands including Steatite, Durakool, Solid State Group, Custom Power, Active Silicon, and Gateway Electronics.

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rochester Electronics: Specialist distributor and authorised supplier of semiconductors and optoelectronic components, with focus on long-life-cycle and end-of-life parts. Comparable to Pacer in serving niche, technical customer requirements.
• RS Group (formerly RS Components): UK-headquartered electronic components and industrial product distributor with strong optoelectronics and display coverage. Closest geographic and product-mix peer to Pacer within the British market.
• Mouser Electronics: Global electronic components distributor with an extensive optoelectronics, sensor, and embedded product line. Directly comparable to Pacer's role as a specialist optoelectronics supplier, but at vastly greater scale and SKU breadth.
• Future Electronics: Global electronic component distributor with a strong optoelectronics, LED, and sensor portfolio. Comparable to Pacer in serving design engineers across optoelectronic and display categories.
• Farnell / element14: Global electronic component distributor owned by Avnet, with comprehensive optoelectronics, LED, and display product lines. Directly comparable to Pacer as a design-supportive component supplier.
• Digi-Key Electronics: Global electronic component distributor carrying a deep optoelectronics, LED, and display portfolio. Comparable to Pacer as a design-in specialist supplier, with much larger digital catalog infrastructure.
• EBV Elektronik: European electronic component distributor specializing in semiconductors, optoelectronics, and embedded solutions. Comparable to Pacer as a regional specialist with deep optoelectronics supplier relationships.
• TTI Inc. Specialist electronic component distributor focused on passive, interconnect, electromechanical, and sensor/opto products. Overlaps with Pacer's specialty distribution model in optoelectronics.

Others

• Active Silicon: Sister company of Pacer under Solsta, specialising in imaging and embedded vision products. Adjacent to Pacer's optoelectronic and display design specialty within the same group.
• Steatite: Sister company of Pacer under Solsta, focused on rugged computing, batteries, and display solutions. Overlaps with Pacer in industrial display and ruggedised electronic systems within the same corporate family.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Pacer_Opto
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Pacer