Armpit

What Armpit does

KETEK GmbH is a privately held, Munich-based developer and manufacturer of Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) used for X-ray detection in the 0.05–30 keV energy range. Founded in 1989 and employing 51–100 people, the company serves original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers and electron microscopes (SEM/TEM), as well as material-sorting operations in mining and recycling and scientific research institutions. Its detectors are deployed in high-profile applications including NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers and ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 lunar rover, and the company claims roughly 40% global SDD market share with approximately 15,000 systems in operation.

The product portfolio is vertically integrated, spanning bare silicon wafer through detector chip to complete detector modules with proprietary electronics. The core VITUS SDD family ranges from 7 mm² to 150 mm² collimated area (H7, H20, H20 SLF, H30, H50/K50, H80, H150). Proprietary technology differentiators include in-house Graphene windows (CH and CL types) replacing traditional 8–12.5 µm Beryllium, an ultra-low-noise Charge Sensitive Amplifier (CSA) ASIC, the DPP3 digital pulse processor (peaking times down to 25 ns, count rates up to 4 Mcps), and Stray-Line-Free (SLF) technology enabling ppb-regime detection limits. The company achieved a world-record 120.9 eV energy resolution and operates a class 1,000 clean room, holding ISO 9001:2015 certification for semiconductor and detector manufacturing.

The business model is hardware sales through a direct, sales-led go-to-market motion via request-for-quote (RFQ) processes on its website, with pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Revenue derives from selling SDD modules (VITUS), complete spectroscopic systems (AXAS 3.0, ARRAY 3.0), and OEM subsystems (VIAMP preamplifiers, VICO signal-processing boards) plus accessories and software (VICOScope, VICOLib). The company serves customers globally with noted regional presence in China. In 2021 it divested its Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) assets to Broadcom, refocusing on its core SDD business.

Name

Armpit

Legal name

KETEK GmbH

Website

https://ketek.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KETEK GmbH is a Munich-based manufacturer of Silicon Drift Detectors for X-ray detection, selling detector modules, complete systems, and OEM subsystems to XRF spectrometer makers, electron microscope manufacturers, material-sorting operations, and scientific research institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific X-ray Detectors

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844)

akta.pro primary industry

Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors (HDAHAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO), Analog Front-End (AFE) ICs (Sensor/Medical/Industrial AFE) (HDAHAIAJ)

Keywords

• Silicon drift detectors
• X-ray fluorescence detectors
• Energy dispersive spectroscopy
• Semiconductor detector modules
• OEM detector electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

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. SDD Modules and Systems: KETEK generates revenue through the sale of Silicon Drift Detector modules (VITUS series) and complete spectroscopic systems including AXAS and ARRAY products. The company manufactures detectors ranging from bare silicon wafer to complex detector modules with associated electronics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Armpit (operating as KETEK GmbH) develops and manufactures Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) and complete spectroscopic systems for energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX/EDS) analysis. The product portfolio spans SDD modules (VITUS series from 7 mm² to 150 mm²), complete compact spectroscopic systems (AXAS, ARRAY), OEM preamplifier and signal-processing electronics (VIAMP, VICO), proprietary Graphene detector windows, and accessories, all built on in-house developed ASIC and digital pulse processing technology.

Product overview

KETEK GmbH is the world's leading manufacturer of Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD), offering a comprehensive product portfolio for energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRF and EDX). The product line centers on the VITUS SDD module family (H7, H20, H20 SLF, H30, H50/K50, H80, H150) ranging from 7 mm² to 150 mm² active areas, combined with KETEK's proprietary signal processing electronics including the DPP3 digital pulse processor and Charge Sensitive Amplifier (CSA). The portfolio includes complete systems (AXAS 3.0, ARRAY 3.0 multi-channel systems), OEM solutions (VIAMP preamplifier family with KC, KL, KP variants, and VICO signal processing boards), and accessories (VMLCOL collimators, vacuum flanges, VICO Adapter). All products are designed for applications in XRF spectrometers, electron microscopes, material sorting, and space exploration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VITUS H7-H30 SDD Modules Compact Silicon Drift Detector modules with 7 mm², 20 mm² and 28 mm² collimated areas in TO8 housing with Graphene CH or CL windows. Features KETEK CSA for improved energy resolution and cooling performance from 95K to 130K deltaT. Designed for OEM integration into XRF spectrometers and electron microscopes.
• VITUS H20 SLF SDD Module Stray-Line-Free Silicon Drift Detector module with 20 mm² collimated area designed to eliminate unwanted X-ray fluorescence from internal SDD components. Enables extremely clean spectra and detection limits in the ppb regime for RoHS, REACH, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy resolution down to 120.9 eV achieved in EDX microanalysis application
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Broadcom Inc.formerOthers · 7 October 2021KETEK sold its Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) business assets to Broadcom. The agreement was signed effective October 7th, 2021, transferring SiPM WL Series and related product assets to Broadcom.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Bruker is a major analytical instruments vendor producing XRF, EDS, and X-ray diffraction systems (e.g., QUANTAX, XFlash detectors). It is both a KETEK customer in some configurations and a competitor when it integrates its own SDD-based detectors into complete instruments.
• Varex Imaging: Varex Imaging supplies X-ray detector components and subsystems primarily for medical imaging and industrial inspection. It is comparable to KETEK as a specialty detector-component manufacturer serving industrial OEMs with custom X-ray detection solutions.
• Rigaku: Rigaku is a Japanese X-ray analytical instrument maker (XRF, XRD, XRR) and a significant buyer and integrator of SDD technology. It is comparable to KETEK's customer base (XRF spectrometer OEMs) and competes indirectly when it builds closed detector-plus-instrument platforms.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher Scientific produces electron microscopes and EDS/EDX microanalysis systems (e.g., Helios, Talos, EDAX detectors) that consume high-end SDD modules. It competes with KETEK-adjacent players when integrating its own detectors and represents both a customer-class peer and an integrated competitor.
• Malvern Panalytical: Malvern Panalytical (formerly PANalytical) supplies X-ray analytical systems including XRF spectrometers using SDD-based detectors. It is comparable as an analytical-instrumentation incumbent whose platforms rely on detector technology similar to KETEK's VITUS modules.
• Oxford Instruments: Oxford Instruments is a large scientific instrument conglomerate whose Analysis division supplies EDS/EDX detectors and complete microanalysis systems (e.g., Ultim Max, X-Max). It overlaps with KETEK in SDD-based detectors for electron microscopes but competes as a vertically integrated systems provider rather than a pure component supplier.

Emerging players

• JEOL: JEOL manufactures electron microscopes and EDS microanalysis systems used in materials science and semiconductor failure analysis. Comparable to KETEK as an adjacent systems provider whose instruments incorporate high-performance SDD detectors from third parties.
• Hitachi High-Tech: Hitachi High-Tech produces scanning and transmission electron microscopes with integrated EDS detectors and is a major pull-through channel for high-performance SDDs. It is an adjacent player that both competes as an integrated EDS provider and partners with SDD suppliers like KETEK.

Others

• Mirion Technologies: Mirion Technologies supplies radiation detection and measurement products for nuclear, medical, and industrial safety. It is a thematically adjacent peer in semiconductor-based radiation detection with comparable underlying physics and electronics know-how.

Direct peers

• Amptek: Amptek is a US-based manufacturer of Silicon Drift Detectors and complementary X-ray/gamma-ray detector electronics (preamplifiers, DPPs). It is the closest direct competitor to KETEK in OEM SDD modules for XRF and EDS, sharing the same customer base of spectrometer and electron-microscope OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/149442765452443

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Armpit