DIOPTIC
DIOPTIC GmbH is a German precision-optics company that designs and manufactures automated surface inspection systems (ARGOS), wavefront measurement systems (WAVOS), computer-generated holograms (CGHs), and specialty lenses for industrial and scientific customers in medical, automotive, AR/VR, and space optics applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersWeinheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DIOPTIC does
DIOPTIC GmbH is a German precision-optics engineering company founded in 1999 by Jean-Michel Asfour and headquartered in Weinheim, with a US subsidiary established in Rochester, NY in 2023. The company designs, manufactures, and sells optical metrology and inspection systems alongside custom optical components for industrial and scientific customers. DIOPTIC's product portfolio spans four core lines: ARGOS automated optical-surface inspection systems (including the matrix 200/400 benchtop family and the January 2026-launched ARGOS nexus platform for ISO 10110-7-compliant Scratch/Dig inspection), WAVOS wavefront and topography measurement systems (with cover and cap variants for LIDAR protective optics), Computer-Generated Holograms (CGHs/DFNLs) used for interferometric form testing of aspheric, cylindrical, spherical, and freeform surfaces plus laser beam shaping, and high-performance Lenses covering infrared, bi-telecentric, and conoscopic applications in VIS, MWIR, and NIR spectral ranges. Underlying technology assets include in-house optical design using Synopsys CodeV, cleanroom-based prototyping and small-series manufacturing, multi-zone CGH patents with integrated Fizeau reference surfaces, and AI-based defect detection integrated into ARGOS imaging workflows.
The company operates a three-stream revenue model: (1) one-time sales of proprietary products (ARGOS, WAVOS, CGHs, Lenses) through direct enterprise sales from Weinheim and Rochester plus an international distribution network (Canon Marketing Japan for Japan, Lambda Photometrics for the UK); (2) custom engineering services covering optical and optomechanical design, lens development, illumination optics, machine vision, and automated systems, priced project-by-project following feasibility-to-prototyping workflows; and (3) licensing of patented CGH designs and head-mounted-display technology. Customers span precision optics manufacturers, automotive suppliers (LIDAR, ADAS, head-up displays), medical device makers, AR/VR hardware builders, and government agencies — notably ESA (PLATO 26-telescope program with 220mm CGHs, Euclid objective-lens alignment) and the James Webb Space Telescope program. With 11–50 employees, ISO 9001:2015 certification, and a 25-year history, DIOPTIC positions itself as a market leader in diffractive optical elements for interferometric precision testing and laser beam shaping.
DIOPTIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DIOPTIC
- Legal name
- DIOPTIC GmbH
- Website
- https://dioptic.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DIOPTIC GmbH is a German precision-optics company that designs and manufactures automated surface inspection systems (ARGOS), wavefront measurement systems (WAVOS), computer-generated holograms (CGHs), and specialty lenses for industrial and scientific customers in medical, automotive, AR/VR, and space optics applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DIOPTIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Optical Metrology Equipment
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Inspection, Checkweighing & Detection Systems (Vision, Metal, X-ray) (IMALAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Metrology, Inspection & Process Control Equipment (HDAHAEAH), Dimensional Inspection Software (GD&T, SPC, Reporting) (IMAAAHAD), Precision Metrology, Inspection & Quality (CMM, GD&T) (EDAOAGAD)
Keywords
Where DIOPTIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Weinheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
DIOPTIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Proprietary Product Sales: Sale of proprietary optical inspection and measurement products including ARGOS surface inspection systems, WAVOS wavefront measurement systems, CGH/diffractive optical elements, and infrared/specialty lenses. These are standardized product lines sold globally through direct sales and distribution partners.
- Custom Optical Development & Engineering Services: Customer-specific optical and optomechanical design, inspection system development, lens development, illumination optics design, automated systems, and technology consulting — from initial concept and feasibility studies through prototyping and small-series manufacturing. Projects span optical metrology, machine vision, lens development, illumination optics, and automated systems.
- Licensing of Patented CGH Technology: Licensing of patented CGH designs and manufacturing techniques for diffractive optical elements. DIOPTIC holds patents for CGHs with integrated Fizeau reference surface and has previously licensed head-mounted display patents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Engineering & Development Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
DIOPTIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DIOPTIC researches, develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary optical metrology and inspection systems (ARGOS surface inspection, WAVOS wavefront and topography inspection), computer-generated holograms (CGHs/DFNLs) for interferometric testing and laser beam shaping, and a line of high-performance precision lenses (infrared, bi-telecentric, conoscopic) for industrial and scientific customers. The company complements these product lines with customer-specific optical and optomechanical design, prototyping, and small-series manufacturing services performed in its own cleanroom in Weinheim, Germany.
Product overview
DIOPTIC offers a portfolio of optical inspection and measurement products organized around four core product lines: ARGOS (modular automated surface inspection systems), WAVOS (wavefront and topography measurement), CGH (computer-generated holograms for interferometric testing and laser beam shaping), and Lenses (high-performance industrial lenses in VIS, MWIR, and NIR ranges). The ARGOS family includes benchtop systems (matrix 200/300/400), ARGOS Pro software, accessories, and the new ARGOS nexus platform for Scratch/Dig inspection. WAVOS provides inspection for cover glasses (cover) and protective caps (cap). CGH products include aspheric/freeform testing, laser beam shaping, interferometer objectives, and accessories. The lens portfolio covers infrared optics, bi-telecentric lenses, and conoscopes. These products serve precision optics manufacturers across medical technology, metrology, automotive, and AR/VR industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ARGOS: Modular surface inspection system for automated inspection of optical components and production batches.
- WAVOS
- ARGOS matrix 200
- ARGOS matrix 400
- ARGOS nexus
- ARGOS Pro Software
- Computer-Generated Holograms (CGHs)
- Infrarot-Objektive
- Bi-Telezenter
- Konoskope
- WAVOS cover
- WAVOS cap
Products and services
- ARGOS Surface Inspection System Modular automated surface inspection system for optical components and production batches. Performs objective Pass/Fail decisions per ISO 10110-7 with darkfield and brightfield illumination, AI-based defect detection down to 1 µm, and digital documentation for full traceability. Supports curved and flat optics up to 400 x 600 mm via matrix variants; the new ARGOS nexus pro enables perpendicular inspection of steeply curved optics via a tiltable measurement head.
- WAVOS Wavefront and Topography Inspection System Inspection system for high-precision measurement of topography and wavefront quality on glass and plastic components, used for transmitted wavefront distortion testing of optical elements such as LIDAR sensor windows (WAVOS cover for flat/curved cover glasses) and cylindrical/dome-shaped protective caps (WAVOS cap).
- Computer-Generated Holograms (CGH / DFNL)
Quantifiable outcome
- ARGOS detects defects down to 1 µm size on optical components
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use DIOPTIC
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DIOPTIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature8 records
DIOPTIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NextCorpscoreNextCorps is a non-profit technology business incubator in Rochester, NY that supports innovative technology startups. DIOPTIC Inc. is headquartered within the NextCorps building, sharing facilities with other optics and technology startups. The location provides access to Rochester's vibrant optics community and supports DIOPTIC's North American customer engagement.
- Canon Marketing Japan Inc.coreCanon Marketing Japan Inc. serves as the exclusive distributor of DIOPTIC's CGHs and DFNLs in Japan. This partnership enables DIOPTIC to reach Japanese precision optics manufacturers through Canon's established distribution network.
- Lambda Photometrics Ltd.coreLambda Photometrics Ltd. distributes DIOPTIC's ARGOS product line in the United Kingdom. As a UK-based precision optics instrumentation distributor, Lambda provides local sales, support, and service for DIOPTIC inspection systems.
- Glass@Service ConsortiumminorIn 2016, DIOPTIC participated in the Glass@Service consortium together with UVEX, Siemens Amberg, Siemens Berlin, Ubimax, BAUA, and Fraunhofer FEP. DIOPTIC developed an optical module for an industrial data glasses system for workplace applications, featuring information overlay in a wide field of view with high contrast and excellent imaging quality.
- Fraunhofer-Institut FEPminorDIOPTIC collaborated with Fraunhofer FEP and UVEX Arbeitsschutz GmbH to develop an optical module for industrial augmented reality data glasses, enabling information overlay with a wide field of view, high contrast, and excellent imaging quality. The result was an industrial-grade data glasses solution deployable at Siemens production facilities.
- BHS TechnologiescoreDIOPTIC collaborated with Austrian company BHS Technologies to develop the stereo-zoom lens for the RoboticScope — a robotically controlled surgical microscope with head-mounted display. The system enables surgeons to control the camera system via intuitive head movements for maximum freedom and ergonomic posture. DIOPTIC contributed optical expertise in stereo-zoom lens development, supporting BHS in creating the world's most innovative visualization system now used in over 20 countries.
- UVEX Arbeitsschutz GmbHminorPartner in the Glass@Service consortium for industrial AR data glasses development. UVEX contributed workplace safety expertise and industrial design capabilities to the collaborative project with DIOPTIC, Fraunhofer FEP, and Siemens.
- MOMES GmbHminorIn 2009, DIOPTIC licensed a head-mounted display patent to the startup company MOMES GmbH for product commercialization.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DIOPTIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mahr Group: Mahr manufactures precision metrology equipment for dimensional measurement, including optical and tactile probes used in production quality assurance. It is a direct peer to DIOPTIC in industrial measurement, with comparable customer overlap in precision manufacturing quality control.
- OptoSigma Corporation: OptoSigma supplies precision optics, optical components, and metrology equipment for industrial and research applications. It is a direct peer to DIOPTIC in custom lens development and optical components, with comparable offerings to DIOPTIC's industrial lens portfolio.
- 4D Technology (Onto Innovation): 4D Technology, part of Onto Innovation, specializes in dynamic interferometry and surface measurement instruments for optical components and semiconductor applications. It is a direct peer to DIOPTIC in interferometric optical metrology, particularly for advanced surface and wavefront measurement.
- Zygo Corporation (AMETEK): Zygo, part of AMETEK, manufactures high-precision optical metrology instruments including interferometers and wavefront sensors used for surface form measurement of precision optics. It is a direct peer to DIOPTIC in interferometric optical testing, with overlapping products in wavefront/topography measurement where WAVOS competes.
Emerging players
- Holmarc Opto-Mechatronics: Holmarc manufactures optical instruments, metrology equipment, and custom optomechanical systems for research and industrial customers. It is an emerging player comparable to DIOPTIC in custom optical system design and small-batch inspection tooling, though at smaller scale and broader scope.
Broad incumbents
- Jenoptik AG: Jenoptik is a German photonics group with divisions spanning optical metrology, laser processing, and optical systems. It is a regional broad incumbent comparable to DIOPTIC in industrial optical inspection and metrology, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
- Bruker Corporation: Bruker manufactures scientific instruments for analytical and metrology applications, including 3D optical surface profiling and interferometric measurement. Comparable to DIOPTIC as a broad incumbent in precision measurement instruments serving research and industrial customers.
- Renishaw plc: Renishaw provides precision measurement, motion control, and analytical instruments across industrial metrology. While broader in scope, its precision positioning and encoder businesses intersect with DIOPTIC's high-precision alignment use cases for complex optical systems and large optics testing.
- Carl Zeiss AG (ZEISS Industrial Quality & Research): ZEISS is a global leader in optics, industrial metrology, and quality assurance, offering a broad portfolio of coordinate measuring machines, 3D metrology, and optical inspection systems. It is comparable to DIOPTIC as a broad incumbent whose industrial metrology division overlaps with DIOPTIC's automated optical surface inspection (ARGOS) and CGH/interferometry offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DIOPTIC social profiles
Digital presenceDIOPTIC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
DIOPTIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DIOPTIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
DIOPTIC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DIOPTIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DIOPTIC 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 DIOPTIC
What does DIOPTIC do?
DIOPTIC researches, develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary optical metrology and inspection systems (ARGOS surface inspection, WAVOS wavefront and topography inspection), computer-generated holograms (CGHs/DFNLs) for interferometric testing and laser beam shaping, and a line of high-performance precision lenses (infrared, bi-telecentric, conoscopic) for industrial and scientific customers. The company complements these product lines with customer-specific optical and optomechanical design, prototyping, and small-series manufacturing services performed in its own cleanroom in Weinheim, Germany.
Is DIOPTIC a public or private company?
DIOPTIC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DIOPTIC founded?
DIOPTIC was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DIOPTIC based?
DIOPTIC is headquartered in Weinheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DIOPTIC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Proprietary Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Optical Development & Engineering Services and licensing of Patented CGH Technology.
Who are DIOPTIC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mahr Group, OptoSigma Corporation, 4D Technology (Onto Innovation) and Zygo Corporation (AMETEK). Holmarc Opto-Mechatronics is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Jenoptik AG, Bruker Corporation, Renishaw plc and Carl Zeiss AG (ZEISS Industrial Quality & Research).
Does DIOPTIC have an API?
No public API is recorded for DIOPTIC.
What industry is DIOPTIC in?
DIOPTIC's product category is Precision Optical Metrology Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAOAH, Inspection, Checkweighing & Detection Systems (Vision, Metal, X-ray), with a secondary code of HDAHAEAH, Metrology, Inspection & Process Control Equipment. Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3827.