What Active Technologies does

Active Technologies SRL is an Italian OEM of high-performance arbitrary waveform generators (AWG), pulse generators, and pulse pattern generators, headquartered in Ferrara, Italy. Founded in 2003 as a spin-off of the University of Ferrara, the company designs and manufactures 100% of its products in Italy, with a portfolio spanning the Pulse Rider PG-1000 and PG-1500 series (70-400 ps rise times, up to 50 Vpp amplitude), the Arb Rider AWG-2000/4000/5000/7000 series (up to 20 GS/s and 10 GHz bandwidth, 14-16 bit resolution), and supporting NI FlexRIO adapter modules (AT-1120, AT-1212). Its core technology combines Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) with variable-clock true-arbitrary waveform generation, and its proprietary SimpleRider touch-screen UI and multi-unit synchronization bus (supporting up to 32 analog and 128 digital channels) are positioned against larger competitors such as Keysight, Tektronix, and Teledyne LeCroy through differentiated specifications (fast rise time at high amplitude, deep waveform memory, multi-channel scalability).

The company serves research institutions, semiconductor manufacturers, automotive electronics developers, and aerospace & defense primes, with applications spanning quantum computing, RF and wireless, big physics (accelerators, colliders, photonics), radar/LIDAR, and ECU validation. Go-to-market is a hybrid model: direct sales via a quote-based website and dedicated sales/support email, complemented by a worldwide network of authorized local distributors. Active Technologies derives revenue from hardware instrument sales, add-on options and accessories (digital channel licenses, high-voltage options, warranty extensions, SSD upgrades), and OEM/white-label projects with National Instruments and Teledyne LeCroy, plus custom A&D solutions such as the AT-VPX-1000 VPX board and RPX rackmount data recorders. The company has participated in 9 EU-funded research projects under FP7, H2020, ECSEL, and CHIPS JU programs, holds a WIPO-registered trademark, and operates as a privately held SRL with sub-10 headcount and no disclosed external funding.

Name

Active Technologies

Legal name

Active Technologies SRL

Website

https://activetechnologies.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Active Technologies is an Italian OEM of high-performance arbitrary waveform generators, pulse generators, and pulse pattern generators serving research institutions, semiconductor, automotive, aerospace & defense, and big physics customers worldwide through direct sales and authorized distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Test and Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Probe & Burn-In Equipment (Wafer Sort/Final Test) (HDAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Arbitrary waveform generators
• Pulse generators
• Test and measurement
• Signal generators
• Pulse pattern generators

Headquarters

HQ city

Ferrara

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Signal Generator Instruments: Sale of high-performance pulse generators, arbitrary waveform generators, and pattern generators. Products include bench-top instruments with various channel configurations, sample rates, and performance levels.
2. Options and Accessories: Revenue from add-on options such as digital channel licenses, high voltage options, SPG pulse pattern generator options, and accessories like rack mount kits, warranty extensions, and solid-state disks.
3. Custom/OEM Projects: Customized pulse generators and arbitrary waveform generators for OEM integration, as well as specialized A&D solutions like the AT-VPX-1000 board for radar testing applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Active Technologies designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance Arbitrary Waveform Generators, Pulse Generators, and Pulse Pattern/Digital Pattern Generators for test and measurement applications. The instruments target research and industrial customers needing precise, fast signal stimulus for semiconductor test, aerospace & defense, automotive electronics, quantum computing, and big physics. Products are configured and sold via a global distributor network and direct quote-based sales, with optional accessories and OEM/customer-specific variants.

Product overview

Active Technologies is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of high-performance arbitrary waveform generators (AWG), pulse generators, and pattern generators, all 100% designed and manufactured in Italy. The product portfolio centers on the Arb Rider AWG series (AWG-2000 through AWG-7000) offering sample rates from 600 MS/s to 20 GS/s with 14-16 bit resolution, and the Pulse Rider PG series (PG-1000 and PG-1500) delivering picosecond rise times from 70 ps to 400 ps. Key differentiators include the unique combination of high amplitude (up to 50V) with fast edge rates, multi-channel synchronization (up to 32 channels), and integrated digital pattern generation. The instruments feature SimpleRider touch-screen interfaces and True-Arb software for waveform editing and multi-unit synchronization. NI FlexRIO adapter modules (AT-1120, AT-1212) extend the portfolio for FPGA-based custom applications. Custom project capabilities (AT-VPX-1000, RPX Series) serve aerospace, defense, and big physics customers requiring tailored solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pulse Rider: Product line of fast rise time pulse generators including PG-1000 and PG-1500 series
• Arb Rider

Products and services

• Pulse Rider PG-1000 Picosecond pulse generator with 70 ps rise/fall time, up to 5 Vpp amplitude into 50 Ohm, up to 800 MHz repetition rate, and minimum pulse width of 300 ps. Features double/triple/quad pulse modes and is intended for semiconductor testing, radar, LIDAR, and laser applications.
• Pulse Rider PG-1500 High-amplitude pulse generator with 400 ps rise/fall time, up to 50 Vpp amplitude, and 400 MHz repetition rate. Designed for UWB radar, ground-penetrating radar, semiconductor characterization, pulsed laser diode drivers, and LIDAR applications.
• Arb Rider AWG-2000 Cost-effective 2- or 4-channel Arbitrary Function/Waveform Generator with 600 MS/s sample rate (1.2 GS/s interleaved), 16-bit resolution, 180 MHz bandwidth, up to 12 Vpp output, and up to 512 Msample memory per channel. Combines AFG and AWG modes with optional 8 digital channels for mixed-signal generation.
• Arb Rider AWG-4000 Arbitrary Function/Waveform Generator available in 2, 4, or 8 channel configurations with 1.2 GS/s sample rate, 16-bit resolution, up to 24 Vpp output range, and up to 1024 Msample memory depth. Multifunctional instrument combining AFG, AWG, Digital Pattern Generator, and Serial Data Pattern Generator capabilities for automotive, aerospace, and semiconductor test applications.
• Arb Rider AWG-5000 16-bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with 6.16 GS/s real-time update rate (12.32 GS/s in RF mode), 2 GHz bandwidth, up to 5 Vpp output, and 4 Gsample memory per channel. Supports integrated up-conversion for signals up to 6 GHz. Available in 2, 4, or 8 channel configurations with optional RF mode for I/Q up-conversion.
• Arb Rider AWG-7000 14-bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with 20 GS/s sample rate, 10 GHz bandwidth, 50 ps rise/fall time, up to 5 Vpp output, and up to 9 Gsample memory per channel. Designed for optics, photonics, quantum computing, QKD, and high-speed semiconductor test applications.
• AWG-1102/1104 Cost-effective 2- and 4-channel Arbitrary Waveform Generator with 250 MS/s real-time sample rate (1 GS/s interpolated), 16-bit resolution, 125 MHz bandwidth, 12 Vpp maximum output, and 2 Mpts memory per channel. Features both arbitrary and DDS waveform generation modes with built-in modulation (AM, FM, PM, ASK, FSK, PSK) and optional digital pattern generation.
• AT-1120 NI FlexRIO Adapter Module High-speed FlexRIO adapter module with 2 GS/s sample rate, 14-bit vertical resolution, 800 MHz bandwidth, and a single analog channel. Designed to combine with NI FlexRIO FPGA PXIe cards to build FPGA-programmable arbitrary waveform generators.
• AT-1212 NI FlexRIO Adapter Module High-speed FlexRIO adapter module with 1.25 GS/s sample rate, 14-bit vertical resolution, 480 MHz bandwidth, and 2 analog channels. Features DC-coupled output (4 Vpp differential / 2 Vpp single-ended), very low harmonic distortion (-65 dBc), and LabVIEW FPGA graphical programming support.
• Digital Pattern Generator (DPG) Option Digital stimuli generation option for AWG instruments enabling FPGA/ASIC emulation, protocol-level testing, production test, and mixed-signal testing. Supports up to 32 digital channels at up to 1.54 GSps with LVDS or LV-TTL electrical standards.
• Pulse Pattern Generator (PPG) Option Serial data pattern generator option for AWG-4000, AWG-5000, and AWG-7000 series. Generates binary data streams through front panel connectors with built-in PRBS sequences, modulation features, and transition shaping. Supports data rates from 300 Mbps to 6.5 Gbps for semiconductor test, signal integrity, and aerospace & defense applications.
• AT-VPX-1000 Custom VPX FPGA board developed for aerospace & defense applications. Integrates with Tektronix TADC-1000 digitizer module (12.5 GS/s or 2x6.25 GS/s, 8-bit A/D) via SAMTEC FMC connector. Features Xilinx Virtex-6 FPGAs and RLDRAM memory for radar testing, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and high-energy physics instrumentation.
• RPX Series Rackmount Data Recorder Rackmount recording and playback system with up to 16 Tbyte storage capacity and 4 GB/s multi-channel performance. Designed for big physics, space, and radar applications requiring acquisition, storage, and generation of large data volumes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rise time as fast as 50 ps at maximum 5Vpp amplitude
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Instruments (NI)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerActive Technologies develops OEM projects in cooperation with NI, including NI FlexRIO Adapter Modules (AT-1120, AT-1212). These products integrate with NI FlexRIO FPGA PXIe cards to build FPGA-programmable arbitrary waveform generators. The partnership demonstrates the unique features and flexibility of Active Technologies' signal generation technologies.
• Teledyne LeCroycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerActive Technologies cooperates with Teledyne LeCroy on OEM projects. The partnership involves integration of Active Technologies signal generation technologies with Teledyne LeCroy waveform/function generators.
• University of FerraracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Technologies was founded in 2003 as a startup of the University of Ferrara in Italy. The company maintains close cooperation with physics and academic research centers for developing high-performance instrumentation.
• Worldwide DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActive Technologies products are supported by a worldwide network of authorized local distributors who provide sales, support, and service in their respective regions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Highland Technology: Specialty manufacturer of precision pulse and pattern generators (T560, P400) used in ATE and aerospace test. Smaller, niche competitor with overlapping customers in custom/OEM test programs similar to Active Technologies' AT-VPX-1000 work.

Direct peers

• National Instruments (NI): Provider of modular T&M instrumentation including the PXI-based FlexRIO platform that Active Technologies supplies adapter modules (AT-1120, AT-1212) into. Competes and partners simultaneously, with overlapping end-customers in semiconductor, automotive, and research test.
• Teledyne LeCroy: Manufacturer of oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and signal generators. Teledyne LeCroy has both an OEM relationship with Active Technologies (integrating their waveform/function generator technology) and its own AWG/Pulse Generator products that overlap directly with the Arb Rider and Pulse Rider lines.
• Spectrum Instrumentation: German manufacturer of arbitrary waveform generators and digitizers (e.g., M4i.66xx series) targeted at OEM and research applications. Competes in the mid-range AWG segment with overlapping customers in OEM, scientific, and industrial test.
• Zurich Instruments: Swiss manufacturer of high-performance signal generators (HDAWG, SHF+) and lock-in amplifiers used in quantum computing, photonics, and physics research. Directly competes with Active Technologies in the AWG-for-quantum-control niche and shares a European specialty-instrument heritage.
• Berkeley Nucleonics: US-based manufacturer of pulse/delay generators, digital delay generators, and signal sources. Competes directly with the Pulse Rider PG-1000 and PG-1500 lines in semiconductor, laser, and physics research applications.
• Quantum Composers: Manufacturer of pulse generators, digital delay generators, and timing instruments for laboratory and OEM use. Competes in the picosecond/nanosecond pulse-generator category with overlapping semiconductor and physics-research customers.

Broad incumbents

• Tektronix: Major incumbent in oscilloscopes, signal sources, and T&M. Tektronix's AWG70000 series (up to 50 GS/s) directly competes with Active Technologies' high-end AWG-7000 in serial data, quantum, and A&D test applications, and Tektronix's TADC-1000 digitizer is integrated in Active Technologies' AT-VPX-1000.
• Rohde & Schwarz: German T&M incumbent with broad signal-source portfolio including the SMBV100B and high-end AWG offerings. Targets overlapping aerospace/defense, automotive, and semiconductor test customers and competes on performance and brand in the same procurement decisions as Active Technologies.
• Keysight Technologies: Global leader in electronic test and measurement. Keysight's arbitrary waveform generators (e.g., M8190A, M8199A) and pulse/pattern generators compete across the full performance spectrum with Active Technologies' AWG and Pulse Rider lines, serving the same semiconductor, A&D, and research customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCell3dbnidCKK9dl_UfibdA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/active-technologies-srl

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 Active Technologies