What PCO does

PCO is a manufacturer of high-performance digital camera systems for scientific and industrial applications, founded in 1987 in Wilmington, USA, and operating since 2021 as a wholly-owned product brand under Excelitas Technologies Corp. The company's core technology is sCMOS (scientific Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensor technology, which PCO co-invented; this underpins a portfolio covering the entire electromagnetic spectrum from deep ultra-violet (DUV) to shortwave infrared (SWIR), spanning long exposure to high-speed capture, and line scan to high-resolution area scan form factors. The product set is organized across seven sub-brands — pco.edge (sCMOS microscopy cameras), pco.dimax (high-speed automotive/test), pco.dicam (intensified cameras with exposure times down to 2.5ns), pco.flim (frequency-domain Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy), pco.pixelfly (scientific/industrial), pco.horizon (TDI line scan for inspection), and pco.hsr (multi-camera high-speed recorder) — complemented by camera accessories, control software, and SDKs available in multiple programming languages. Recent product launches (2024-2025) include back-illuminated sCMOS models with up to 85% quantum efficiency, the first sCMOS camera with photon counting for LSFM/SIM, and line scan cameras for semiconductor inspection.

PCO generates revenue through four streams: hardware sales of camera systems and accessories, one-time software/SDK licensing, custom solutions and professional services (tailor-made firmware and custom image sensors), and channel sales through a global distributor network with direct enterprise field sales support. Primary customer segments are scientific research institutions, automotive testing facilities, and industrial manufacturing/quality control operations; secondary segments include medical/healthcare and advanced vision systems (LiDAR, autonomous vehicles, aerial imaging). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with enterprise sales cycles. GTM combines direct enterprise field sales, distributor channels, industry exhibitions (e.g., MAF 2026), and content marketing via the PCO Circular newsletter and technical documentation. The company has 11-50 employees and operates as a brand within Excelitas' broader photonic solutions portfolio covering illumination, optics, sensors, and cameras.

Name

PCO

Legal name

Excelitas Technologies Corp.

Website

https://pco-tech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PCO manufactures high-performance sCMOS-based digital camera systems for scientific research, automotive testing, industrial inspection, and medical imaging. Operating as a brand under Excelitas Technologies Corp. since its 2021 acquisition, PCO sells globally through distributors and direct enterprise channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Imaging Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth) (HDAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Machine Vision & Industrial Imaging Systems (IMAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Scientific imaging cameras
• High-speed cameras
• SCMOS sensors
• Industrial machine vision
• Fluorescence lifetime imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Camera Hardware Sales: PCO generates revenue through the sale of high-performance camera systems including scientific cameras, high-speed cameras, intensified cameras, industrial cameras, and FLIM camera systems. Products range from entry-level to advanced configurations with varying sensor technologies and performance specifications.
2. Camera Software and SDKs: Revenue from comprehensive software products for PCO cameras including camera control software applications and software development kits available in various programming languages.
3. Camera Accessories: Sale of comprehensive selection of camera accessories including peripheral devices for image data transfer, exchangeable adapters for standardized interfaces, and application-specific peripherals.
4. Custom Solutions and Professional Services: Excelitas offers custom solutions engagements to meet complex customer requirements, including tailor-made firmware and custom image sensor development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PCO designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance digital camera systems for scientific and industrial applications. Its portfolio spans sCMOS scientific cameras, high-speed cameras for automotive safety testing, image-intensified cameras for ultra-fast phenomena capture, FLIM fluorescence lifetime imaging systems, industrial cameras, and TDI line scan cameras, along with camera control software, SDKs, and accessories.

Product overview

PCO is a world-renowned brand of high-performance camera systems acquired by Excelitas in 2021. The product portfolio consists of multiple distinct product categories including Scientific Cameras (sCMOS-based for research), High-speed Cameras (pco.dimax series for automotive testing), Intensified Cameras (pco.dicam series for ultra-fast phenomena), Industrial Cameras (for system integration), FLIM Camera Systems (pco.flim for fluorescence lifetime imaging), Camera Accessories, Camera Software (with SDKs), and Product Support. The comprehensive camera portfolio covers the entire spectrum from deep ultra-violet (DUV) to shortwave infrared (SWIR), from long exposure to high-speed, from line scan to high-resolution area scan. Recent product expansions include the pco.edge series CLHS cameras (5.5, 9.4, 10, 26 MPixel variants) featuring Camera Link HS interfaces, the pco.horizon line scan camera with TDI technology, pco.pixelfly cameras for scientific/industrial use, and the pco.hsr image recorder for multi-camera capture systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• pco.edge: High-performance sCMOS camera series for microscopy, life science and physical science applications
• pco.dimax
• pco.dicam
• pco.flim
• pco.pixelfly
• pco.horizon
• pco.hsr

Products and services

• Scientific Cameras High-performance cameras utilizing sCMOS image sensors, available in both cooled and non-cooled variants, designed for research, life science, and experimentation applications.
• High-speed Cameras pco.dimax series cameras designed for harsh and demanding automotive safety and high-speed imaging applications, delivering very high frame rates at up to 4 megapixel resolution.
• Intensified Cameras pco.dicam series single- to multi-channel image-intensified cameras with extreme short exposure times down to 2.5ns for ultra-fast phenomena imaging.
• Industrial Cameras High-performance cameras designed for system integration, with design concepts ideal for industrial applications requiring high performance and reliability.
• FLIM Camera Systems pco.flim camera and pco.flim laser systems with complete frequency synthesizer for frequency domain Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), featuring the largest resolution of 1008 x 1008 pixels and highest maximum frame rate of 45 double images/s on the market.
• PCO Camera Accessories Comprehensive selection of camera accessories including peripheral devices for image data transfer, exchangeable adapters for standardized interfaces, and application-specific peripherals.
• PCO Camera Software Comprehensive software products for PCO cameras including camera control applications and software development kits available in various programming languages to address extensive platforms and architectures.
• pco.edge 10 bi CLHS sCMOS Camera Next-level sCMOS camera with back-illuminated image sensor, quantum efficiency up to 85% with broad spectrum out to NIR, microlenses and full-pixel height deep trench isolation for microscopy, life science and physical science applications.
• pco.edge 26 DS CLHS sCMOS Camera High-speed, high-resolution streaming camera with 26 MPixel charge domain global shutter sensor, double shutter mode enabling 350 ns interframing time for PIV applications.
• pco.dimax 3.6 ST CLHS High-speed Camera High-speed streaming camera for continuous acquisition at full 3.6 MPixel resolution and over 2000 frames per second with CLHS FOL interface for real-time uncompressed data transfer.
• pco.flim X Frequency domain FLIM camera with improved cooling achieving -5C with forced air and -20C with water cooling, readout noise below 15 e-, 1008 x 1008 pixel resolution at 45 double image/s.
• pco.horizon 9.1 bi TDI CLHS Line Scan Camera Line scan camera with 9K resolution and 256 TDI stages, temperature-stabilized back-illuminated CMOS sensor with dual photosensitive bands, line rates up to 600 kHz for semiconductor inspection and medical imaging.
• pco.hsr 8x25 CLHS Image Recorder Next-generation high-speed image recorder with FPGA-based architecture streaming to SSDs, supporting up to 8 cameras simultaneously for continuous lossless capture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quantum efficiency up to 85% with broad spectrum out to NIR
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Teledyne FLIR: Teledyne FLIR is a large incumbent in thermal imaging, machine vision cameras, and scientific imaging. Sister company to Teledyne Photometrics within Teledyne; overlaps with PCO in industrial vision and broader imaging markets.
• Sony Semiconductor Solutions: Sony is a dominant global CMOS image sensor manufacturer whose sensors are used inside PCO and competing scientific cameras. Adjacent as the upstream sensor supplier and indirect competitor through reference designs.

Direct peers

• Photron: Photron specializes in high-speed digital cameras for scientific, industrial, and automotive testing applications. Directly competes with PCO's pco.dimax high-speed camera line in crash testing and PIV.
• Teledyne Photometrics: Teledyne Photometrics specializes in scientific CMOS and CCD cameras for microscopy, life sciences, and physical sciences research. Directly competes with PCO's pco.edge and scientific camera portfolio.
• IDS Imaging Development Systems: IDS manufactures industrial cameras with CMOS and CCD sensors for machine vision, inspection, and embedded applications. Comparable to PCO in industrial camera and system integration segments.
• Andor Technology (Oxford Instruments): Andor manufactures scientific cameras including sCMOS, EMCCD, and intensified CCD cameras for research applications. Closely overlaps with PCO across microscopy, FLIM, and low-light imaging markets.
• Basler AG: Basler is a major manufacturer of industrial cameras for machine vision, factory automation, and inspection. Overlaps with PCO's industrial camera product line in factory automation and quality control.
• Vision Research (AMETEK): Vision Research's Phantom brand is a leading high-speed camera line used in automotive safety testing, defense, and scientific research. Competes with PCO's pco.dimax series in high-frame-rate industrial applications.
• SVS-Vistek: SVS-Vistek produces industrial cameras for machine vision, traffic, and medical imaging applications. Comparable to PCO's industrial and scientific camera offerings in OEM and system integrator channels.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu manufactures scientific CMOS cameras, image intensifiers, and detectors used in microscopy and life sciences. Directly comparable to PCO across scientific, high-speed, and intensified camera product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pcoimaging
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ExcelitasTech
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Excelitas-Technologies-Corp/122632277800460
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pco-tech-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/excelitas_technologies_corp

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 PCO