Planar Systems

What Planar Systems does

Planar Systems, Inc. is a privately held US-based display technology company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, with 501-1000 employees and operations spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The company designs, manufactures and supports a comprehensive portfolio of LED video walls (Cobra, Komodo, DirectLight Ultra/Slim/Pro/Essential, CarbonLight, Luminate, Venue Pro, Mantis, UltraRes L), LCD video walls (Clarity Matrix G3, VM Series), large format LCD displays (21by9, UltraRes P/W, Simplicity E/P/M), desktop and touch screen monitors, and the WallDirector cloud-based display management platform. Planar's technology is anchored in proprietary innovations including EverPixel with TruMicro LED (20µm LEDs with pixel-level redundancy), Chip-on-Board (COB) LED architecture, CarbonLight carbon-fiber frame construction, and pliable/bendable LED modules enabling curves as tight as 0.48m without color shift.

The company sells primarily through a global network of authorized resellers, with Exertis Almo serving as the sole North American AV distributor for select LED video walls and online retailers (Connection, CDW, Insight, Newegg, SHI, Zones) carrying consumer and SMB products. Revenue is generated from hardware sales (LED/LCD displays, large format displays, desktop monitors and accessories) and professional services including Planar Elite Technical Services for premium installations, complemented by the EverCare lifetime limited warranty program and trade show-driven demand generation at ISE, InfoComm, CEDIA, NAB, LDI, AFCEA and EDUCAUSE. Customer concentration spans more than 14 verticals with primary emphasis on Broadcast, Control Rooms, Retail, Education, Corporate/Enterprise, Government, Rental & Staging and Virtual Production, anchored by named deployments at NBC Sports (2024 and 2026 Olympics), University of Oregon, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Queensland University of Technology, Santan Mountain Casino, the New York State IT umbrella contract and Patterson-UTI.

Name

Planar Systems

Legal name

Planar Systems, Inc.

Website

https://planar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Planar Systems is a US-based display technology company founded in 1983 that designs and manufactures LED and LCD video walls, large format displays, and desktop monitors for broadcast, control room, education, government, virtual production, and enterprise markets worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Display Systems

NAICS

Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Signage & Commercial Displays (HDACADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Display & Illumination Components (MicroLED/OLED Drivers/Backlight Optics) (HDAHALAN)

Keywords

• LED video walls
• LCD video walls
• Commercial display solutions
• Digital signage displays
• MicroLED displays

Headquarters

HQ city

Beaverton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Display Hardware Sales: Sale of LED video walls, LCD video walls, large format displays, desktop monitors, and accessories. Products include indoor/outdoor LED displays, MicroLED solutions, fine pixel pitch LED, and commercial-grade LCD displays.
2. Professional Services: Technical installation, commissioning, and support services including Planar Elite Technical Services for premium installations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

Planar Systems designs, manufactures, and sells LED and LCD video walls, large format displays, and desktop monitors for commercial and enterprise applications. The company offers proprietary display technologies including MicroLED, fine pixel pitch LED, and Chip-on-Board (COB) LED solutions across multiple product families (DirectLight, CarbonLight, Luminate, Venue Pro, Mantis, Cobra, Komodo, Clarity Matrix, UltraRes, Simplicity), along with cloud-based display management software and professional installation services.

Product overview

Planar Systems is a global leader in visualization technology offering a comprehensive portfolio of LED video walls, LCD video walls, large format displays, desktop monitors, and professional services. The LED video wall portfolio spans multiple series including the premium Cobra Series (with proprietary EverPixel/TruMicro technology), Komodo Series, DirectLight family (Ultra, Slim, Pro, Essential), CarbonLight family (CLI, CLI Flex, CLM), Luminate (Pro, Ultra W), Venue Pro, Mantis, and all-in-one UltraRes L Series and M135. LCD video walls include Clarity Matrix G3 and VM Series. Large format displays feature the new 21by9 Series (5K 21:9), UltraRes (P, W), and Simplicity (E, P, M) series. The portfolio is supported by WallDirector display management and control solutions (Cloud and Video Controller) and Planar EverCare lifetime warranty program. The company serves diverse markets including broadcast, control rooms, digital signage, education, government, healthcare, hospitality, retail, rental and staging, sports and entertainment, virtual production, and luxury living.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Planar CarbonLight: LED video wall displays featuring carbon fiber frames for lightweight and durable installations, including CLI Series, CLM Series, and CLI Flex Series for curved applications.
• Planar DirectLight
• Planar Clarity Matrix
• Planar UltraRes
• Planar Simplicity
• Planar WallDirector
• Planar Luxe
• Planar EverCare
• Planar Academy
• Planar Studios
• Planar Venue Pro
• Planar Luminate
• Planar Mantis
• Planar Cobra
• Planar Komodo
• Planar VM Series

Products and services

• Planar Cobra Series Premium fine pixel pitch LED video wall platform powered by EverPixel with TruMicro LED technology; features pixel-level redundancy and true MicroLED performance with exceptional uniformity and color consistency.
• Planar Komodo Series Ultra-fine pixel pitch LED video wall designed to set new standards for visual performance in indoor applications.
• Planar DirectLight Ultra Series Premium indoor MicroLED video wall with 24x7 reliability and ultra-high resolution; available in 0.7, 0.9 and 1.2mm pixel pitches with proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.
• Planar DirectLight Slim Series Ultra-thin narrow width MicroLED video wall designed for tight curves and space-constrained installations; installation depth under 2 inches; 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8mm pixel pitches.
• Planar DirectLight Pro Series Bright premium indoor MicroLED with high efficiency, bandwidth and broad controller compatibility; 0.9 to 1.8mm pixel pitches; available in high brightness (1,600 nits) and low power (500 nits) models.
• Planar DirectLight Essential Series High-quality Chip-on-Board (COB) LED video wall delivering incredible performance at accessible price point; 27-inch cabinets in 0.7, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5mm pixel pitches; 30,000:1 contrast ratio; 3,840Hz refresh rate.
• Planar CarbonLight CLI Series Sleek lightweight indoor LED video wall displays built with carbon fiber frames; supports hanging, free-standing and wall-mounted installations; 1.9, 2.6, 3.9mm pixel pitches in 500x500mm and 500x1000mm cabinet sizes.
• Planar CarbonLight CLI VX Series Camera-optimized LED video wall for on-camera broadcast and in-camera virtual production and extended reality; HDR-ready; high scan and refresh rates; wide color gamut including DCI-P3; Genlock synchronization.
• Planar CarbonLight CLI Flex Series Pliable LED video wall displays for concave or convex curved video walls, waves, halos, domes or column wraps; bendable modules form curves as tight as 0.48m without color shift; 0.9, 1.3, 1.5, 1.9, 2.6, 3.9mm pixel pitches.
• Planar CarbonLight CLM Series Thin lightweight mesh LED displays for indoor or outdoor environments with transparent and non-transparent carbon fiber options; IP65 outdoor protection; 5.9, 6.9, 10.4mm pixel pitches; low wind resistance.
• Planar Luminate Pro Series Outdoor LED video wall displays designed for weather and sunlight in temporary and fixed applications.
• Planar Luminate Ultra W Series High bright fine pitch outdoor LED displays with wide aspect ratio; designed for close-up outdoor viewing in bright sunlight.
• Planar Venue Pro VX Series Indoor fine pitch LED video wall displays optimized for virtual production, XR and broadcast applications.
• Planar Mantis Series LED video wall family purpose-built for rental and staging market; tool-less operation; lightweight magnesium alloy construction; one-handed handling for easy setup, teardown and maintenance.
• Planar UltraRes L Series Interactive all-in-one Full HD LED displays with quick installation, speakers and on-board processing; available in 109", 122" and 136" diagonal sizes.
• Planar Clarity Matrix G3 Best-in-class LCD video wall solution with the industry's thinnest bezel and outstanding image quality; for mission-critical 24x7 applications.
• Planar VM Series Extreme and ultra-narrow bezel LCD displays for video wall solutions in demanding 24x7 mission-critical applications and high ambient light environments.
• Planar 21by9 Series Ultra-wide 5K LCD displays with 21:9 aspect ratio; exceptional color performance, stunning brightness, enhanced contrast; designed for immersive collaboration and cinematic viewing experiences.
• Planar UltraRes P Series High-resolution LCD display series for professional applications.
• Planar Simplicity E Series Large format LCD displays with wireless connectivity for always-on digital signage.
• Planar Simplicity P Series Value digital signage LCD displays for 24x7 use with media playback, streaming and optional touch.
• Planar Simplicity M Series Value digital signage LCD solution with commercial functionality and optional touch; available in 43" to 86" sizes.
• Planar UltraRes W Series Dynamic always-on 5K LCD display solutions with ultra-wide 105" size, dual-source viewing and ruggedized interactive option.
• Planar Desktop and Touch Screen Monitors Commercial-grade desktop monitors and touch screen monitors from 22" to 38" with high performance and unbeatable image quality.
• Planar WallDirector Cloud Cloud-native SaaS display fleet management application; enables remote monitoring of LED and LCD display health and incidents; one-click support request to Planar Technical Support.
• Planar WallDirector Browser-based video wall management application for controlling and monitoring Planar display solutions.
• Planar Professional Services Comprehensive services including installation, maintenance, and technical support for Planar display solutions; Planar Elite Technical Services for luxury installations.
• Planar EverCare Lifetime Warranty Lifetime limited warranty covering select video walls owned and deployed in North America; covers entire product from controller to sub-pixel; includes advanced replacement and phone support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pixel-level redundancy eliminates visible pixel outages and maintains image integrity

Named customers9 records

Segments15 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Exertis AlmocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2024Exertis Almo became the sole North American AV distributor for select Planar LED video walls, strengthening distribution reach in the North American market.
• SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2022Planar and OptiTrack partnered with SMPTE and other industry leaders to develop on-set virtual production methodologies.
• OptiTrackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanar and affiliate company OptiTrack (worldwide leader in 3D tracking systems) partner to deliver comprehensive broadcast and media solutions combining LED displays with precision motion capture technology for virtual production and broadcast applications.
• 4WallminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction integration partner for virtual production studio demonstrations at NAB 2025.
• Jack MortonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBroadcast set design and virtual studio design partner for NAB 2025 demonstrations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Unilumin Group: Unilumin is a leading Chinese LED display manufacturer competing directly with Planar in fine pitch LED video walls, rental & staging, and outdoor LED signage, with comparable product lines at competitive price points.
• Daktronics: Daktronics is a leading LED display manufacturer with deep overlap in large-format outdoor LED, sports venues, and control rooms — directly comparable to Planar's Luminate and Venue Pro product lines.
• Leyard Optoelectronic: Leyard is one of the largest global LED video wall manufacturers and a direct Planar competitor across fine pixel pitch, large-format LED, and MicroLED displays, with strong cost-driven positioning especially in APAC.
• Barco: Barco is a direct competitor in LED video walls and LCD video walls, especially for control rooms, broadcast, and corporate collaboration — historically strong in the same mission-critical 24/7 visualization niches that Planar Clarity Matrix and DirectLight target.
• Christie Digital Systems: Christie competes directly with Planar in LED video walls for live events, rental & staging, and broadcast/virtual production (including on-camera LED volumes), with comparable product positioning in premium professional AV.

Broad incumbents

• Samsung Electronics: Samsung's display division (including The Wall MicroLED and large format commercial displays) directly competes with Planar across LED video walls, LCD video walls, and digital signage in the same enterprise, broadcast, and control room markets.
• NEC Display Solutions: NEC (now Sharp NEC) competes with Planar in large format LCD displays, digital signage, and command/control video walls, with strong overlap in education, government, and corporate end markets.
• Sony Professional Displays: Sony's professional display and Crystal LED MicroLED solutions compete with Planar Cobra, DirectLight, and Venue Pro series in broadcast, virtual production, and corporate visualization segments.
• LG Electronics: LG's commercial displays and MAGNIT MicroLED line compete head-to-head with Planar in control rooms, retail signage, broadcast, and corporate environments, with overlapping LCD video wall and large format display offerings.

Emerging players

• Absen: Absen is a fast-growing Chinese LED display manufacturer competing with Planar in fine pixel pitch LED for control rooms, rental & staging, and corporate markets, with rapidly expanding global distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/planarsystems
• YouTubeyoutube.com/planarsystems
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlanarSystemsInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planar-systems
• Instagraminstagram.com/planarsystemsinc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Planar Systems