Layertec
Layertec is a family-owned German manufacturer of high-precision optical components and coatings—mirrors, filters, windows, polarizers, crystal optics, and large optics—serving laser research, medical technology, semiconductor, and machine tool customers worldwide through direct sales and an online shop.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersMellingen, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Layertec does
LAYERTEC GmbH is a privately held, family-managed German manufacturer of high-precision optical components for laser applications, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Mellingen, Thuringia. The company designs and produces substrates, finished optics, and optical coatings in-house, spanning mirrors, filters and etalons, transmissive optics, polarizers, crystal optics (YAG, KTP, LBO, BBO, CaF₂), large optics up to 2000 mm, and integrated optomechanical assemblies. Coating is performed across multiple deposition methods (IAD, magnetron sputtering, IBS), and quality is verified with proprietary measurement capabilities including in-house LIDT testing for damage thresholds above 30 J/cm², cavity ring-down spectroscopy co-developed with IPHT Jena, photothermal common-path interferometry, and intra-cavity heating at ~120 kW. The company serves roughly 500 customers worldwide across laser research institutions, medical technology, semiconductor manufacturing, and machine tool manufacturers, and participates in numerous R&D consortia targeting quantum computing, ultrafast 2 µm lasers, EUV lithography, and laser-driven fusion.
Layertec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Layertec
- Legal name
- LAYERTEC GmbH
- Website
- https://layertec.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Layertec is a family-owned German manufacturer of high-precision optical components and coatings—mirrors, filters, windows, polarizers, crystal optics, and large optics—serving laser research, medical technology, semiconductor, and machine tool customers worldwide through direct sales and an online shop.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Layertec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Optical Components for Laser Applications
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM)
Keywords
Where Layertec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mellingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Layertec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Optical Components Sales: Sale of high-precision optical components including mirrors, filters, windows, polarizers, lenses, beam splitters, prisms, and specialized optics. Components are sold through online shop for standard items and through direct sales engagement for customized solutions.
- Optical Coatings Services: Custom coating services tailored for specific laser types and wavelengths, including HR mirrors, AR coatings, and specialized interference coatings.
- Online Shop: E-commerce platform offering standard optical components for business customers, with immediate transfer of order data to sales team for processing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Business-to-business sales only - no pricing publicly available |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Layertec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LAYERTEC manufactures high-precision optical components and customized optical coatings for laser applications. The portfolio includes mirrors, filters and etalons, highly transmissive optics, polarizers, crystal optics, large optics (up to 2000 mm), and complete optomechanical assemblies. Products are supplied to laser research institutions, medical technology firms, semiconductor manufacturers, and machine tool builders, sold via an online shop for standard items and via direct sales for tailored solutions.
Product overview
LAYERTEC is a manufacturer of high-quality optical components and customized solutions for laser applications. The product portfolio centers on precision optical components including mirrors, filters and etalons, transmissive optics, polarizers, crystal optics, large optics, and assemblies. The company offers a comprehensive technology platform combining precision optics manufacturing with advanced optical coating services (interference coatings, metallic coatings, metal-dielectric coatings) and special manufacturing techniques (solderable coatings, lithography, assembly, laser engraving). The product range spans from standard catalog components available through the online shop to highly customized solutions for research institutions and industrial laser manufacturers. Core technology capabilities include measurement tools for optical coatings (spectral photometry, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, LIDT testing) and precision substrate fabrication across various geometries and materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mirrors
Quantifiable outcome
- High reflectance measurements up to R = 99.999% achievable (finesse 314,000 at 1542nm)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Layertec
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Layertec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Layertec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GRADIENT Project Partner: Fraunhofer IOFcoreGRADIENT project developing optical coatings exploiting refractive-index gradients for improved performance. Collaboration with Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) in Jena.
- KLIK Project ConsortiumminorKLIK project evaluating CO2 footprint and resources used in coating technology. LAYERTEC monitors energy, water, and compressed air consumption of coating systems and presents resource-saving measures.
- SHARP ConsortiumcoreSHARP (Scalable Highpower Reflectors for Petawatts) consortium coordinated by SCHOTT AG, developing innovative high-performance mirrors for laser-driven fusion power plants. LAYERTEC contributes to large-scale mirror manufacturing and thermally stable coatings development. Partners include asphericon GmbH, 3D-Micromac AG, optiX fab GmbH, Cutting Edge Coatings GmbH, robeko GmbH & Co. KG, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Fraunhofer IOF, and Fraunhofer IMWS.
- PriFUSIO Project ConsortiumcorePriFUSIO project developing optical components for laser-controlled fusion power plants. LAYERTEC develops optics with highest possible laser-induced damage thresholds and quartz glass substrates with lowest defect levels for large-size optics (>300mm).
- UKPiño AlliancecoreUKPiño alliance establishing regional competence platform for ultrafast laser technology in 2μm range. LAYERTEC develops high-performance optical components and beam guidance systems. Consortium includes 15 partners from industry and research including 3Faktur GmbH, Jenoptik, and others.
- Rymax Project ConsortiumcoreRymax project building neutral-atom quantum computer with >500 Q-bits. LAYERTEC develops low-loss mirrors and spacers for high-finesse cavities and fused silica glass cells for Rydberg atom trapping. Partners include Universität Hamburg, TU Kaiserslautern, Fraunhofer ITWM, Menlo Systems GmbH, and others.
- QUASENS Project ConsortiumcoreQUASENS project developing optical clock based on atom interferometry using Sr atoms. LAYERTEC develops mirror systems and resonator substrates for high-finesse resonators. Partners include Menlo Systems GmbH, VACOM GmbH, QUBIG GmbH, Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and PTB.
- MULTIPASS Project ConsortiumcoreJoint project developing multipass cells for pulse compression of high-power ultrashort pulse lasers. LAYERTEC develops substrates and coatings for mirrors. Partners: Active Fiber Systems GmbH (Jena) and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Institute for Applied Physics).
- Lateral Structuring Project (EFRE)minorProject developing laterally structured optical devices based on high-quality coatings for high-power lasers. Funded by Free State of Thuringia and European Union (ERDF).
- Leibniz-Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT) JenacoreCooperation with IPHT Jena for development of broadband cavity ring-down measurement systems and laser-induced deflection (LID) measurements for absorption calibration.
- Agrargenossenschaft MellingenminorPartnership for renewable energy supply through biogas local heating network. LAYERTEC receives thermal energy from biogas plant for carbon-neutral heating supply.
- Agrargenossenschaft MellingenminorPartnership for CO2-neutral cooling supply using adsorption cooling systems operated with excess heat from biogas plant combined heat and power units.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Layertec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rocky Mountain Instrument (RMI): Specialized laser optics manufacturer producing high-performance mirrors, beam splitters, and coatings for industrial, medical, and military laser applications. Directly comparable in laser-grade optics for high-power and CO2/fiber laser systems.
- Asphericon: German precision aspherical optics manufacturer serving laser and imaging applications. Comparable in product line (precision optical components) and shared SHARP consortium participation, focused on asphere and free-form geometry.
- Laseroptik: German specialist optical coatings company providing custom coatings for laser optics, including IBS and IAD processes. Directly comparable coating-focused peer; also SHARP consortium partner alongside Layertec.
- Jenoptik: German photonics company with strong laser optics, optical components, and coating divisions serving semiconductor, medical, and industrial laser markets. Directly comparable in product line and Thuringia-based operations, including overlap in UKPiño consortium.
- OptoSigma: Manufacturer and distributor of optical components including laser mirrors, polarizers, and filters for research and OEM laser customers. Directly comparable catalog-driven optics supplier with overlapping standard and custom product mix.
- CVI Laser Optics (IDEX): Specialized manufacturer of precision laser optics, mirrors, and beam splitters for laser systems, research, and OEM applications. Directly comparable to Layertec's laser optics and coating offering, particularly for high-power and ultrafast lasers.
- Thorlabs: Large catalog and custom manufacturer of laser optics, mirrors, filters, and optomechanics serving research, medical, and industrial laser end markets. Directly comparable to Layertec's precision optics and coatings portfolio with overlapping customer base in photonics research and OEM laser systems.
- Edmund Optics: Global manufacturer of optical components including laser mirrors, filters, polarizers, and windows, with significant custom coating capabilities. Directly comparable to Layertec in B2B sales of standard and custom laser optics across research and industrial segments.
Broad incumbents
- SCHOTT AG: Large German specialty glass and optics manufacturer with broad portfolio including laser glass, optical components, and substrates. SHARP consortium coordinator and Layertec partner; overlaps in large optics and substrates but operates at significantly broader scale.
- Coherent: Global photonics company spanning laser systems, optics, and components, including proprietary laser optics offerings for industrial and semiconductor applications. Comparable through its optics division while competing primarily at the laser system level rather than as a pure optics specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Layertec social profiles
Digital presenceLayertec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Layertec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Layertec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Layertec 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 Layertec
What does Layertec do?
LAYERTEC manufactures high-precision optical components and customized optical coatings for laser applications. The portfolio includes mirrors, filters and etalons, highly transmissive optics, polarizers, crystal optics, large optics (up to 2000 mm), and complete optomechanical assemblies. Products are supplied to laser research institutions, medical technology firms, semiconductor manufacturers, and machine tool builders, sold via an online shop for standard items and via direct sales for tailored solutions.
Is Layertec a public or private company?
Layertec is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Layertec founded?
Layertec was founded in 1990. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Layertec based?
Layertec is headquartered in Mellingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Layertec make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Optical Components Sales are the primary driver. The others are optical Coatings Services and online Shop.
Who are Layertec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rocky Mountain Instrument (RMI), Asphericon, Laseroptik, Jenoptik, OptoSigma, CVI Laser Optics (IDEX), Thorlabs and Edmund Optics. Broad incumbents are SCHOTT AG and Coherent.
Does Layertec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Layertec.
What industry is Layertec in?
Layertec's product category is Precision Optical Components for Laser Applications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAKAM, Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating). Its NAICS code is 32551 and its SIC code is 3827.