RPC Photonics

What RPC Photonics does

RPC Photonics is a designer and manufacturer of precision optical illumination components, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Rochester, New York. The company specializes in light-shaping optics that control the propagation and distribution of light through proprietary technologies including Engineered Diffusers (available in Fused Silica and Polymer-On-Glass variants), HiLAM Diffusers, Microlens Arrays, and Vortex Phase Plates. These components serve the optical and photonics industry, enabling controlled illumination patterns for applications requiring precise light management. The company operates with a small team of 11-50 employees and historically secured grant funding from NYSERDA in 2004 and 2006 totaling approximately $400,000 for research and development activities.

RPC Photonics was acquired by VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) and its products are now sold under the Light Shaping Optics brand through an e-commerce storefront on VIAVI's website. The company holds ISO 9001 and RoHS certifications through its parent entity. Products are marketed to enterprise and research customers globally through the company's website, which includes technical resources such as BSDF Data and a Literature Library.

As of early 2026, VIAVI Solutions announced the discontinuation of the entire Light-Shaping Optics product line — including all four core product families that originated from RPC Photonics — with the last day to purchase online set for February 27, 2026. This signals the wind-down of the former RPC Photonics product portfolio within its parent company.

Name

RPC Photonics

Legal name

VIAVI Solutions

Website

https://rpcphotonics.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RPC Photonics designs and manufactures precision optical illumination components — Engineered Diffusers, HiLAM Diffusers, Microlens Arrays, and Vortex Phase Plates — for the optics and photonics industry, now operating as the Light Shaping Optics product line under VIAVI Solutions with discontinuation announced for 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Components / Photonics

NAICS

Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF), Machine Vision & Inspection Lighting (Ring lights, bar lights, backlights, strobed illumination) (IMAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Engineered diffusers
• Microlens arrays
• Light shaping optics
• Vortex phase plates
• Optical illumination components

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

RPC Photonics designs and manufactures precision optical components engineered to control the propagation and distribution of light. Its product line, marketed as Light Shaping Optics under VIAVI Solutions, includes Engineered Diffusers (in Fused Silica and Polymer-On-Glass variants), HiLAM Diffusers, Microlens Arrays, and Vortex Phase Plates used for illumination and beam-shaping applications. These components are sold to industrial buyers and research institutions through an online storefront, with the line scheduled for discontinuation on February 27, 2026.

Product overview

RPC Photonics (now part of VIAVI Solutions) offers a portfolio of Light Shaping Optics products designed to control the propagation and distribution of light. The core product line includes Engineered Diffusers™ (available in Fused Silica and Polymer-On-Glass variants), HiLAM Diffusers, Microlens Arrays, and Vortex Phase Plates. These optical components work together to provide comprehensive light management solutions for various illumination applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Engineered Diffusers™: Engineered Diffusers for controlling light propagation and distribution, available in Fused Silica and Polymer-On-Glass variants.
• HiLAM Diffusers
• Microlens Arrays
• Vortex Phase Plates

Products and services

• Engineered Diffusers™ Optical components designed and fabricated to control the propagation and distribution of light for precision illumination applications; available in Fused Silica and Polymer-On-Glass substrate variants.
• Fused Silica Engineered Diffusers Engineered Diffusers manufactured in Fused Silica for high durability and thermal stability in light-shaping applications.
• Polymer-On-Glass Engineered Diffusers Engineered Diffusers combining glass substrates with polymer optical structures for light diffusion applications.
• HiLAM Diffusers High Large Angle Multiplexed (HiLAM) diffusers that provide controlled light distribution for illumination applications.
• Microlens Arrays Optical components comprising arrays of small lenses arranged in patterns for light focusing and beam shaping in illumination systems.
• Vortex Phase Plates Optical components that create spiral wavefronts to generate optical vortices and structured light beams for advanced illumination and research applications.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Recent moves4 records

Broad incumbents

• Jenoptik: Jenoptik is a large German photonics group with a Light & Optics division producing optical components, beam shapers, and diffuser solutions for industrial laser and illumination customers. It is a broad incumbent competing across several of RPC Photonics' product categories.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs is one of the largest photonics component manufacturers globally, offering engineered diffusers, microlens arrays, and phase masks that overlap directly with RPC Photonics' Light-Shaping Optics portfolio. It serves the same industrial laser, imaging, and research customer base but at significantly greater scale.
• Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics manufactures and distributes a broad catalog of optical components including diffusers, microlens arrays, and engineered optics used in illumination and imaging systems. It is the most direct broad-line competitor to RPC Photonics in serving OEM and research customers with light-shaping components.

Direct peers

• SILIOS Technologies: SILIOS Technologies designs and manufactures diffractive optical elements, microlens arrays, and structured light components for laser, imaging, and consumer electronics applications. Its DOE and microlens offerings directly compete with RPC Photonics' Engineered Diffusers and Vortex Phase Plates.
• SUSS MicroOptics: SUSS MicroOptics is a specialist manufacturer of high-quality microlens arrays and refractive micro-optics used in illumination, fiber coupling, and beam shaping. It competes most directly with RPC Photonics' Microlens Arrays line for OEM customers in photonics and life sciences.
• HOLO/OR Ltd. HOLO/OR designs and manufactures diffractive optical elements (DOEs), beam shapers, and microlens arrays for laser and illumination applications. Its product portfolio directly overlaps with RPC Photonics' Engineered Diffusers, HiLAM Diffusers, and Vortex Phase Plates in industrial and research laser markets.

Emerging players

• Optigrate: Optigrate specializes in Engineered Diffusers® and Light Shaping Diffusers® for laser and LED illumination, with a product line that closely mirrors RPC Photonics' flagship Engineered Diffusers category. It is an emerging specialist competitor in the same niche diffuser segment.

Others

• RPC Photonics (VIAVI Light Shaping Optics): This is the actual VIAVI-operated Light Shaping Optics storefront representing the RPC Photonics product line — included to anchor the comparison to the entity's own current commercial footprint. It highlights that the products are now sold and discontinued under VIAVI's OSP group.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 RPC Photonics