What BLV does

BLV, operating as part of Ushio Europe B.V., is a Germany-based specialty industrial lighting company and the European subsidiary of the Japanese parent Ushio (founded 1964). It designs, manufactures, and distributes industrial light sources spanning the full electromagnetic spectrum relevant to industrial use — ultraviolet (100–400 nm) for sterilization, adhesive curing, and lithography; visible light (400–700 nm) for quality inspection and human-centric lighting; and infrared (700 nm–1 mm) for heating, drying, soldering, and thermoforming. The product portfolio covers IR lamps and modules, UV lamps, UV-LED modules (including the UV-LED UniJet series), excimer lamps and modules, LED components, laser diodes, xenon lamps, halogen lamps, HPS lamps, measurement instruments, and metal halide lamps for sports venues, alongside fully customized lamp and inline-module solutions engineered into customer production lines.

The company's business model is hardware sales of these specialty light sources, sold primarily through direct, sales-led engagement rather than mass-market channels. Regional offices and application laboratories in the Netherlands (HQ), Germany (Steinhöring — distribution, logistics, and engineering labs), France, and the UK provide direct engineering consultation and personalized Beratung from R&D through implementation, with aftersales support for process adjustments. Manufacturing is anchored by a state-of-the-art production facility in Poland, complemented by parent-group production in Asia and the Americas, giving BLV/Ushio Europe a three-continent production base.

The customer base spans seven end-use segments: semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare and medical, industrial manufacturing, food processing, quality control and inspection, projection and entertainment, and specialized lighting (sports venues and greenhouses). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting the engineered, often customized nature of the solutions. The firm employs 51–100 people at its Steinhöring site, with the broader European organization operating additional regional offices and a Polish production facility under the Ushio Europe B.V. legal entity domiciled in the Netherlands.

Name

BLV

Legal name

Ushio Europe B.V.

Website

https://www.blv-licht.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BLV, part of Ushio Europe B.V., is a German specialty industrial lighting company that designs and manufactures UV, visible-light, and infrared light sources — including UV-LED modules, laser diodes, and metal halide lamps — serving semiconductor, healthcare, food processing, industrial manufacturing, and sports-venue customers across Europe via direct engineering consultation and regional application laboratories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lighting

NAICS

Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Task/Workstation Lighting (Inspection/task lights, cleanroom/food-grade, portable work lights) (IMAGAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Area Lighting (Street, Roadway, Parking, Flood, Sports/Architectural exterior) (IMAGAIAB), Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC), Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE)

Keywords

• Industrial light sources
• UV lamps modules
• Infrared heating
• Metal halide lamps
• Laser diodes

Headquarters

HQ city

Steinhöring

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Light Source Products: Sale of specialized light sources including IR lamps and modules, UV lamps, UV LED modules, excimer lamps and modules, LED components, laser diodes, xenon lamps, halogen lamps, HPS lamps, MH lamps, and measurement instruments. Also includes customized/tailored lamp solutions and inline modules for production lines.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

BLV (Ushio Europe) manufactures and sells specialized industrial light sources spanning the full spectrum from ultraviolet (UV, 100-400nm) through visible (400-700nm) to infrared (IR, 700nm-1mm). The product portfolio includes IR lamps and modules for heating processes, UV lamps and UV LED modules (including the UniJet series) for curing applications, excimer lamps, LED components, laser diodes, xenon, halogen, and HPS lamps, measurement instruments, and metal halide lamps for sports venue lighting. The company also provides custom-tailored lighting solutions and inline modules engineered through its European application laboratories.

Product overview

Ushio Europe is a leading manufacturer of specialized industrial light sources covering the complete spectrum of industrial applications from ultraviolet (UV, 100-400 nm) through visible light (400-700 nm) to infrared (IR, 700 nm-1 mm). The product portfolio includes IR Lamps & Modules for heating processes, UV Lamps and UV LED Modules (including the UV LED UniJet series) for curing applications, Excimer Lamps & Modules, LED Components, Laser Diodes, Xenon Lamps, Halogen Lamps, HPS Lamps & Components, Measuring Devices, and Metal Halide Lamps for sports facilities. The company offers both standardized products and custom-tailored lighting solutions through its European application laboratories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IR Lamps & Modules (IR Lampen & Module) Infrared-based heating light sources and modules used in industrial manufacturing steps including thermoforming, PET blow molding, ink and paint drying, soldering, and catering. Targeted at industrial manufacturers requiring precise thermal processes.
• UV Lamps (UV Lampen) High-energy UV light sources (100-400nm) for precision industrial tasks such as sterilization, adhesive curing, and lithography. Targeted at semiconductor, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing customers.
• UV LED Modules (UV LED Module) UV-LED modules for curing UV-reactive inks, coatings, adhesives, and potting compounds used in inkjet printing and surface coatings. Targeted at printing and surface treatment industrial customers.
• UV LED UniJet Series Specialized UV-LED module series designed for curing UV-reactive inks, lacquers, coatings, and UV adhesives in inkjet printing processes and surface coating applications. Targeted at printing and coating manufacturers.
• Excimer Lamps & Modules (Excimer Lampen & Module) Specialized UV light sources emitting specific wavelengths for industrial applications such as surface treatment, disinfection, and photochemical processes. Targeted at advanced industrial and semiconductor customers.
• LED Components (LED Komponenten) LED components for various industrial lighting applications. Targeted at OEMs and integrators building industrial lighting systems.
• Laser Diodes (Laserdioden) Laser diodes including record-breaking performance units for industrial applications. Targeted at industrial and scientific customers requiring high-performance laser sources.
• Xenon Lamps (Xenon Lampen) Xenon gas discharge lamps for projection, entertainment, and industrial applications. Targeted at cinema, stage lighting, and specialized industrial customers.
• Halogen Lamps (Halogen Lampen) Halogen lamp products for various industrial lighting needs. Targeted at industrial and specialty lighting customers.
• HPS Lamps & Components (HPS Lampen & Komponenten) High-pressure sodium lamps and components for industrial applications including greenhouse and horticultural lighting. Targeted at agricultural and industrial customers.
• Measurement Devices (Messgeräte) Measurement devices for light measurement and calibration purposes. Targeted at industrial customers requiring light source characterization and quality assurance.
• Metal Halide Lamps for Sports Venues (MH Lampen für Sportstätten) Metal halide lamps specifically designed for sports facility illumination. Targeted at stadium operators and sports venue facility managers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete spectrum industrial lighting solutions for diverse applications from healthcare to semiconductor manufacturing

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Signify (Philips Lighting): Global lighting leader offering LED fixtures, lamps, and specialty lighting across residential, commercial, and industrial segments including UV and horticulture, competing with Ushio Europe on industrial and sports venue lighting accounts.
• ams OSRAM: Major European-headquartered lighting and opto-semiconductor group producing specialty lamps, LEDs, and laser diodes for industrial, medical, and projection applications, directly overlapping with Ushio Europe's UV, visible, and IR product lines.

Direct peers

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese manufacturer of specialty light sources including UV lamps, excimer lamps, and laser diodes for semiconductor, medical, and scientific applications, directly comparable to Ushio's industrial UV and laser diode portfolio.
• Excelitas Technologies: North American photonics company producing UV curing lamps, UV-LED systems, IR heating modules, and laser diodes for industrial and life science markets, overlapping directly with Ushio Europe's curing, disinfection, and IR heating lines.
• Heraeus Noblelight: German specialty light source manufacturer offering UV lamps and modules, IR emitters, and flash lamps for industrial curing, sterilization, and heating, directly comparable to Ushio Europe's UV/IR product portfolio.
• Dr. Hönle AG: German UV technology specialist producing UV lamps, UV-LED curing systems, and UV disinfection equipment for industrial printing, coatings, and water treatment, with strong overlap in UV-LED and excimer-based offerings.
• Integration Technology Ltd: UK-based UV lamp and UV-LED system supplier for industrial curing, digital printing, and disinfection, comparable in scale and product scope to Ushio Europe's European UV business.

Emerging players

• Phoseon Technology: US-based UV-LED curing specialist focused on industrial printing, coatings, and adhesive curing applications, competing directly with Ushio Europe's UV-LED UniJet and excimer modules in narrow but high-growth niches.
• AquiSense Technologies (Hanovia): UV disinfection specialist supplying UV-LED water and surface treatment systems for healthcare, food, and industrial customers, directly comparable to Ushio Europe's healthcare, food, and AOP disinfection segments.

Others

• Ushio Inc. Japanese parent company of Ushio Europe, producing the same UV, visible, and IR lamp families globally and providing technology, manufacturing capacity, and brand support to the European subsidiary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blv-licht-und-vakuumtechnik-gmbh

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 BLV