Photo Emission Tech

What Photo Emission Tech does

Photo Emission Tech, Inc. (PET) is a US-based private manufacturer of scientific instrumentation for photovoltaic device characterization and surface quality monitoring. Founded in 1994 in Ventura, California (operating since 1983 under the predecessor Photo Acoustic Tech., Inc.), the company designs, manufactures, and markets three core product families: Optically Stimulated Electron Emission (OSEE) surface cleanliness monitors in four models (SQM200W through SQM600W) for angstrom-level contamination detection; eight Class AAA solar simulators ranging from 100W to 7,000W output (SS30AAA through SS400AAA) that meet ASTM E927-2010, IEC60904-9, and JIS C 8912 standards; and integrated Solar Cell Testers (CT series) combining solar simulation with four-probe Kelvin I-V measurement. Supporting products include standalone I-V measurement systems (1A to 20A), spectral response and quantum efficiency systems with ±3% absolute accuracy, NREL-traceable reference cells, LCPV/HCPV cell testing, and NREL-traceable calibration services.

The company's underlying technology stack combines proprietary OSEE surface sensing physics, xenon short-arc lamp-based full-spectrum solar simulation with closed-loop intensity control, and laboratory-grade signal processing implemented in LabVIEW and purpose-built acquisition software (PETSCAN, ROTOSCAN, I-V Standard and Advanced suites). Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of capital equipment plus ancillary calibration and contract testing services, all priced via custom quote-based enterprise sales contracts. PET sells through a combination of factory-direct engagement and an 11-distributor international channel covering North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, targeting solar cell manufacturers, university and government research laboratories, and precision manufacturing operations requiring quantitative surface cleanliness verification.

Name

Photo Emission Tech

Legal name

Photo Emission Tech, Inc.

Website

https://photoemission.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Photo Emission Tech is a Ventura, California-based manufacturer of solar simulators, I-V measurement systems, and OSEE-based surface cleanliness monitors serving solar cell manufacturers, universities, and research laboratories worldwide through factory-direct sales and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photovoltaic Testing Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Quality, Testing, Certification & Standards (Lab Testing, Inspections, Compliance) (EUAMABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

Keywords

• Solar simulation systems
• Photovoltaic testing equipment
• Surface cleanliness monitors
• I-V measurement systems
• Quantum efficiency systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Ventura

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Simulation Equipment Sales: Sale of solar simulators ranging from 100W to 7,000W models with various illumination areas (30mm to 400mm square). Includes both touch panel (TP) and electro-mechanical (EM) controller variants.
2. Surface Cleanliness Monitor Systems: Sale of OSEE-based surface quality monitoring systems including SQM200W, SQM300W, SQM500W, and SQM600W models with various scanning capabilities.
3. Solar Cell Testers: Integrated cell testing systems combining solar simulators with I-V measurement capabilities for photovoltaic device characterization.
4. I-V Measurement Systems: Standalone current-voltage measurement systems with current ranges from 1A to 20A for characterizing photovoltaic devices.
5. Quantum Efficiency/Spectral Response Systems: Spectral response and quantum efficiency measurement systems for solar cell characterization.
6. Solar Reference Cells: Calibrated reference cells for solar simulator intensity measurement and I-V system calibration, traceable to NREL.
7. Testing and Calibration Services: Contract testing and calibration services for reference cells, surface cleanliness monitors, and product testing using calibrated instruments.
8. Custom System and Sensor Configurations: Custom system and sensor configurations for special applications, often at no additional cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Photo Emission Tech designs and manufactures Class AAA solar simulators, solar cell testers, I-V measurement systems, spectral response/quantum efficiency systems, and OSEE-based surface cleanliness monitors for photovoltaic device characterization and surface contamination detection. The company also produces calibrated solar reference cells and provides NREL-traceable testing and calibration services to solar cell manufacturers, research institutions, and precision manufacturing facilities.

Product overview

Photo Emission Tech is a specialized manufacturer of solar testing, measurement, and quality control instruments founded in 1994 and based in Ventura, California. The product portfolio centers on three core technology areas: (1) Surface Cleanliness Monitors utilizing OSEE (Optically Stimulated Electron Emission) technology in four models (SQM200W, SQM300W, SQM500W with PETSCAN software for flat surfaces, and SQM600W with ROTOSCAN software for cylindrical surfaces); (2) Solar Simulation Systems encompassing eight Class AAA solar simulator models (SS30AAA through SS400AAA) ranging from 100W to 7000W with illuminated areas from 30mm to 400mm; and (3) Solar Cell Testers that integrate Class AAA solar simulators with I-V Measurement Systems for complete photovoltaic device characterization. Supporting products include Spectral Response/Quantum Efficiency Measurement Systems (EQE/IQE systems from 260nm to 1400nm), standalone I-V Measurement Systems (CC series from 1A to 20A), Solar Reference Cells (Model #60909 and Shunted Model #60649), and specialized LCPV/HCPV Cell Testing for concentrated photovoltaic applications. The company also provides Testing and Calibration Services with NREL-traceable certification. All solar simulators and cell testers meet Class AAA requirements of ASTM E927-2010, IEC60904-9 Edition 2.0, and JIS C 8912 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surface Quality Monitor SQM200W
• Surface Quality Monitor SQM300W
• Surface Quality Monitor SQM500W
• Surface Quality Monitor SQM600W
• SS30AAA 100 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS50AAA 150 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS80AAA 300 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS100AAA 500 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS150AAA 1,000 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS200AAA 1,430 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS300AAA 3,000 Watt Solar Simulator
• SS400AAA 7,000 Watt Solar Simulator
• Solar Cell Testers (CT Series)
• Spectral Response / Quantum Efficiency Measurement Systems
• I-V Measurement Systems (CC Series)
• Solar Reference Cell Model #60909
• Shunted Reference Cell Model #60649
• LCPV & HCPV Cell Testing Systems
• Testing and Calibration Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Spectral Match = +7.8% to -7.3% (better than Class A ≤25% requirement)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• CleanlogixregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Photo Emission Tech cell testing and surface quality monitoring products in the USA, specifically serving the Santa Clarita, California area. Located at 26074 Avenue Hall Unit 6, Santa Clarita CA 91355.
• Tecnología e Instrumentación Dertec SparegionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Chile, serving the Latin American market. Located at Camino del Solar 13650, Colina, Santiago, Chile.
• Instrumentos de Medida, S.L.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Spain, serving the European market. Located at Pedroneras 37, E28043 Madrid, Spain.
• NeoScience Co., LtdregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for South Korea. Located at IT Castle 1-411, 550-1 Gasan-Dong, Geumcheon-Gu, Seoul 08500, Korea.
• PV Test SolutionsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Poland. Located at Ul. Zachodnia 16-18, Wroclaw 53-644, Poland.
• HeptaChromaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for China. Located at Room 305, Building 3, No. 2 Xue Zi Street, Dalian Hi-Tech Zone, Dalian 116024, China.
• Suzhou CSE Semiconductor Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for China. Located at 5E, Kua Chun Industry Park, WeiTing Town, SIP, Suzhou 21500, China.
• TestOne Teknoloji Cozumleri San. Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Turkey. Located at Yalin Cikmazi No: 7 TestOne Binasi, Kagithane, Istanbul 34400, Türkiye.
• ABCO CompanyregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Egypt. Located at 65/8 Al-Mogawra Al-Tania, Al-Hay Al-Tamen, Cairo 3387722, Egypt.
• ACETECH Material and Equipment Technology JSCregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Vietnam. Located at No. 03 Vien May Alley, Group 21, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City 100000, Vietnam.
• OptoCom InstruVenturesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Malaysia. Located at H49-2, Jalan 5, Cosmoplex Ind. Park, BBST, Sepang, Selangor 43900, Malaysia.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Labsphere: Labsphere designs integrating spheres, uniform light sources, and solar simulator subsystems used in PV testing and calibration, overlapping with PET's offerings in light source calibration and reference cell measurement workflows.
• Gamma Scientific: Gamma Scientific manufactures spectroradiometers, light measurement systems, and calibration sources for solar simulation and display metrology, comparable to PET's reference cell calibration and spectral measurement capabilities.
• Abet Technologies: Abet Technologies produces Class AAA solar simulators, LED and xenon light sources, and PV test systems, overlapping directly with PET's solar simulator and I-V measurement product lines for research and solar cell manufacturing customers.
• Ossila: Ossila sells benchtop I-V measurement systems, solar cell testers, EQE systems, and reference cells aimed at academic and emerging PV labs, competing head-to-head with PET in the entry-to-mid range PV test equipment segment.
• Bentham Instruments: Bentham supplies monochromators, spectroradiometers, and external/internal quantum efficiency measurement systems used in PV characterization, directly comparable to PET's spectral response and QE product family.
• Spectral Evolution: Spectral Evolution builds field-portable spectroradiometers and UV-Vis-NIR instruments for solar reflectance, PV module characterization, and materials research, addressing an adjacent but overlapping customer base for spectral measurement of solar devices.
• Sciencetech Inc. Sciencetech manufactures solar simulators, quantum efficiency / spectral response systems, and light measurement instruments targeted at the same PV research and cell-testing market served by PET's Class AAA simulators and QE systems.
• Newport Corporation (MKS Instruments): Newport (now part of MKS Instruments) manufactures Oriel Class AAA solar simulators and light sources used for PV testing, directly competing with PET's SS-series solar simulators in solar cell R&D and production environments.
• Optronic Laboratories: Optronic Laboratories (now part of Gigahertz-Optik) produces calibrated light sources, spectroradiometers, and detector systems for solar simulation characterization, serving similar applications as PET's reference cells and calibration services.
• ReRa Solutions: ReRa Solutions (formerly PV Measurements) provides quantum efficiency and I-V measurement systems specialized for solar cell characterization, targeting the same research and production PV testing customer base as PET.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Photo Emission Tech