Point Source
Point Source is a private OEM manufacturer founded in 1992 in Germantown, Ohio, that designs and produces custom photonic sensors and devices for industrial, laboratory, automotive, and commercial clients via R&D, prototyping, and ongoing production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersGermantown, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Point Source does
Point Source, Inc. is a privately held photonics OEM manufacturer founded in 1992 and headquartered in a 6,000 square-foot facility in Germantown, Ohio. The company designs, prototypes, and manufactures custom light-based sensors and photonic devices that integrate optical, mechanical, and electronic components for industrial, commercial, laboratory, and government clients. Its product portfolio spans custom LED illumination systems, near-infrared moisture gauges, optical cue ball separators, photoelectric sensors, laser pattern projectors, large photonic instruments (including turbidity meters, microorganism detectors, mid-IR backlights, weld seam detectors, and 9-foot web inspection arrays), people/traffic counters, and LED light therapy devices.
The company operates a consultative, sales-led go-to-market motion: clients bring engineering challenges, Point Source investigates photonic-based solutions, submits a manufacturing proposal and prototype blueprint, refines the prototype through R&D, and then releases the client's new proprietary product for ongoing OEM supply. Patents on jointly developed inventions are typically assigned to the funding client, while Point Source retains the ongoing manufacturing relationship. Customers include Toyota, Beckman Coulter, Pitney Bowes, W.H. Leary, Diebold, Procter & Gamble, Diamond Billiards Products, and Rilco Technologies across verticals as varied as automotive stamping, laboratory instruments, mail sorting, production packaging, outdoor banking terminals, consumer goods, pay-for-play billiards, and retail/transit people counting.
Point Source generates revenue through three streams: (1) OEM hardware manufacturing of proprietary photonic devices, which is described as the major revenue source and benefits from multi-decade production runs of devices first developed in the early 1990s; (2) photonics consulting, research, and development services; and (3) one-time prototyping engagements. Custom photoelectric sensors — its most commoditized line — are priced at $5 to ~$20 per unit, suggesting a high-volume, low-ASP element within the mix. The company sells directly to enterprise OEMs with no third-party distribution, maintains in-house optics fabrication, plastic molding, and circuit board production, and holds 28 patents across its technology base.
Point Source firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Point Source
- Legal name
- Point Source, Inc.
- Website
- https://pointsource-inc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Point Source is a private OEM manufacturer founded in 1992 in Germantown, Ohio, that designs and produces custom photonic sensors and devices for industrial, laboratory, automotive, and commercial clients via R&D, prototyping, and ongoing production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Point Source industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photonics Sensors
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
Keywords
Where Point Source is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Germantown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Point Source business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- OEM Manufacturing: The major source of revenue comes from proprietary manufacturing operations. The company manufactures photonic devices developed through their R&D, serving clients who funded the research and retain proprietary rights to the resulting products. They have been producing original devices developed in the early 1990s.
- Consulting and R&D Services: Initial business model centered on photonics consulting, research and development, and prototyping services. These services help clients identify photonic-based solutions to engineering challenges.
- Prototyping: Custom prototype development for photonic devices based on client specifications and requirements, with comprehensive proposals including manufacturing blueprints.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Photoelectric Sensors |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Point Source product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Point Source designs and manufactures custom photonic devices for industrial and commercial clients, combining optical, mechanical, and electronic engineering into light-based sensors and systems. The company provides end-to-end services from consulting and R&D through prototyping to ongoing OEM manufacturing of proprietary devices such as NIR moisture gauges, photoelectric sensors, laser pattern projectors, LED illumination systems, and large photonic instruments used for inspection, safety, and material detection.
Product overview
Point Source, Inc. is a developer and OEM supplier of custom photonic devices founded in 1992. The company offers a portfolio of light-based sensor products and systems, including Custom LED Illumination Systems, IR Moisture Sensors, Cue Ball Sensors, People & Traffic Counters, Laser Pattern Projectors, Large Photonic Instruments, Custom Photoelectric Sensors, and LED Light Therapy devices. These products share a common foundation in photonics technology—combining optics, mechanics, and electronics to create tailored solutions for industrial, commercial, and government clients. The company provides both custom development services and ongoing OEM manufacturing of these photonic products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom LED Illumination Systems
- IR Moisture Sensors
- Cue Ball Sensor & Separator
- People & Traffic Counters/Sensors
- Laser Pattern Projectors
- Large Photonic Instruments
- Custom Photoelectric Sensors
- LED Light Therapy
- Photonics Consulting and R&D Services
- Custom Photonic Prototyping
Quantifiable outcome
- Detection of cracks and splits imperceptible to human sight or touch
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Point Source
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Point Source technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Point Source partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Diamond Billiards ProductscorePoint Source developed an optical cue ball separator for Diamond Billiards that allows regulation cue balls on pay-for-play pool tables. Diamond holds the patent for this device. Point Source supplies this product to Diamond, who integrates it into their pay-for-play competition pool tables. The solution leverages optical density properties of materials.
- ToyotacoreDeveloped a groundbreaking split sensor for Toyota to inspect stamped parts within their stamping dies. The sensor possesses extraordinary capability of instantly identifying minuscule cracks and splits that elude detection by human sight and touch, addressing Toyota's specific quality control requirements.
- Beckman CoultercoreCreated an invisible safety light curtain for Beckman Coulter's laboratory instruments. This imperceptible safety solution exemplifies Point Source's commitment to pushing technology boundaries in the laboratory instrument sector, ensuring safety and precision in operations.
- Pitney BowescoreProvided a swift, low-power, hassle-free sensor for Pitney Bowes' mail sorting processes. The solution precisely met their criteria for efficiency and accuracy in mail sorting operations.
- W.H. LearycoreDeveloped a fast and durable sensor for water-based glues in W.H. Leary's production packaging environment. This solution established a new industry benchmark for efficiency and durability in the production packaging sector.
- DieboldcoreDeveloped sensors capable of withstanding fluctuating outdoor conditions for Diebold without performance compromise. Point Source maintains a steadfast commitment to consistently supplying these resilient sensors, demonstrating an enduring partnership.
- Procter & Gamble (P&G)coreDeveloped on-line detection system for ply loss in multiply products for P&G. Point Source not only developed the solution but continues supplying it as an ongoing manufacturing relationship.
- Rilco TechnologiesminorCollaborated to develop next-generation overhead sensor for people traffic counting in stores and mass transit systems. The sensor produces accurate counts, is easy to install, and is low maintenance due to its overhead location. Direction of movement can be determined using pairs of sensors.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Point Source competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Point Source financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Point Source leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Point Source funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Point Source 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 Point Source
What does Point Source do?
Point Source designs and manufactures custom photonic devices for industrial and commercial clients, combining optical, mechanical, and electronic engineering into light-based sensors and systems. The company provides end-to-end services from consulting and R&D through prototyping to ongoing OEM manufacturing of proprietary devices such as NIR moisture gauges, photoelectric sensors, laser pattern projectors, LED illumination systems, and large photonic instruments used for inspection, safety, and material detection.
Is Point Source a public or private company?
Point Source is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Point Source founded?
Point Source was founded in 1992.
Where is Point Source based?
Point Source is headquartered in Germantown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Point Source make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. OEM Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are consulting and R&D Services and prototyping.
Does Point Source have an API?
No public API is recorded for Point Source.
What industry is Point Source in?
Point Source's product category is Photonics Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAJAF, Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors), with a secondary code of HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL). Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3827.