What JD Photo Data does

JD Photo Data (legal entity: Photo Data Test Services Ltd) is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of high-precision photomasks, optical test targets, and calibration plates, operating from a single facility in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The company is managed by three directors (G.M. Swanton, P.M. Router, S.R. Taylor) with a small named team handling sales (John Dingley), orders (Anthony Kidd), administration (Jo Daniel), and accounts (Nicola Freund). Its core technology is precision photolithography and laser plotting, organized around a proprietary four-class resolution system (Class 1-4) delivering documented 2x improvements per tier in addressability, minimum line size, edge roughness, CD uniformity, and alignment accuracy, with Class 4 achieving sub-micron 1μm features. Products span glass photomasks (chrome-on-glass, sub-micron, greyscale), film laser plots, and a broad SL-series of vision calibration targets (USAF 1951, Ronchi Rulings, IEEE 208/1995, ISO 12233, Cell Finder, MTF arrays) across substrates including Soda Lime, Quartz, B270, Borofloat, and D263 with coatings such as Chrome, Aluminum, Gold, Titanium, and Emulsion, supported by inspection using Nikon MM40 at 900x and OGP ZIP 300 at 400x magnification.

The business serves electronics and semiconductor manufacturers, optical and vision system builders, life sciences and academic researchers, and defense and aerospace customers across more than 40 countries, with named enterprise logos including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Renishaw, and academic customers including Oxford University, IST Austria, and Ghent University. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of custom-manufactured optical components, priced via tiered unit pricing (e.g., Ronchi rulings from US $66.50) and quote-based custom configurations that vary by material, size, resolution class, coating, and inspection options. The go-to-market is a hybrid model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at jd-photodata.co.uk with integrated product configuration, file upload, and credit account management, supplemented by direct phone and email sales with engineering-level technical support; an adjacent PCB services platform (pcb-photodata.co.uk) extends the offering into PCB manufacture, scanning, reverse engineering, and CAD/CAM/AOI services. Quality and compliance are anchored by ISO 9001:2015 (2024) and ISO 14001:2015 (2026) certifications, plus REACH/RoHS compliance.

The company is independently owned with no external institutional investors, no disclosed funding rounds, and no M&A activity on record. Operational performance claims include 99% of standard orders shipped within a 4-day schedule, same-day service available for urgent film orders, and next-day delivery to many international destinations. Pricing ranges from low-hundreds-of-dollars for standard calibration targets to low-thousands for custom photomasks, with class upgrades, expedited turnaround, anti-glare coatings, and inspection certificates adding incremental fees.

Name

JD Photo Data

Legal name

Photo Data Test Services Ltd

Website

https://jd-photodata.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JD Photo Data is a UK-based precision manufacturer of custom photomasks, optical calibration targets, and test charts, serving electronics, semiconductor, vision system, defense, life sciences, and academic customers across more than 40 countries via direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Optical Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Physical Design, DFM & Manufacturing/Mask Data Prep (HDAHAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Photoresists & Lithography Materials (Resists, Developers, Strippers) (IMAEAKAB), Machine Vision & Industrial Imaging Systems (IMAHAHAE), Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Precision photomasks
• Optical calibration targets
• Photomask manufacturing
• Machine vision calibration
• Photolithography components

Headquarters

HQ city

Hitchin

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Photomasks and Optical Components: The company generates revenue primarily through manufacturing and selling custom photomasks, optical test targets, calibration plates, and related precision optical components. Products are priced based on material type, size, resolution class, coating specifications, and inspection requirements. The business operates on a project-by-project basis with standard lead times of 4-5 days for standard orders, with premium expedited services available.
2. Film Laser Plots: Sale of laser photoplotted film products for PCB phototools, photo etch film tools, and photoresist exposure masks. Available in standard (4k DPI) and medium (10k DPI) resolution options, with various size formats up to 28' x 32'.
3. Vision Calibration and Test Targets: Standard and custom vision calibration charts, test targets, and calibration slides including USAF 1951, Ronchi Rulings, CellFinder, and custom glass test targets for optical system calibration and testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JD Photo Data manufactures and supplies custom precision photomasks (chrome-on-glass, film, sub-micron, and greyscale variants), film laser plots, and optical test/calibration targets for photolithography, PCB manufacturing, and machine vision applications. Products are configurable by substrate (Soda Lime, Quartz, Borofloat, B270, D263), coating (Chrome, Aluminum, Gold, Titanium), polarity, and resolution class (Class 1-4, with feature sizes down to 1μm). The company also offers related services including PCB manufacture, PCB scanning/reverse engineering, precision measurement, and CAD/CAM/AOI tooling, with same-day to 4-day standard turnaround and worldwide shipping.

Product overview

JD Photo Data operates as a precision optical components manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of photomasks, calibration targets, and related services. The core product line centers on Photomasks (chrome-on-glass, film, sub-micron, and greyscale variants) and Film Laser Plots for PCB and photolithography applications, complemented by an extensive Vision Calibration Charts portfolio including USAF 1951, Ronchi Rulings, IEEE 208, and custom test targets (SL series). The company also provides Custom Glass Test Targets with configurable materials (Soda Lime, Quartz, B270, Borofloat, D263, White Glass), coatings (Chrome, Aluminum, Gold, Titanium), and resolution classes. Supporting services include PCB manufacturing, PCB scanning, measuring services, and CAD/CAM/AOI services. The product architecture follows a unified manufacturing platform for precision optical components, with customization through material selection, coating options, polarity, and resolution class (Class 1-4) parameters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photomasks

Quantifiable outcome

• Feature resolution down to 1μm achievable with Class 4 photomasks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Toppan Photomasks: Toppan Photomasks is one of the world's largest photomask manufacturers, serving semiconductor and flat panel display customers globally. It is a broad incumbent in the same photomask space as JD Photo Data, with overlapping capability in custom photomasks and substantially greater scale.
• Hoya Corporation: Hoya is a diversified Japanese optics and electronics company that owns Compugraphics, a direct photomask peer. It is relevant to JD Photo Data as a parent of a direct competitor and as a broader optics and photomask incumbent.
• Photronics: Photronics is a leading global manufacturer of photomasks for semiconductors and flat panel displays, with major fabs in Asia, Europe, and the US. It competes with JD Photo Data in custom and small-batch photomask work, though it focuses on higher-volume production orders.

Direct peers

• Compugraphics (Hoya): Compugraphics, owned by Hoya, is a UK-based photomask manufacturer specializing in custom and small-batch photomasks for semiconductor, MEMS, and photonics applications. It is the closest direct peer to JD Photo Data, with overlapping rapid-turnaround custom photomask offerings.
• Mycronic: Mycronic supplies laser-based mask writers and photomask production equipment, and competes with JD Photo Data in serving the photomask manufacturing value chain for small-batch and prototype customers.
• Heidelberg Instruments: Heidelberg Instruments manufactures direct-write lithography systems and provides photomask production equipment and services globally. It serves the same rapid-prototype and small-volume photomask market as JD Photo Data, with overlapping customer base in R&D and MEMS.
• Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics supplies optical components, calibration targets, and test targets globally, including USAF 1951 resolution charts and machine vision calibration slides. It directly overlaps with JD Photo Data's vision calibration chart product line.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs manufactures photonics equipment and supplies a wide range of optical test targets, calibration standards, and reference targets for imaging and microscopy. It is a relevant peer in the vision calibration and machine vision target market served by JD Photo Data.

Others

• Dai Nippon Printing (DNP): DNP is one of the largest photomask manufacturers globally, with leading share in semiconductor and display photomasks. It is a broad incumbent serving similar end markets as JD Photo Data, though at much higher volumes and with broader geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Stensborg: Stensborg is a smaller European photomask and holographic-optics specialist, focused on micro- and nano-scale custom photomasks. It is a niche emerging player in the same custom photomask space as JD Photo Data, with a similar focus on research and small-batch customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/photomasks
• Facebookfacebook.com/Photomasks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jdphotodata

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 JD Photo Data