point electronic
point electronic GmbH develops and manufactures proprietary electronics, software, and OEM subsystems for electron microscopes (SEM, FIB, TEM), serving semiconductor failure analysis labs, materials science researchers, microscope OEMs, and industrial QC customers across six continents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersHalle, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What point electronic does
point electronic GmbH is a German family-run limited liability company (GmbH) founded in 1992 and headquartered in Halle (Saale), Germany. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes proprietary electronics, software, and OEM subsystems for electron microscopes, including scanning electron microscopes (SEM), focused ion beam systems (FIB), and transmission electron microscopes (TEM). Its product portfolio spans scan controllers (REVOLON for TEM, DISS6 for SEM), electrical analysis amplifiers and systems, BSE and SE detectors, EDS detectors distributed from Bruker, calibration kits, reference samples, and a supporting software suite (DISS6, SampleNav, microDIP, microCal, microShape). The company self-describes as a market leader in signal acquisition and signal processing for electron microscopes, claiming 3,000+ successful installations worldwide and a unique global position as the only supplier offering custom electronics development and manufacturing for OEM microscope manufacturers.
The technology stack is built on proprietary hardware and firmware with deliberately open interfaces through Python-based APIs and SDKs. The REVOLON Scan Control SDK, published on GitHub in December 2024, exposes ultra-fast scan control for 4D-STEM and in-situ TEM applications to external developers. Differentiated technical capabilities include single-electron STEM counting, quantitative and calibrated live BSE topography with real-time 3D visualization, and EA/EFA reference samples for metrology-grade measurement. The OEM/ODM electronics service line designs, prototypes, and serial-produces custom electronics for microscope manufacturers — a capability the company claims no other supplier offers globally. The company also distributes complementary products from partners including Spicer Consulting (magnetic field cancellation systems SC22/24/26/28), Bruker (Quantax Compact EDS detectors), and turboTEM (pulse digitizers).
The business model combines five revenue streams: hardware product sales (detectors, controllers, amplifiers, modernized microscopes), one-time software licenses, OEM/ODM custom electronics services, modernization of aging electron microscopes, and installation/maintenance services. Pricing is quote-based B2B under FCA Incoterms with 30-day net payment terms and no public list pricing. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct sales from the German headquarters for German-speaking and direct markets, complemented by 14+ regional distributors covering North America, South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, East and Southeast Asia, and Africa. Customer segments are organized vertically across semiconductor failure analysis, materials science research, electron microscope OEMs, and industrial quality control, with named customers including thyssenkrupp Steel, PTB Braunschweig, Fraunhofer IMWS, TU Dresden, University of Stuttgart, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, JEOL Italia, and CNR-IMM. The company is privately held under family ownership with Christoph Sichting as Managing Director, Dr. Grigore Moldovan as CTO, and Mathias Mosig as Head of Business Development; no external funding rounds have been disclosed, and the business is currently expanding headcount across service, production, and R&D.
point electronic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- point electronic
- Legal name
- point electronic GmbH
- Website
- https://pointelectronic.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- point electronic GmbH develops and manufactures proprietary electronics, software, and OEM subsystems for electron microscopes (SEM, FIB, TEM), serving semiconductor failure analysis labs, materials science researchers, microscope OEMs, and industrial QC customers across six continents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
point electronic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electron Microscopy Equipment
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Amplifiers & Comparators (HDAHAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Analog Front-End (AFE) ICs (Sensor/Medical/Industrial AFE) (HDAHAIAJ), Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG), EMI/EMC & Filtering Components (Common-mode chokes, filters, shielding materials) (IMAGAJAN)
Keywords
Where point electronic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halle
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
point electronic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Hardware Products: Sale of self-developed electronic systems including detectors, amplifiers, controllers, scan generators, sample holders, magnetic field cancellation systems, and pulse digitizers for electron microscopes
- Software Products: Sale of software including DISS6, SampleNav, microDIP, microCal, and microShape for image acquisition, processing, and analysis
- SEM/TEM Modernization: Modernization of existing electron microscopes with new electronics, software, and controls; also sale of completely modernized, used electron microscopes
- OEM/ODM Services: Custom electronics development and manufacturing services for OEM microscope manufacturers and pillar manufacturers
- Service and Support: Installation, commissioning, and maintenance services for control devices for electron microscopes
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B Enterprise Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
point electronic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
point electronic GmbH develops, manufactures, and distributes turnkey electronic and software systems for scanning, transmission, and focused-ion-beam electron microscopes (SEM, TEM, FIB). Its portfolio includes scan controllers, electron detectors, signal amplifiers, electrical analysis systems, calibration kits, custom OEM electronics, and a software suite for image acquisition, processing, and analysis. The company also modernizes aging microscopes and provides custom electronics development for OEM microscope manufacturers.
Product overview
point electronic GmbH develops, manufactures, and distributes turnkey products and systems for electron microscopy. The portfolio centers on scan controllers (REVOLON for TEM, DISS6 for SEM), electrical analysis systems (EA) with specialized amplifiers and sample holders, electron detectors (BSE, SE, EDS), and supporting electronics including stage controllers, vacuum controllers, and control panels. The offering is completed by a comprehensive software suite (DISS6, SampleNav, microDIP, microCal, microShape) and calibration standards. The company also provides modernization services for aging electron microscopes and OEM/ODM custom electronics development. Distributed products include Spicer Consulting magnetic field cancellation systems and turboTEM pulse digitizers. With over 30 years of experience and more than 3,000 installations worldwide, point electronic positions itself as the market leader in signal acquisition and processing for electron microscopes, offering maximum interface flexibility through APIs and SDKs for integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- REVOLON TEM Scan Controller
Quantifiable outcome
- 3000+ successful installations worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use point electronic
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
point electronic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature7 records
point electronic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- JEOL Italia and CNR-IMMminorCollaboration on EBIC (Electron Beam Induced Current) research and development with JEOL Italia and CNR-IMM in Italy.
- TU HamburgminorHigh-temperature BSE detector cooperation with TU Hamburg for elevated temperature microscopy applications.
- Fraunhofer IMWScoreJoint project for development of automated, continuous workflow for TEM sample preparation in microelectronics. Goal: reduce manual intervention, standardize processes, and improve reproducibility.
- Fraunhofer IMWS/CAMcoreOngoing collaboration on CAM (Computer Aided Failure Analysis) workshops and failure analysis research. Joint workshops on SEM Nanoprobing and Electrical Failure Analysis.
- PTB BraunschweigminorCollaboration on STEM Counting for metrology applications with Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Braunschweig.
- Spicer ConsultingcorePartnership for magnetic field cancellation and interference monitoring systems. point electronic distributes Spicer Consulting products including SC22, SC24, SC26, SC28, and SC11 Auto Survey System for magnetic field compensation in electron microscopy environments.
- Bruker CorporationcorePartnership for EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) detector distribution. point electronic offers Bruker Quantax Compact EDS detectors as part of their product portfolio.
- Imina Technologies SAcorePartnership for nanoprobing solutions. Collaboration on EFA (Electrical Failure Analysis) workshops and joint booth presence at trade shows like ISTFA. Imina provides robotic nanoprobing platforms integrated with point electronic's electrical analysis systems.
- Heinz Bethge FoundationminorLong-standing member of board of trustees and sponsor of the Heinz Bethge Prize for Materials Science, supporting young scientific talent in electron microscopy.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
point electronic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Carl Zeiss SMT (ZEISS): ZEISS manufactures SEM and Crossbeam (FIB-SEM) systems and is a major EMEA OEM customer base for point electronic's modernization and controller offerings; its internal electronics roadmap is a key determinant of point electronic's OEM opportunity.
- Hitachi High-Tech: Hitachi High-Tech is a leading SEM/FIB manufacturer with global reach; it competes broadly in electron microscopy and shapes demand for aftermarket controllers and detectors that point electronic supplies.
- Oxford Instruments: Oxford Instruments provides EM accessories, EDS, EBSD and nanoanalysis solutions, competing with point electronic across multiple EM hardware categories and serving overlapping semiconductor and research customers.
- JEOL Ltd. JEOL is one of the world's largest SEM/TEM manufacturers and a potential vertical integrator of EM electronics, making it a broad incumbent whose product roadmap directly shapes point electronic's OEM and modernization opportunity.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Materials & Structural Analysis): Thermo Fisher is a leading SEM/TEM manufacturer and a broad incumbent in electron microscopy, whose in-house controllers, detectors and software compete with point electronic across both OEM supply and post-sale modernization.
Direct peers
- Gatan (AMETEK): Gatan is the most direct peer, supplying TEM cameras, detectors, imaging software and specimen preparation tools for electron microscopy — directly competing with point electronic's REVOLON/DISS6 controllers, BSE/SE detectors, and EA/EFA systems in the same SEM/TEM installed base.
- TVIPS GmbH: TVIPS specializes in TEM camera systems and imaging detectors for transmission electron microscopy, competing head-on with point electronic's TEM-side detector and scan controller offerings.
- Bruker Corporation: Bruker supplies EDS detectors (Quantax Compact) for electron microscopy and is both a partner and a competitor to point electronic in the EM elemental analysis and signal acquisition space.
Emerging players
- Digital Surf: Digital Surf provides Mountains surface analysis and 3D metrology software used across SEM profilometry and BSE topography workflows, overlapping with point electronic's microShape software and 3D calibration kit offerings.
- Imina Technologies SA: Imina Technologies produces robotic nanoprobing platforms integrated with SEMs for failure analysis; it is a collaboration partner of point electronic but also competes at the application layer for EFA workflows that combine mechanics and electronics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
point electronic social profiles
Digital presencepoint electronic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
point electronic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
point electronic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
point electronic 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 electronic
What does point electronic do?
point electronic GmbH develops, manufactures, and distributes turnkey electronic and software systems for scanning, transmission, and focused-ion-beam electron microscopes (SEM, TEM, FIB). Its portfolio includes scan controllers, electron detectors, signal amplifiers, electrical analysis systems, calibration kits, custom OEM electronics, and a software suite for image acquisition, processing, and analysis. The company also modernizes aging microscopes and provides custom electronics development for OEM microscope manufacturers.
Is point electronic a public or private company?
point electronic is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was point electronic founded?
point electronic was founded in 1992. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is point electronic based?
point electronic is headquartered in Halle, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does point electronic make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Products are the primary driver. The others are software Products, SEM/TEM Modernization, OEM/ODM Services and service and Support.
Who are point electronic's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Carl Zeiss SMT (ZEISS), Hitachi High-Tech, Oxford Instruments, JEOL Ltd. and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Materials & Structural Analysis). Direct peers are Gatan (AMETEK), TVIPS GmbH and Bruker Corporation. Emerging players are Digital Surf and Imina Technologies SA.
Does point electronic have an API?
Yes. REVOLON TEM Scan Controller features a System Development Kit with API and demo applications. The SDK enables free, fast, and flexible access for Python code, pixel maps, and fast communication for 4D-STEM and in-situ applications. The company states that all systems offer maximum interface flexibility and access through transparent software, APIs, and SDKs. Developer documentation is at github.com/point-electronic-gmbh.
What industry is point electronic in?
point electronic's product category is Electron Microscopy Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAIAC, Amplifiers & Comparators, with a secondary code of HDAHAIAJ, Analog Front-End (AFE) ICs (Sensor/Medical/Industrial AFE). Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.