What Cyalume Technologies does

Cyalume Technologies is a specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1975 that operates two principal business segments: chemical light solutions and pharmaceutical/specialty chemical components. The company is the exclusive supplier of chemiluminescent light products to the US military and NATO-country militaries, producing light sticks, infrared glow devices, and chemiluminescent tracer ammunition (including M1110 training rounds) used for tactical operations, training exercises, and marking/identification. Underlying technology is chemiluminescence — non-pyrotechnic chemical reactions producing light without heat, flames, batteries, or electricity — with products available in multiple colors, durations, and configurations. Through Cyalume Specialty Products, the company operates FDA-approved, GMP-certified manufacturing for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) components and produces long-chain performance polymers used in applications ranging from F35 Joint Strike Fighter components to coatings for implantable medical devices.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly B2B and government-contract hardware sales across five revenue streams: military and tactical products, law enforcement and government, pharmaceutical components, industrial and commercial specialty chemicals, and recreational/consumer products. The go-to-market combines direct sales to US and NATO military buyers, a structured partner program for domestic and international distributors, government contractor relationships, industrial supply distribution via Grainger, and a direct e-commerce storefront at getcyalume.com for retail and smaller orders. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with defense and pharmaceutical contracting.

The company was publicly traded on OTCQB under ticker CYLU until Arsenal Capital Partners, a New York-based middle-market private equity firm with approximately $5.3 billion in institutional equity, completed its acquisition in September 2017. Cyalume operates under the CPS Performance Materials platform, which further expanded in September 2019 with the acquisition of GEO Specialty Chemicals (19 production sites, 1,000+ customers, 300+ products). Manufacturing operations span West Springfield, MA (North and South America and Asia), Bound Brook, NJ (pharmaceutical/specialty products), Palm Bay, FL (Far Research), and Aix-en-Provence, France (EMEA headquarters). Certifications include ISO 9001, ISO 13485, FDA approval, and GMP.

Name

Cyalume Technologies

Legal name

Cyalume Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://cyalume.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cyalume Technologies is a specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1975 and exclusive supplier of chemiluminescent light products to US and NATO militaries, producing tactical light sticks, infrared devices, tracer ammunition, FDA-approved pharmaceutical APIs, and performance polymers for aerospace and medical device applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals and Chemical Light Products

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Pyrotechnics & Special Effects (IMAEALAD)

Keywords

• Chemiluminescent light products
• Military tactical lighting
• Infrared glow devices
• Chemical tracer ammunition
• Pharmaceutical API components

Headquarters

HQ city

West Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Military & Tactical Products: Sale of chemical light products, infrared devices, and tracer ammunition to US and NATO military forces. Includes chemiluminescent training solutions and tactical equipment.
2. Law Enforcement & Government: Products for first responders, law enforcement agencies, and government organizations including emergency lighting, marking systems, and safety equipment.
3. Pharmaceutical Components: Manufacturing and sale of specialty chemical components and API materials for pharmaceutical, medical, and cosmetics industries under FDA and GMP standards.
4. Industrial & Commercial Specialty Chemicals: Performance polymers and specialty chemical products for industrial applications including coatings, adhesives, and advanced materials.
5. Recreational Products: Consumer-grade glow sticks and light products for outdoor recreation, safety, and entertainment markets through retail channels.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cyalume Technologies manufactures and sells non-pyrotechnic chemiluminescent products — including Snaplight sticks, infrared glow devices and chemical tracer ammunition — primarily to military, law enforcement and first-responder buyers, as well as FDA-approved pharmaceutical API components and long-chain performance polymers for aerospace and medical device applications. The company's core business is the proprietary chemical-light technology that delivers illumination without heat, flames, batteries or electricity, complemented by specialty chemical manufacturing under GMP standards.

Product overview

Cyalume Technologies operates as a diversified specialty chemicals manufacturer with two primary business segments: chemical light solutions and specialty chemical products. The chemical light division offers Cyalume Chemical Light (North America and Europe brands), providing glow sticks, chemiluminescent ammunition, infrared devices, and tactical training equipment primarily to military, law enforcement, and emergency responder markets. The specialty chemicals division, operating through Cyalume Specialty Products, manufactures pharmaceutical API components, performance polymers, and fine chemicals used in pharmaceutical, medical device, coatings, and industrial applications. The company also includes Cyalume Medical and Sustain Supply Co. as subsidiary operations. Products are manufactured at facilities in West Springfield, MA (USA), Bound Brook, NJ (pharmaceutical), and Aix-en-Provence, France (EMEA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cyalume Chemical Light (North America)
• Cyalume Chemical Light (Europe)
• Cyalume Medical
• Cyalume Specialty Products
• Sustain Supply Co.

Named customers5 records

Segments7 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• GEO Specialty ChemicalsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2019GEO Specialty Chemicals was acquired by CPS Performance Materials in September 2019. GEO is a diverse supplier of specialty chemicals to coatings, adhesives, medical, water treatment and construction markets, with 19 production sites in the US and Europe. Complements Cyalume/CPS existing specialty chemicals positions.
• GraingerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrainger is a major industrial supply distributor. Cyalume participates in the annual Grainger Show (February 8-11, 2016 in Orlando) as a supplier demonstrating products to Grainger's top customers and employees.
• Domestic DistributorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnering program for US-based distributors reselling Cyalume products to various end markets including industrial, commercial, and government sectors.
• International DistributorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal partnership program for international distributors extending Cyalume's market reach beyond direct sales territories to Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific regions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Streamlight: Established tactical flashlight and lighting manufacturer serving military, law enforcement, and industrial markets. Comparable in tactical/flashlight functionality but uses LED technology rather than chemiluminescence.
• Energizer Holdings: Major portable lighting and battery company with industrial and consumer flashlights. Comparable in emergency lighting category but operates at much larger scale across broader product portfolio.
• Dorcy International: Battery-powered portable lighting manufacturer for consumer, industrial, and outdoor markets. Comparable in portable lighting category but uses traditional battery/LED technology.
• Nammo: Ammunition and specialty defense products manufacturer serving NATO militaries. Comparable in tracer ammunition and military ammunition components supplied to the same customer base.

Emerging players

• Vertellus Specialties: Specialty chemicals manufacturer of fine chemicals, performance materials, and pharmaceutical intermediates. Comparable in pharma/medical specialty chemicals and serves as prior employer of Cyalume's President.
• GEO Specialty Chemicals: Sister company under CPS Performance Materials after 2019 acquisition; specialty chemicals supplier to coatings, adhesives, medical, and water treatment markets. Comparable in specialty chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediate manufacturing.

Direct peers

• Omniglow: Direct competitor in chemical light products, manufacturing glow sticks and chemiluminescent products for retail, safety, and tactical markets. Closely comparable to Cyalume's core chemical light business.
• Ultimate Survival Technologies: Direct competitor in emergency and survival lighting products including glow sticks, light sticks, and tactical illumination. Comparable in mass-market emergency and outdoor segments.
• Life+Gear: Manufacturer of emergency preparedness and safety lighting products including glow sticks and emergency lights. Comparable in consumer and emergency preparedness lighting segments.
• BattleLite: Direct competitor in tactical chemical light products for military and law enforcement markets. Comparable to Cyalume's military and tactical segment offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cyalumetech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cyalumeweb
• Facebookfacebook.com/cyalume-technologies-military-179087755451235
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyalume-technologies

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cyalume Technologies