PLX Technology
PLX Technology was a Sunnyvale-based semiconductor company that designed, developed, manufactured, and sold integrated circuits for system connectivity (PCIe, SATA, USB, PHY), serving OEMs in server, storage, and embedded computing. The company is now delisted following acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PLX Technology does
PLX Technology was a semiconductor company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, founded in 1986. The firm designed, developed, manufactured, and sold integrated circuits that performed critical system connectivity, focused on interconnect standards such as PCIe, SATA, USB, and adjacent bridging/PHY functionality used in servers, storage systems, and embedded computing platforms. Its end markets were original equipment manufacturers and system integrators building compute and storage infrastructure where specialized interconnect silicon was required.
The company's growth model combined organic product development with targeted inorganic moves, notably the December 2008 acquisition of Oxford Semiconductor (storage connectivity) and the September 2010 acquisition of Teranetics (multi-gigabit Ethernet PHY), each intended to broaden the connectivity product surface. PLX was publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker PLXT and is now delisted; the supplied firmographic data references Broadcom Inc., indicating the entity has been integrated into Broadcom following acquisition. Detailed information on pricing, revenue, customer mix, management, and product catalog was not present in the source material, limiting further granularity.
Operationally, PLX competed in a narrow but defensible niche of connectivity semiconductors where long design-in cycles and qualification economics favored incumbents. Its post-IPO trajectory and ultimate absorption into a larger platform are consistent with a sub-scale specialty IC franchise that reached a structural ceiling as standalone scale, after which consolidation became the rational exit.
PLX Technology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PLX Technology
- Website
- http://www.plxtech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- PLX Technology was a Sunnyvale-based semiconductor company that designed, developed, manufactured, and sold integrated circuits for system connectivity (PCIe, SATA, USB, PHY), serving OEMs in server, storage, and embedded computing. The company is now delisted following acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PLX Technology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Connectivity Semiconductors
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- System-on-Chip (SoC) Platforms (Mobile/Consumer/Embedded) (HDAHAJAC)
Keywords
Where PLX Technology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
PLX Technology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
PLX Technology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PLX Technology designs, develops, manufactures, and sells integrated circuits that perform critical system connectivity functions. The company focuses on producing proprietary semiconductor devices sold to hardware OEMs and system manufacturers serving computing, networking, and storage markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- System Connectivity Integrated Circuits
Companies that use PLX Technology
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
PLX Technology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PLX Technology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
PLX Technology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Broadcom Inc. Broadcom (via its 2014 acquisition of PLX via Avago) owns the PLX technology and now sells the resulting connectivity silicon as part of its broader semiconductor portfolio, making it the relevant acquirer/owner rather than a competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Texas Instruments: TI is a broad analog and mixed-signal incumbent that sells connectivity, interface, and switching ICs alongside a much larger portfolio; relevant as a broader incumbent competing in adjacent interface silicon to PLX's switch ICs.
- Microchip Technology: Microchip acquired Microsemi and offers a broad portfolio of microcontrollers, analog, and connectivity ICs, including PCIe switch products that overlap with the legacy PLX offering under one ownership.
- Marvell Technology: Marvell designs connectivity, storage, and networking semiconductors — including PCIe-based products — at a much larger scale, making it a broad incumbent that overlaps with PLX in connectivity ICs for data-center and storage customers.
- NXP Semiconductors: NXP is a broad mixed-signal and connectivity incumbent serving automotive, industrial, and communications end markets with interface and switching silicon adjacent to PLX's connectivity portfolio.
- Analog Devices: Analog Devices is a large analog/mixed-signal incumbent supplying interface, isolation, and connectivity ICs; comparable to PLX in the broader connectivity semiconductor market though at far greater scale and breadth.
Direct peers
- Integrated Device Technology (IDT): IDT was PLX's most direct competitor in PCIe switches and connectivity silicon, offering PCIe Gen3/Gen4 switch ICs targeting servers and storage before being acquired by Renesas in 2019. Highly comparable product portfolio and customer base.
- Pericom Semiconductor (now part of Diodes Incorporated): Pericom was a direct competitor offering PCIe, USB, and connectivity switch/bridge ICs before being acquired by Diodes Incorporated, competing with PLX in PCIe packet switches and signal conditioning.
- Microsemi (now part of Microchip Technology): Microsemi developed PCIe switches and connectivity solutions for storage, defense, and industrial markets — directly overlapping PLX's switch and bridge silicon, and now consolidated into Microchip Technology.
Emerging players
- Astera Labs: Astera Labs is a newer fabless semiconductor company focused on connectivity silicon for cloud and AI infrastructure, including PCIe/CXL retimers and smart fabric switches that compete with the PLX franchise's downstream roadmap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
PLX Technology social profiles
Digital presencePLX Technology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PLX Technology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
PLX Technology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PLX Technology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PLX Technology
What does PLX Technology do?
PLX Technology designs, develops, manufactures, and sells integrated circuits that perform critical system connectivity functions. The company focuses on producing proprietary semiconductor devices sold to hardware OEMs and system manufacturers serving computing, networking, and storage markets.
When was PLX Technology founded?
PLX Technology was founded in 1986. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is PLX Technology based?
PLX Technology is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
Who are PLX Technology's main competitors?
Broadcom Inc. is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Texas Instruments, Microchip Technology, Marvell Technology, NXP Semiconductors and Analog Devices. Direct peers are Integrated Device Technology (IDT), Pericom Semiconductor (now part of Diodes Incorporated) and Microsemi (now part of Microchip Technology). Astera Labs is listed as an emerging player.
Does PLX Technology have an API?
No public API is recorded for PLX Technology.
What industry is PLX Technology in?
PLX Technology's product category is Connectivity Semiconductors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHABAH, Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display), with a secondary code of HDAHAJAC, System-on-Chip (SoC) Platforms (Mobile/Consumer/Embedded). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.