FEI Company

What FEI Company does

FEI Company, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Oregon, US, designs, manufactures, and services high-resolution electron microscopy instruments and supporting workflows for nanoscale imaging and characterization. Its product portfolio spans Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), desktop SEMs, Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM), Focused Ion Beam-SEM (FIB-SEM) platforms, XPS surface analysis instruments, electrical failure analysis systems, circuit edit tools, sample preparation equipment, and imaging and analysis software. The technology uses focused electron beams to visualize specimens from microns down to molecular and atomic levels, linking composition, structure, and performance for materials science, life sciences, and semiconductor applications.

The company operates an enterprise direct-sales model with global NanoPort demonstration and training facilities, selling high-value capital equipment through custom quotes to research institutions, semiconductor manufacturers, and industrial clients. Revenue is generated through instrument sales, recurring service and support contracts, training and consultation, and funding-support services. FEI was listed on NASDAQ under FEIC and, following its 2016 acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific, now operates as part of Thermo Fisher's electron microscopy business alongside complementary acquisitions including TILL Photonics (2011), ASPEX (2012), Visualization Sciences Group (2012), KonTEM (2014), and DCG Systems (2015). Leadership at the time of independent operation included CEO Don R. Kania and Director Gerhard H. Parker.

Name

FEI Company

Website

https://fei.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Unknown

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

FEI Company designs and manufactures high-resolution electron microscopes (SEM, TEM, FIB-SEM) and supporting software, serving materials science, life sciences, and semiconductor researchers and manufacturers globally; acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2016.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electron Microscopy Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB), Test, Probe & Burn-In Equipment (Wafer Sort/Final Test) (HDAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Electron microscopy instruments
• Scanning electron microscopes
• Transmission electron microscopes
• Focused ion beam systems
• Semiconductor failure analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Oregon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electron Microscopy Instruments: Sale of electron microscopy instruments including SEMs, TEMs, FIB-SEM systems, desktop SEMs, and related equipment with associated software and accessories.
2. Instrument Services and Support: Worldwide service teams providing rapid, reliable support including troubleshooting, preventative care, and maintenance services to ensure peak instrument performance.
3. Training and Consultation: Training services and expert support through NanoPort Facilities offering workshops, live instrument demos, and collaborative learning opportunities.
4. Funding Support Services: Proposal writing resources, funding opportunities, financial guidance, and technical materials for research funding acquisition.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FEI Company designs, manufactures, and sells electron microscopy instruments and related analytical tools for nanoscale imaging and characterization. Its product portfolio includes Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEMs), Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs), Focused Ion Beam-SEM (FIB-SEM) systems, XPS instruments, electrical failure analysis systems, circuit edit systems, sample preparation equipment, and imaging and analysis software. The instruments support materials science research, life sciences research, and semiconductor manufacturing analysis.

Product overview

Thermo Fisher Scientific (including the former FEI Company, acquired in 2016) offers a comprehensive portfolio of electron microscopy products organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product line includes Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Desktop SEM, Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM), and Focused Ion Beam-SEM (FIB-SEM) instruments. Supporting these are specialized systems for XPS analysis, electrical failure analysis, and circuit edit applications. The portfolio includes sample preparation equipment, imaging and analysis software, and upgrades/accessories. Service offerings include NanoPort facilities worldwide providing hands-on training, demos, and support. The products serve three primary application domains: materials science research, life sciences research, and semiconductor manufacturing analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) Instruments that scan a focused beam of electrons across a specimen surface to reveal surface topography, contrast, and compositional information; used by materials scientists, life sciences researchers, and semiconductor manufacturers.
• Desktop Scanning Electron Microscopes Compact SEM instruments designed for benchtop use, providing high-resolution imaging capabilities in a smaller footprint for quality control and routine analysis.
• Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM) Instruments that transmit a beam of electrons through thin specimens to image internal structures, atomic arrangements, and crystal structures at high resolution; used in advanced materials and life sciences research.
• Focused Ion Beam-SEM Instruments (FIB-SEM) Combined systems integrating focused ion beam and SEM capabilities for precise material modification and high-resolution imaging in a single platform; used for semiconductor failure analysis and 3D materials characterization.
• XPS Instruments X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy instruments for surface chemical analysis and elemental composition determination.
• Electrical Failure Analysis Systems Specialized systems for identifying and analyzing electrical failures in semiconductor devices and electronic components; used by semiconductor manufacturers for defect characterization.
• Circuit Edit Systems Precision tools for targeted circuit modifications during semiconductor device development and debugging.
• Sample Preparation Equipment for Electron Microscopy Equipment and tools for preparing specimens for electron microscopy analysis, including ion beam milling and other preparation techniques.
• Imaging and Analysis Software Advanced software solutions for electron microscopy image capture, processing, analysis, and 3D visualization.
• Upgrades and Accessories Enhancement components and optional accessories to extend the capabilities of electron microscopy systems.
• NanoPort Electron Microscopy Facilities Worldwide centers of excellence offering hands-on access to electron microscopy technology, expert-led workshops, live instrument demos, and collaborative learning opportunities for researchers and industry customers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In January 2024, Bruker Corporation (a U.S.-based scientific instruments company) acquired Nion to strengthen its electron microscopy capabilities and expand its product lineup in the scientific instrumentation sector. This represents consolidation in the electron microscopy market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bruker Corporation: U.S. scientific instrument company that acquired Nion in January 2024 to strengthen its electron microscopy portfolio. Competes with FEI in advanced EM and adjacent spectroscopy tools serving materials and life sciences research.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: German optics and microscopy leader offering high-end SEM, TEM, and X-ray microscopy systems. Competes directly with FEI in materials science and life sciences research instrumentation, including the rapidly growing cryo-EM segment.
• JEOL Ltd. Japanese scientific instrument manufacturer and a leading global producer of electron microscopes (SEM and TEM). Directly competes with FEI across materials science, life sciences, and semiconductor analysis customer segments.
• TESCAN: Czech manufacturer of SEM, FIB-SEM, and micro-CT instruments with a strong focus on materials science and nanotechnology applications. Competes with FEI in the mid-to-high end of the SEM and dual-beam market.
• Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation: Manufactures electron microscopes and semiconductor metrology/inspection equipment. Listed alongside FEI as a leading player in the electron microscopy market with overlapping TEM, SEM, and FIB-SEM offerings.
• Oxford Instruments: Provider of scientific instruments including electron microscopy components and related nanotechnology tools. Competes with FEI in materials characterization and nano-fabrication research applications.

Emerging players

• Delong Instruments: Czech-based manufacturer of TEMs and electron optical instruments with growing presence in life sciences and materials research. A smaller, focused emerging player that competes with FEI in selected TEM and EM segments.

Broad incumbents

• Leica Microsystems: Danaher-owned microscopy and life sciences imaging company with strength in optical microscopy and sample preparation for EM. Adjacent competitor to FEI in life sciences imaging workflows, including cryo-EM specimen preparation.
• Agilent Technologies: Diversified analytical instrument and life sciences company with adjacent mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and lab measurement offerings. Competes with Thermo Fisher/FEI in serving shared analytical lab customers and applications.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Parent company of FEI since 2016 and a broad life sciences and analytical instruments leader. Owns the FEI electron microscopy franchise and competes with JEOL, Zeiss, and Bruker across the same end markets at the corporate level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/feicompany
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fei-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A5 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about FEI Company