What cvi infrared optics does

CVI Infrared Optics is a UK-based manufacturer specializing in the fabrication, coating, and assembly of advanced infrared and laser optical components for high-performance optronics systems. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Whetstone, Leicester, the company produces large windows, optical domes, spherical, aspherical, and diffractive lenses, optical filters, and beam splitters that operate across visible, near-IR, mid-wave IR (MWIR), and longwave IR (LWIR) wavelengths. Core manufacturing capabilities include precision fabrication, ultra-precision polishing, diamond turning, high-performance thin-film coating (including optically compliant electrically conductive coatings), and in-house metrology with environmental testing (humidity, salt spray, temperature, windscreen wiper testing). The company processes multiple infrared materials including Germanium, Silicon, Sapphire, specialty IR transparent materials, and multispectral substrates.

The company's commercial focus is the surveillance and directed energy market, with additional support to semiconductor manufacturers (precision-coated optics for inspection, metrology, and photolithography alignment) and commercial applications (MWIR/LWIR thermal imaging, fire detection, and safety monitoring). CVI Infrared Optics operates as a wholly-owned unit of IDEX Corporation within the IDEX Materials Science Solutions platform, which provides a broader spectrum of optical engineering, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities.

The business operates a B2B enterprise sales model targeting OEM partners through direct inquiry and quotation-based engagement, with multi-year contracts and custom pricing determined by specification, quantity, and application requirements. Revenue is generated from hardware sales of precision-engineered optical components and assemblies. The company markets primarily through its corporate website, trade show participation (including Optatec 2026), and industry-specific events, without a notable digital marketing or self-service channel presence. It holds ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification as of March 2026.

Name

cvi infrared optics

Legal name

CVI Infrared Optics

Website

https://cviinfraredoptics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CVI Infrared Optics manufactures and coats precision infrared optical components — including large windows, domes, lenses, filters, and beam splitters — for OEM partners in surveillance, directed energy, semiconductor metrology, and commercial thermal imaging, operating as a unit of IDEX Corporation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infrared Optical Components

NAICS

Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Transparent Materials & Windows (Acrylic/Polycarbonate/Glass) (IMABANAH)

Keywords

• Infrared optical components
• Optical coatings
• Precision optics
• Optical assemblies
• Infrared imaging systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Optical Component Manufacturing: Custom fabrication, coating, and assembly of advanced optical components for high-performance optronics systems. Revenue derived from B2B sales of precision-engineered lenses, windows, filters, beam splitters, and custom optical assemblies to OEM partners and industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CVI Infrared Optics manufactures and coats advanced infrared optical components and assemblies, specializing in large windows, domes, spherical/aspherical/diffractive lenses, filters, and beam splitters. The company offers in-house fabrication, thin-film coating, diamond turning, and assembly services across multiple infrared materials including Germanium, Silicon, Sapphire, and specialty IR-transparent substrates. It operates as a unit of IDEX Corporation within the IDEX Materials Science Solutions platform.

Product overview

CVI Infrared Optics is a manufacturer of advanced optical components for high performance optronics systems, operating as part of the IDEX Materials Science Solutions platform. The company offers a unified portfolio combining fabrication, coating, and assembly services to produce large windows, domes, spherical/aspherical/diffractive lenses, filters, and beam splitters. Their manufacturing capabilities span multiple materials including Germanium, Multispectral Substrates, Silicon, Specialty IR Transparent Materials, and Sapphire. Core manufacturing services include precision fabrication, ultra-precision polishing, diamond turning, high-performance thin-film coating, custom optical assembly, and comprehensive metrology and environmental testing. The company serves surveillance and directed energy markets, semiconductor markets, and commercial applications, with coatings operating from visible to longwave IR wavelengths.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fabrication Services Precision-machined optical components produced to exacting specifications, ensuring consistent performance across infrared and laser applications. Targeted at OEM partners and industrial customers in surveillance, semiconductor, and imaging sectors.
• Polishing Services Ultra-precision optical surfaces achieved through advanced polishing techniques delivering exceptional flatness, low scatter, and high surface quality for infrared and laser optics.
• Diamond Turning Services Advanced diamond turning techniques for producing diffractive and aspherical surfaces with exceptional flatness, low scatter, and high surface quality for precision optical components.
• Coating Services High-performance thin-film coatings engineered for durability, spectral accuracy, and optimised transmission across infrared and laser wavelengths, including optically compliant electrically conductive coatings.
• Optical Assemblies Custom optical assemblies built in controlled environments, integrating precision components into turnkey solutions ready for system integration.
• Metrology and Environmental Testing Services Comprehensive in-house metrology using advanced instrumentation to verify surface quality, coating performance, and dimensional accuracy, including humidity, salt spray, temperature and windscreen wiper testing.
• Large Optical Windows Large optical windows designed for high performance optronics systems, operating with visible, near IR, and longwave IR wavelengths for surveillance and security applications.
• Optical Domes Large optical domes for harsh environmental conditions and extreme weather climates in optronics systems.
• Spherical, Aspherical, and Diffractive Lenses Precision spherical, aspherical, and diffractive lenses for infrared and laser applications with exceptional optical performance.
• Optical Filters High-performance optical filters for infrared and laser wavelengths, including solar rejection windows and wavelength selective signal filters.
• Beam Splitters Precision beam splitters for MWIR and LWIR imaging systems operating over multiple bands.
• Germanium Optical Substrates Germanium optical substrates used as base materials for infrared optical components.
• Multispectral Optical Substrates Multispectral substrate materials for optical components operating across multiple spectral bands.
• Silicon Optical Substrates Silicon optical substrates used for infrared optical applications.
• Specialty IR Transparent Materials Specialty infrared transparent materials for optical component manufacturing.
• Sapphire Optical Substrates Sapphire optical substrates for demanding optical applications requiring high durability.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Little Hill Primary SchoolminorOthers · 1 February 2026IDEX Optical Technologies partnered with Little Hill Primary School in creating a safe and beautiful play area for children. Volunteers cleared, cleaned and installed new equipment as part of community engagement initiatives.
• IDEX Materials Science SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVI Infrared Optics is part of the IDEX Materials Science Solutions platform, providing full spectrum of optical engineering, manufacturing and assembly expertise as part of this larger corporate platform.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crystran: UK-based manufacturer of IR and UV optical components and substrates including Germanium, Silicon, Sapphire, and specialty crystals. Comparable to CVI's material-processing capabilities and its niche focus on IR window, lens, and substrate supply.
• MKS Instruments: Through its Ophir and prior acquisitions, MKS Instruments supplies IR optics, laser optics, and photonics components to defense, industrial, and semiconductor customers globally. Directly comparable to CVI in IR-grade lens and window manufacturing for surveillance, directed-energy, and laser systems.
• LightPath Technologies: US optics company (including ISP Optics) focused on IR optics, molded glass, and custom optical assemblies for defense, security, and thermal imaging markets. Comparable to CVI in chalcogenide and IR-grade optics serving surveillance and thermal camera OEMs.
• Laser Components: German manufacturer of laser optics, IR optics, and optoelectronic components serving defense, security, and industrial laser OEMs. Closely comparable to CVI in custom IR windows, lenses, and laser-grade optical assemblies for surveillance and directed-energy markets.
• Optics Balzers: Liechtenstein-based specialist in thin-film optical coatings and IR optical components for aerospace, defense, and security applications. Closely comparable to CVI in coating expertise, IR substrate processing, and harsh-environment optical assemblies.
• Knight Optical: UK-based custom optics supplier specializing in IR windows, lenses, filters, and prisms for defense, imaging, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to CVI in custom IR optics manufacturing from the same regional ecosystem and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Coherent Corp: Formed via II-VI's acquisition of Coherent, the company is a major diversified photonics and optics platform serving materials processing, semiconductor capital equipment, and defense. Overlaps with CVI in IR substrates, laser optics, and large-format components but at much broader scale and scope.
• Thorlabs: US-headquartered photonics company manufacturing optical components, lasers, and optomechanical systems for research, OEM, and industrial customers. Overlaps with CVI in IR lenses, windows, and filters, though Thorlabs' catalog-driven model contrasts with CVI's bespoke OEM focus.
• Edmund Optics: Large US-based optics supplier offering lenses, mirrors, filters, windows, and coatings across visible and IR wavelengths. Competes with CVI in custom and catalog IR optics but serves a broader customer base spanning research, industrial, and life sciences.
• Jenoptik: German photonics group manufacturing optical systems, components, and laser materials for semiconductor equipment, defense, and industrial metrology. Comparable to CVI in precision optical components, coatings, and IR applications, though it operates at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 cvi infrared optics