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This section provides an overview for optical fibers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 optical fiber manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked optical fiber companies as of December, 2024: 1.nLIGHT, Inc, 2.Opticonx, 3.Viridis Materials.
Table of Contents
A fiber unit is an optical cable section in which light is irradiated using the phenomenon of total reflection of light within the fiber, which forms a double-layered structure with a core with a high refractive index and a cladding with a low refractive index covering the core. It is also called an optical fiber.
In general, fiber units are used to detect various objects as photoelectric sensors that enable the detection of objects by light irradiation by combining a fiber unit that irradiates light while passing it through it with a fiber amplifier that has a light source and an optical amplification function.
A fiber unit is a fiber cable equipped with a small sensor head. Generally, a fiber unit is not used by itself but is used in combination with a fiber amplifier equipped with a detection mechanism to enable detection.
Fiber units and fiber amplifiers are widely used in various production sites for non-contact general product detection, detection and positioning of extremely small products in narrow spaces, liquid level detection in storage tanks, and other applications.
Fiber units are optical cables characterized by the fact that light is irradiated using the phenomenon of total reflection of light within the fiber, which forms a double-layered structure consisting of a central core with a high refractive index formed thinly mainly of quartz glass or plastic, and a cladding with a low refractive index covering the surrounding area.
This fiber unit is available in two types: a glass type using quartz glass for the core and a plastic-type using acrylic resin. The quartz glass type is heat resistant, while the plastic type is lightweight and breakage-resistant, and can be matched to the detection environment.
In addition, since the light irradiated from the fiber unit end face spreads at an angle of approximately 60 degrees when the fiber unit's optical cable is used alone, the purpose of changing this irradiation angle and light collection rate, as well as protecting the fiber unit end face and fixing the fiber unit end face, are also served. A sensor head is also attached to the end face of the fiber unit to protect and fix the end face of the fiber unit.
The fiber unit with these features is used as a fiber sensor by connecting two fibers, one on the light emitting side and the other on the light receiving side, to the light source of a fiber amplifier. A wide range of detection is made possible by the transmission type, reflection type, retro-reflection type, limited reflection type detection methods, and various sensor head shapes.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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S & C Electric Co. is a manufacturer of switching, protection, and control solutions, founded in 1911, with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The company designs and manufactures switching and protection products for electric power transmission and distribution. These include automatic switch operating boxes for power lines, as well as indoor and outdoor circuit interruption switches, custom switchgear, and more. These products are designed to help deliver electric power efficiently.
Molex was founded in 1938 with the invention of Molex in 1938 and today is headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, and a subsidiary of Koch Industries. In the 1950s, the company invented the Molex connector which became the standard for power connections in personal computers for decades. Today the company is a manufacturer of electronic and fiber optic connectivity systems for customers in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, and telecom infrastructure. The company has several product categories including Connectors, Optical Solutions, Capillary Tubing & Micro Components, and Automation.
nLIGHT, Inc, founded in 2000, is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of laser technologies and products such as fiber lasers, semiconductor lasers, and optical fibers, used in the industrial, medical, aerospace, automotive, and defense industries. The company located in Camas, WA, USA, offers process monitoring services for laser welding, EV battery, and Arc welding. High-power semiconductors lasers from nLIGHT, Inc, were used to form the heart of NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2), launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2018.
Opticonx was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Putnam, Connecticut. The company is a manufacturer of standard and custom fiber optic cabling components and systems used in aerospace, biomedical, network installation, and wireless infrastructure markets. The company’s three product groups are Specially Fiber Solutions such as fiber optic filters and plastic optical fiber, Network Cabling Solutions such as fiber optic cables and adapter panels, and Fiber aSsembly Components including cable assemblies and custom breakout products.
Viridis Materials LLC, founded in 2020 and based in Stoutsville, Ohio, United States, is a supplier of metals, compounds, ceramics, and precious metals. The company supplies various products such as purity metals, salts, micron powders, and nanopowders and sells them to optics, defence, semiconductor, and metallurgical industries. Quality standards followed by the company ensure that the products procured from different manufacturers are damage-free. The materials of the company have the government-grade stamp of approval for quality.
Promax Test & Measurement SLU, founded in 1963 and based in Barcelona, Spain, is a manufacturer of telecommunication instrumentation and electronics equipment. The ISO 9001-certified company stocks products like digital modulators for broadcast, earth resistance meters, and optical fiber fusion splicers used to provide testing solutions for satellite, cable, and digital terrestrial television. It stocks over 200 products at its Barcelona facility, with 18 calibration centers and several service centers worldwide. It produces on-demand PCB circuit boards and electronic equipment and offers software development, training, and industrial design services.
Avantes was established in 1994, headquartered in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, as a manufacturer in developing fiber-optic spectroscopy instruments and systems. Avantes is a famous pioneer in the advancement and use of compact spectrometers. The company is engaged in the manufacturing of laboratory instruments and instrumentation systems. Avantes is a company that specializes in producing advanced fiber-optic spectroscopy systems. These systems are designed to provide precise measurements within the electromagnetic spectrum's ultra-violet, visible, and near-infrared ranges.
M2 Optics Inc., established in 2001 and headquartered in Raleigh, NC, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of optical fiber testing equipment and solutions. The company's products include fiber network and latency simulators, network intrusion detection systems, and WDM, CWDM, and DWDM solutions. Most of its products are produced on demand and are customized to suit client requirements, although some of the products are available off the shelf. Its services include fiber characterization, fiber spooling, and 3D printing. It offers individual products or consults on complete solutions for testing and monitoring large fiber networks.
YOFC, founded in 1988 and based in China, is a manufacturer and provider of communicational optical fiber and related accessories. Its product range includes optical transceivers, active optical cables, specialty optical fibres, RF coaxial cables, submarine cables, and more. The company offers services such as system integration and communication engineering design. YOFC serves to global telecommunications industry, public utility, medication, transportation, and Oil & Chemistry industries in more than 90 countries.
Optex Fee Co., Ltd., was established in 2002 and based in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of factory automation sensors and solutions. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including photoelectric sensors, fiber-optic sensors, displacement sensors, non-contact thermometers, vision sensors, and other industrial automation products. These sensors and solutions play a pivotal role in enhancing manufacturing processes across a spectrum of industries, including automotive, electronics, and packaging.
Capella Microsystems, located in New Taipei, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of optical electronic products, founded in 2002. Their product line includes smart sensors used for light, color, proximity, and gesture sensing. They also provide IrDA devices for wireless communication, optical encoders for precise position and velocity measurement, and PDICs specifically designed for photodiode array applications. Capella Microsystems' products have wide-ranging applications, serving industries such as consumer electronics, industrial automation, robotics, and medical devices.
Tri-Tronics, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, is a manufacturer of performance sensors and encoders established in 1954 and acquired by Garmin Ltd. in 2011. The company specializes in photoelectric sensors and encoders used for detecting shape and color, transmitting light in hazardous or inaccessible environments, and measuring distance or thickness. It also offers elevator door protection products, such as its InvisiGuard-brand infrared beam with a universal power supply for detecting doorway obstruction. The company primarily serves clients in the packaging, elevator production, and medical services industries.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Meadowbrook Inventions, Inc. is a New Jersey-based manufacturer and supplier of various types of Glitters, and a precision-cutter of specialty foil, film, and paper since 1934. The company is a major producer of Regulatory compliant Glitters for Color Cosmetics, Nail Polish, and Personal Care. Meadowbrook Inventions offers Glitters for Greeting Cards & Paper Products as well as decorative Glitters for Industrial and Craft Adhesives applications. The company also produces visual cues, geometric microparticles, and security taggants for proprietary projects.
Castech Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of optics and laser components for photonics applications that was established in 1990 in Fuzhou, Fujian, China. The company’s product lineup includes precision optical components for the display and semiconductor industries, such as aspherical lenses, beam splitters, and diffraction gratings. It also offers laser components for laser systems, such as photoelastic modulators and acousto-optic devices. The company is ISO 9001, IAFT 16949, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001-certified, and chiefly serves the semiconductor and telecom industries.
Electronic Grup, S.L is an importer and distributor of electronic, computing, and telephone products that was established in Catalonia, Spain in 1998. The company mainly markets products from brands such as Arduino, D-Link, and Samsung. It stocks microcontrollers for use in embedded systems, resistors for adjusting voltage in a circuit, and transistors for amplification or switching. It also offers LEDs and integrated circuits for chips and semiconductors. The company chiefly markets to clients in the audiovisual, telecom, and robotics industries.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | nLIGHT, Inc |
15.9%
|
| 2 | Opticonx |
15.5%
|
| 3 | Viridis Materials |
14.1%
|
| 4 | Molex, LLC |
12.9%
|
| 5 | PROMAX Test & Measurement SLU |
12.7%
|
| 6 | Avantes |
11.1%
|
| 7 | S&C Electric Company |
11.0%
|
| 8 | Meadowbrook Inventions, Inc. |
1.9%
|
| 9 | M2 Optics Inc. |
1.1%
|
| 10 | Tri-Tronics |
0.9%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the optical fiber page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
5 | 41.7% |
|
Spain
|
2 | 16.7% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 16.7% |
|
Netherlands
|
1 | 8.3% |
| USA | 1 | 8.3% |
|
China
|
1 | 8.3% |
26 products found
26 products
Optex Fee
630+ people viewing
Last viewed: 14 hours ago
Ultra -high -speed fiber amplifier with ease of use Organic EL display with excellent visibility, large display LED. User -friendly new features s...
9 models listed
Autonics Corporation
170+ people viewing
Last viewed: 15 hours ago
■ Overview The optical fiber unit FT/GT, FD/GD, FL/GL series supports transparent, reflective, and limited distance reflective detection methods. ...
Laser Measurement Co., Ltd.
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Fast Response
■Summary This fiber optic refractive index sensor FRI (fiber optic refractometer) has a unique design that allows it to measure the refractive inde...
Lab System Equipment Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
If a liquid leak is detected, an alarm will sound and the power will be automatically shut off to prevent further damage. This is an original produ...
BKtel Pacific Rim Co., Ltd.
150+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Fast Response
■Summary H+S BKtel provides system products of high quality and reliability, and its products are used by customers such as Deutsche Telekom who re...
Laser Measurement Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Fast Response
■Summary Optical fiber displacement sensors (optical fiber displacement meters) are not affected by EMI/RFI and enable safe and highly accurate mea...
Laser Measurement Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Fast Response
■Summary Fiber optic pressure sensors (fiber optic pressure gauges) are robust, corrosion resistant, and provide reliable measurements in EMI/RFI e...
Kato Tech
220+ people viewing
Last viewed: 5 hours ago
Fast Response
Nano Fiber Electro Spinning Unit Using the electro -pining method, you can manufacture a safe and simply manufactured nano fiber with a diameter o...
Hottinger Brüel & Kjær
190+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
■Measure slight inclinations Optical fiber tilt sensor newlight FS64: High sensitivity, measures small changes in tilt angle (±5 degrees) of struct...
Fine Sensing Co., Ltd.
60+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Very Fast Response
A new generation sensor different from conventional optical fiber sensors. We offer robust sensor systems that measure strain, displacement, pressu...
Fine Sensing Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Very Fast Response
A new generation sensor different from conventional optical fiber sensors. We offer robust sensor systems that measure strain, displacement, pressu...
Fine Sensing Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Very Fast Response
A new generation sensor different from conventional optical fiber sensors. We offer robust sensor systems that measure strain, displacement, pressu...
Caltech Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
Last viewed: 20 hours ago
■Features ・A sensor that uses FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating). ・Detects temperature, strain, and pressure. ・Light speed: Since there is nothing faster...
Fine Sensing Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 5 hours ago
Very Fast Response
A new generation sensor different from conventional optical fiber sensors. We offer robust sensor systems that measure strain, displacement, pressu...
Fine Sensing Co., Ltd.
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Very Fast Response
A new generation sensor different from conventional optical fiber sensors. We offer robust sensor systems that measure strain, displacement, pressu...
Micro-Epsilon JAPAN K.K.
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 9 hours ago
■ Characteristics ･ Supports various applications ･ Large operation distance ･ Compact form factor with a built -in controller · High precision ･ C...
3 models listed
