Excelitas Technologies to acquire CMOS camera specialist PCO

29 Jun 2021

Deal will expand Excelitas's photonics portfolio with scientific CMOS camera technologies and know-how.

PCO makes CMOS cameras for biomedical and high-speed imaging applications.

Excelitas Technologies, a global photonics technology developer, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PCO AG, based in Kelheim, Germany. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A privately held company, PCO is a developer and manufacturer of scientific CMOS cameras for both biomedical and high-speed industrial imaging applications. Excelitas will acquire 100 percent of PCO AG shares from the latter's founder, Dr. Emil Ott.

“We are delighted to have PCO join the Excelitas organization,” said Michael Ersoni, Excelitas Executive Vice President, Commercial SBU. “PCO is a pioneer of scientific CMOS camera technology.

“Combining their superior imaging products and capabilities into Excelitas’ expanding portfolio of sensing, illumination, and optical products will enable us to leverage our product and application knowledge to provide deeper end-to-end customer solutions across the life science and industrial markets.”

Expanding reach and capabilities

Dr. Emil Ott, founder of PCO, said, “We are excited to join the Excelitas family, whose infrastructure and global presence will expand the reach and capabilities of our own high-performance cameras to grow in this expanding global market.”

The transaction is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks (June, July, 2021). Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed and are pending customary regulatory clearances and approvals. PCO is the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions by Excelitas Technologies since its founding in 2010 and is the fourth such acquisition since Excelitas was purchased by AEA Investors in December 2017.

PCO was founded in 1987 by Dr. Ott with the introduction of its first image-intensified cameras based upon proprietary advanced core technologies. Today, PCO provides a wide range of scientific CMOS, CCD and high-speed cameras for use in life science, physical science, automotive testing and industrial applications.

Excelitas is an industrial technology firm developing photonics solutions for the lighting, optronics, detection and optical technology needs of its OEM customers.