User:Admin

Unclear:

• HYPERELEC still exists
• Philips Photonics still exists

TODO:

• Why did Photonis become independent

History

Philips

According to Photonis, the opening of a new manufacturing facility of Philips in 1937 can be seen as the main origin of the company. As WWII was looming over Europe, the Dutch electronics company chose Brive-la-Gaillarde in the southwest of France as a new manufacturing location for microwave tubes and other electrical components. Philips Brive continued growing after WWII, even working on radar and nuclear power projects, cooperating with Laboratoire d'Electrophysique de Paris (LEP). In 1960, the factory was flooded, taking two years to build a new factory. In 1963, Philips Brive becomes Hyperelec, remaining a subsidiary of Philips. New products included cathode ray tubes comissioned for the French Atomic Energy Comission and microchannel wafers. On January 1st. 1986, Hyperelec, together with RTC la Radiotechnique-Compelec and Cima become RTC-Compelec, with Philips still being a majority shareholder. In December 1988, RTC-Compelec changed its name to RTC Philips Composants, in 1990 to Philips Composants, and in 1994 to Philips Photonique.

In 1998, the Brive branch of Philips becomes an independent company, Photonis.

Burle Industries

In 1942, a new facility manufacturing microwave and radio tubes for the U.S. Navy, operated by the RCA Corporation, called Burle is opened in Lancaster, PA, U.S.A. It is acquired by the RCA Corporation in 1946. In 1968, RCA is acquired by the General Electric Company. As part of that process, the Burle facility is sold off. Subsequently Burle Industries Inc. is founded through a management buyout in July 1987.

In 1998, Burle opened a second facility in Matamoros, Mexico, to manufacture vacuum tube assemblies.

In 1999, Burle Industries purchases the scientific detector products business (including MCP technology) from Galileo Corp. The newly acquired facilities are located in Sturbridge, MA, U.S.A.

Delft Electronic Products BV

In 1970, the company Delft Electronic Products, BV (DEP) is opened in Roden, Netherlands, manufacturing image intensifiers.

Photonis

In 2005, Photonis Technologies SAS, also called Photonis Group, was formed from merger of Delft Electronic Products BV, Burle Industries and Photonis. Both Delft and Burle become subsidiaries of Photonis Group, based in the Lancaster facility in the U.S.A and the Roden facility in the Netherlands, respectively.

In the same year, Photonis establishes Photonis USA, based in the Sturbridge facility, a subsidiary of Burle Industries. The facility in Matamoros is renamed to PHOTONIS Mexico.

In 2009, Photonis transferred some of their production technology to Chinese buyers.

In 2011, Burle Industries becomes Photonis USA Pennsylvania.

In September 2011 Photonis is acquired by AXA Private Equity (now Ardian) through a leveraged buyout.

Photonis USA, Inc. based in the Sturbridge facility later becomes Photonis Scientific.

In July 2021, Ardian sells Photonis to HLDGroup.

In December 2022 Photonis acquires the Belgian company Xenics, a manufacturer of Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) imagers.

In April 2023 Photonis acquires Germany company ProxiVision, a manufacturer of ultra-violet detectors.

In July 2023 Photonis acquires the Israeli company El-Mul, developer and manufacturer of advanced charged particle detectors and devices.

In September 2023 the company rebranded from Photonis Group to Exosens, with Photonis remaining the brand name of their night vision products.

Company Structure

Today, Exosens S.A.S has a single subsidiary, Photonis France SAS.

Photonis France SAS in turn has the following subsidiaries:

• Photonis USA Pennsylvania
• Brennel Glass Ltd.
• Photonis Scientific
• MicroOLED S.A.S.
• Photonis-DEP B.V.
  • Hi-Light Opto Electronics B.V.
• Antheryon Optics
• Xenics nv
  • Xenics U.S.A. Inc.

References

Notes