What Does Thorlabs Do?

Total employees1374
HeadquartersNewton
Founded1989

Thorlabs is a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of an extensive range of photonics products. Founded in 1989 by Alex Cable, the company provides building blocks for laser and fiber optic systems, serving researchers, engineers, and industrial clients worldwide. Their portfolio includes optical components, opto-mechanical hardware, motion control systems, light sources, optical test and measurement devices, and imaging systems. Thorlabs is known for its commitment to customer service, rapid product development, and making photonics technology accessible.

Where Is Thorlabs's Headquarters?

Thorlabs officeThorlabs officeThorlabs officeThorlabs office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

The Newton headquarters houses primary manufacturing operations, research and development labs, engineering teams, global sales and marketing, customer support, and corporate administration.

Notable Features:

Extensive vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities including optics fabrication, coatings, machining, electronics assembly, and cleanroom facilities. Advanced metrology labs and R&D spaces.

Work Culture:

Thorlabs fosters a culture of innovation, hands-on problem-solving, and customer-centricity. It's known for its engineering-driven environment, encouraging collaboration and continuous improvement. Employees often highlight the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the work.

HQ Significance:

The Newton HQ is the core of Thorlabs' innovation and production, driving the development of new photonics technologies and products. Its strategic location in the US supports a significant portion of its global customer base.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters reflects Thorlabs' commitment to vertical integration, quality control, innovation, and providing comprehensive solutions to the photonics community.

Location:

Thorlabs maintains a significant global presence with numerous offices, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. This network supports global sales operations, localized technical support, custom product development, and efficient worldwide distribution of its extensive photonics product catalog, ensuring close collaboration with research and industrial customers globally.

Street Address:

56 Sparta Avenue

City:

Newton

State/Province:

New Jersey

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Thorlabs Operate Around the World?

Bergkirchen, Germany

Address: Thorlabs GmbH, MĂĽnchner Str. 20, 85232 Bergkirchen, Germany

Provides localized product availability, technical expertise, and customer service to customers throughout Europe, streamlining operations and tailoring solutions to regional needs.

Shanghai, China

Address: Thorlabs China, Room A101, Building 1, No. 100, Lane 2891, South Qilianshan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai 200331, China

Supports the growth of the photonics industry in China by providing local manufacturing, responsive customer service, and application support tailored to the Chinese market.

Tokyo, Japan

Address: Thorlabs Japan Inc., SIGMA Koki Tokyo Head Office, 1-19-1, Midori-cho, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0021, Japan

Caters to the specific requirements of Japanese customers, offering localized support and access to Thorlabs' comprehensive product portfolio in a key global technology hub.

Ely, United Kingdom

Address: Thorlabs Ltd., 1 Saint Thomas' Place, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EX, United Kingdom

Serves the strong UK research and industrial base with local expertise, fast delivery, and tailored photonics solutions.

Buying Intent Signals for Thorlabs

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Thorlabs? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Thorlabs' leadership includes:

Alex Cable - Founder and President
Jennifer Cable - Vice President

Who's Investing in Thorlabs?

Thorlabs has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Privately Held. Thorlabs was founded by Alex Cable and remains a privately owned company.

What Leadership Changes Has Thorlabs Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Thorlabs is a privately held company and typically does not publicly announce routine executive team changes unless they are of major significance. No widespread public announcements of C-suite level hires or departures have been noted in the last 12 months. The company is known for its stable leadership under its founder.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byThorlabs?

Discover the tools Thorlabs uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Thorlabs Email Formats and Examples

Thorlabs commonly uses the email format combining the first initial and last name of the employee. While variations may exist, this is a frequently observed pattern.

[firstinitial][last]@thorlabs.com

Format

acable@thorlabs.com

Example

75%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Thorlabs?

Thorlabs, Inc. (Press Release) • March 18, 2024

Thorlabs Releases Next-Generation Kiralux™ Scientific Cameras with Back-Illuminated sCMOS Sensors

Thorlabs announced the release of its new Kiralux™ family of scientific cameras. These cameras feature back-illuminated scientific CMOS (sCMOS) sensors, providing high quantum efficiency and low read noise, making them ideal for demanding low-light imaging applications in fields such as fluorescence microscopy, astronomy, and quantum optics....more

Thorlabs, Inc. (Press Release) • June 7, 2023

Thorlabs Adds Liquid Crystal Devices from LC-Tec to Extensive Product Portfolio

Thorlabs has partnered with LC-Tec Displays AB, a leading manufacturer of liquid crystal (LC) based products, to distribute their advanced LC shutters, polarization modulators, and variable retarders. This collaboration expands Thorlabs' offerings for optical beam control and modulation applications....more

Thorlabs, Inc. (Press Release) • February 2, 2023

Thorlabs Acquires Elisabeth rebord - Art et Techniques du Verre (ATVerre)

Thorlabs announced the acquisition of ATVerre, a French company specializing in the manufacture of high-quality custom and standard optics, particularly precision lenses and spherical optics. This acquisition enhances Thorlabs' in-house optical manufacturing capabilities....more

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