About Physik Instrumente (PI)

Our Motivation

Since its foundation in 1970, PI (Physik Instrumente) has established itself as a leading manufacturer of precision positioning technology. The key element and motivation of the entrepreneurial behavior have always remained the same: Finding the best possible solution for the customer.

PI is well known for the quality of its products and has been one of the leading players in the global market for precision positioning technology for many years. One of the most important building blocks for this is the team spirit within the international PI family, which is based on mutual understanding and support that goes beyond international borders and functional restrictions.

PI is a privately owned company with healthy growth, 1,540 employees worldwide and a flexible, vertically integrated organization, which enables it to fulfill almost any request in the field of innovative precision positioning technology. The foremost priority for PI is to be a reliable and highly qualified partner for the customer.

Markus Spanner CEO Physik Instrumente

Long-term business relationships, reliability, and open and friendly communication with customers and suppliers form an important mainstay for PI – more important than short-term gain.

Markus Spanner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

CONTROL 2024

Visit us from April 23 to 26 in Stuttgart

Experience High-Precision Motion Solutions for Quality Assurance

Learn more

Physik Instrumente Visit us at Control 2024

Service and Consulting That’s as Flexible as Your Technical Solution

The PI Group can respond precisely to what customers want: Specific requirements can often only be satisfied by customized solutions - solutions that can only be found by unconventional and creative thinking.

That Means for the Customer:

  • Tailored consulting by trained specialists
  • Future-proof spare parts supply and delivery capability
  • Qualification for each delivered positioning system
  • On-site training and tailored support
  • After-sales service
  • International support

Learn More

Design and Engineering Services

All key technologies are developed in-house. The technology range at PI allows employees to develop their passion for technology to the full. From precision mechanics and electronics to position-sensor technology, as well as the piezo ceramics and actuators that are developed at our subsidiary PI Ceramic. We develop technologies ranging from basic solutions to application-specific versions. In each case, the best possible solution is achieved by exploiting our high technical potential based on know-how accumulated over many years and the corresponding production capacity.

Vertical Production Range and Production Capacity

Modern production management and an integrated management system allow PI to guarantee the high quality of our products, processes, and services. The continuous improvement of our organization and processes is an integral part of our corporate culture. KAIZEN workshops and actives innovation management are important elements for achieving this.
The production processes for our standard products remain flexible thanks to our fractal manufacturing structure, which allows even large-series production with full process control.
Active, system-based requirements management makes it possible to dispense with comprehensive storage facilities.

The company’s product spectrum, which ranges from the two-ton hexapod to the 10-gram nanopositioner, requires PI to have the necessary equipment and technologies at its disposal for the manufacture, assembly, and qualification of these systems.

19,800 sqm production area, including a 5,200 sqm cleanroom
5 Application Labs
Vacuum technology
In-house production of position sensors
Metrology with traceable, externally calibrated measuring equipment
Heavy-load hall with lifting and rotating equipment
Climate-isolated and vibration-isolated measuring conditions
Comprehensive monitoring of the piezo actuator technology from the material composition to final testing
Fractal manufacturing organization

PI Markets

Industrial Automation​

Industrial Automation​

Industrial production processes place high demands on automated solutions: Increased productivity and quality, more flexible processes, shorter production times, and lower costs. The precision, throughput, availability, and scalability of the systems are important factors in this context. PI supports customers around the world with positioning solutions that achieve the desired performance.

Microscopy and Life Sciences

Microscopy and Life Sciences

From genome research through the accurate diagnosis of illnesses to innovative solutions in surgery ‒ life sciences entail numerous disciplines in which new biomedical procedures are researched and devices are developed that are meant to improve the therapy for and quality of life of patients.

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Semiconductor

PI offers motion and control solutions for the highest requirements of mask, wafer, and optics positioning in semiconductor manufacturing

Active Alignment – Physik Instrumente Photonics LED Screen

Photonics

Thanks to its huge transmission capacity and low energy consumption, optical communication is penetrating more and more application areas. With the photonics market segment, PI helps with the alignment of optical components – from silicon photonics through photonic circuits to aligning lenses and prisms in discrete optics.

Large-Scale Scientific Projects

Experiments in laboratories or in large research facilities are indispensable when it comes to verifying theories empirically, gaining new insights, or reproducing results. PI supports scientists worldwide in the design of experimental setups and in positioning samples, optics, and detectors under extreme environmental conditions with high precision and reliability.

Global Locations for Development and Production

Contact

PI’s Core Competences