Our technology

SPIO - Stacked Planar Integrated Optics - is a polymer photonics production technology that enables volume production of micro optics, spectrometers, and micro-spectrometers with photonic component integration.

How It Works

The SPIO process

Four integrated steps - from optical design through production, precision assembly, and finishing - deliver compact, fully passive micro optics modules built for volume production.

1

Optical design

We convert your free-space optical setups into designs that can be realized as a compact SPIO module using Zemax simulations and close customer collaboration.

2

Production

We print your optics in polymer on glass wafers using nanoimprint lithography. Hundreds of module parts are produced on single wafers at high throughput.

3

Assembly

We align and stack the wafers to micrometer precision, bonding them with optical-grade adhesive and spacing them using precision spacers such as spheres.

4

Finishing

The stacked wafers are singulated into separate SPIO modules - fully functional, passive optical components measuring just a few millimeters.

Technical Detail

Capabilities at each stage

A deep toolchain for every part of the process - from simulation to singulation.

Optical design

Converting customer requirements into optimized, wafer-ready optical layouts.

  • Zemax optical simulation
  • Full 3D modeling
  • Functionality & performance optimization
  • Component placement optimization
  • Tolerancing analysis
  • Size & footprint optimization

Production

Roll-to-plate nanoimprint lithography for high-throughput volume production of polymer photonics.

  • Mastering
  • Nanoimprint mass production
  • Lenses, mirrors & gratings
  • Optical coatings
  • Freeform shapes
  • Wafer stacking & bonding
  • Singulation

Testing

Comprehensive optical and environmental qualification of every module type.

  • Laser beam tracing
  • Polarization analysis
  • Coherence testing
  • Collimation verification
  • Beam shape analysis
  • Lifetime studies
  • Integration compatibility testing
Why SPIO

The advantages of our approach

Stacked Planar Integrated Optics combines micro optics performance, polymer photonics miniaturization, and volume production scalability.

Scalable manufacturing

Our roll-to-plate nanoimprint approach prints hundreds of micro optics parts per wafer, enabling cost-effective scaling from prototype to volume production without retooling.

Miniaturization

Finished SPIO modules measure only a few millimeters - ideal for space-constrained applications in consumer electronics, medical instruments, and industrial sensors.

Photonic integration

The SPIO process natively supports integration of photonic components - lenses, mirrors, gratings, optical coatings, and freeform optics - within a single wafer-based module.

Micrometer precision

Wafer-level alignment and bonding delivers micrometer-class precision in every module, ensuring consistent optical performance across high-volume production runs.

Low cost per module

Polymer photonics imprint technology on standard glass wafers dramatically reduces material and process costs compared to traditional precision optics manufacturing.

Passive components

SPIO modules are fully passive optical components - no active alignment required in assembly - reducing integration complexity and total system cost for our customers.

Industry Partnership

Built on Danish optical expertise

SPIO Systems was founded in 2020 by professionals with deep roots in the Danish optical industry, drawing on experience from FOSS and Millpond - and from co-founder Per Ibsen, founder of Ibsen Photonics - spanning optical design, manufacturing, and precision alignment.

We have partnered with Stensborg, a leading manufacturer of roll-to-plate replication machines, to develop and operate our nanoimprint production line - combining Stensborg’s machine expertise with our optical engineering knowledge.

Still have questions?

Explore our Q&A on micro optics, polymer photonics, spectrometers, and volume production - covering our mission, our systems, and our foundation.

Read the Q&A →

Want to learn more?

Talk to our engineering team about how SPIO polymer photonics technology can bring your micro optics or micro-spectrometer to volume production.

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