Founded in 1993, Wavelength Electronics has become renowned amongst researchers and OEMs for its problem-solving prowess when it comes to precision laser diodes, quantum cascade lasers, and thermoelectrics
Think back to the year 1993. Jurassic Park was riding high in the box office. Intel launched its first generation of Pentium processors. CERN released the World Wide Web into the public domain after British scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented it while working at the organisation. And, in October of that year, in Bozeman, Montana, Wavelength Electronics was founded.
The company began its life with the vision of providing benchtop instrument performance, but in a small package, while simplifying the design process for laser engineers. This vision was driven by passion, as Founder and CEO, Mary Johnson, explains: “I graduated from Montana State University with an electrical engineering degree. But I took a course from Professor Rufus Cone about lasers, and I got hooked! I knew the laser was important, and I knew I wanted to go into laser system design. There was a real passion from the beginning to help improve the world using lasers.”
Wavelength Electronics’s first products were OEM modules and components: laser diode drivers and temperature controllers. Says Johnson: “Our vision was to offer the same performance in a smaller package, making it easier for developers to bring products to market.” These early offerings allowed researchers to integrate advanced laser control systems into their products without needing to design the underlying electronics from scratch. “We wanted to empower the engineers to use their knowledge of spectroscopy, their knowledge of any kind of sensing and using laser light, so that they could develop a product very easily,” says Johnson.
Technological advancements and industry impact
From here, the company recognised the need for improved research tools, as Johnson elaborates: “We realised that we needed to improve upon the available instruments, and we came up with touchscreen instruments that were very simple to use. So, we wanted to start helping the developers, and then we went back to help the researchers do their research.”
Since 1993, Wavelength Electronics has been at the forefront of laser technology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. One significant achievement for the company was licensing patented technology for quantum cascade laser drivers. This allowed them to achieve orders of magnitude lower noise, a crucial factor for applications in spectroscopy and other fields where precision is paramount.
“Our clients get stable wavelength, stable power, stable current, and stable temperature,” says Johnson. This reliability has helped to ensure that Wavelength Electronics is a trusted name across numerous industries, including medical diagnostics and surgery, spectroscopy, military applications, and the burgeoning quantum space. Their temperature controllers, known for their precision, are now integral to some of the most advanced research and commercial applications globally.
The company’s commitment to its customers extends to the manufacturing processes. “We do the manufacturing ourselves,” says Johnson. This hands-on approach allows Wavelength Electronics to control every aspect of production, ensuring that Wavelength’s products are reliable, with an uptime of 99.9%, and virtually no returns. “Our customers don’t have to worry about third-party delays or supply chain issues,” she says, which provided a significant advantage during the recent global disruptions.
While Wavelength Electronics offers a range of standard products, the company is also known for its flexibility in meeting bespoke customer needs. “We can also provide variations on those products,” says Johnson. “Let's say somebody wants the electronics to put onto their chassis. They can ship us the chassis and we'll install it. So, if the circuit board stays the same and we just do things a little differently, then that's a product variation. But we also do custom engineering, so we've done some phenomenal work that makes things possible for laser system designers. So when they tell us what results they need, we've got the whole package. We can get somebody up and running very quickly on their research with the touchscreen instruments. We can get people up and running quickly on their development with the components. And, we only focus on high performance. You're not going to find us in commoditised markets.You're going to find us where our clients are trying to do something that hasn't been done before and need ultimate performance.”
Wavelength Electronics: Growth and evolution
From its early beginnings with just two employees, Wavelength Electronics has grown significantly. “We’re almost at 50 employees,” Johnson shares, reflecting on the company’s steady expansion. But growth at Wavelength isn’t just about numbers; it’s also about evolution. Johnson herself has had to grow from a founder to a CEO, learning to delegate and trust her team. “I’ve had to change my skill set,” she admits. “I have to become a CEO instead of a founder.”
Wavelength Electronics has significantly invested in its automated production equipment (Credit: Wavelength Electronics)
This continuous learning and adaptation have kept the company at the cutting edge of the industry. It has expanded its manufacturing capabilities, invested in research, and consistently improved its design processes. “We’re constantly looking for new problems to solve,” Johnson says. “Our clients do not sit still. They're always trying to push and push and push, and so we take care of their needs. We research improvements to the electronics, partnering with developers to reduce their risk. They get strategic projects completed very successfully, because they leverage our expertise, and move the projects along quickly, at a lower risk.”
Looking to the future, Wavelength Electronics is ready to enter new markets and further enhance its offerings. One area of focus is pulsed laser technology. “One of the things that we do really well right now is the CW and the quasi CW, high modulation bandwidth lasers, and we want to go into pulsing. I am looking for partners in that space where they need the electronics to pulse lasers so that I can guide our research effectively. We've got some brilliant engineers on staff. So we want to approach the pulsed market, and really make a difference there.”
In addition to exploring new technologies, Wavelength is also preparing to navigate broader industry trends, including the rise of AI. While challenges like AI and other unforeseen disruptions will inevitably arise, Johnson sees them as opportunities. “Part of being able to address challenges is staying light on our feet, not getting locked into a certain mindset, a willingness to be creative and to basically solve problems that we don't even know exist. We stay up on trends, and then partner with our clients to solve their problems. AI is very interesting, and we will leverage that as best we can.”
A culture of passion and impact
Wavelength Electronics was founded in 1993, in Bozeman, Montana, where it remains today (Credit: Wavelength Electronics)
For Johnson and the team, working at Wavelength Electronics is more than just a job; it’s a passion. “I get to hear about the latest technologies, constantly grow personally, and work with fabulous people who care about what they’re doing,” she says. This culture of caring extends to the broader community, with Wavelength playing a vital role in Bozeman’s vibrant photonics scene.
Being based in Bozeman, Montana, is a source of pride for Johnson, who started the company there after graduating from Montana State University. “I decided that I needed to start a company in order to stay here,” she shares, adding a personal touch to the company’s origin story.
Wavelength Electronics’ journey from a two-person startup to an industry leader is a testament to innovation, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Its solutions don’t end with the products, customers can be assured of ongoing support and advice too. Says Johnson: “Our customers get their research done, they get their products released, and we help them to do that by having off the shelf components, customised solutions, a lot of engineering expertise and then also incredible tech support. So, people call us and they get a person, they don't get a phone tree. We help beyond our product.”
As Wavelength Electronics continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to its core mission: partnering with researchers, system designers, and manufacturers to help them achieve their strategic goals, one innovative solution at a time.
Mary Johnson, Founder and CEO, Wavelength Electronics (Credit: Wavelength Electronics)
