Photonics West 2026: Demonstrating Onsite Production Excellence

This year's Photonics West opens its doors today, January 20, 2026. Among PI’s showcased technologies are several new families of direct-drive stages (linear, rotary, and counterbalanced Z-stages), which are already being manufactured in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. This successful production in the new 140,000-square-foot facility lays the foundation for the continued implementation of PI’s local-for-local strategy. 

In the field of photonics alignment, the event highlights the cost-optimized modular six-axis PINovAlign system for industrial SiPh wafer testing, the proven hexapod-based F-713 system, the new six-axis piezo NanoCube, as well as a new ultracompact platform merging high-density electrical probing with automated miniaturized fiber-array unit alignment.

The large selection of hexapods, from miniaturized units for cryo applications to industrial hexapods for 24/7 applications, demonstrates PI’s know-how in hexapod positioning systems technology. In the industrial automation segment, PI showcases the fully configurable multi-axis motion system, integrated by our partner Turner Laser Systems in a high-speed laser processing application. PI’s commitment to precision motion solutions for life sciences is emphasized by the new U-781 ultrasonic microscope stage and PIFOC fast focusing units. Furthermore, the wide range of fast steering mirrors demonstrates PI’s expertise in free-space optical communication. 

And, last but not least, the PINovAlign (F-141) alignment system was named as a finalist for the 2026 SPIE Prism Award in the “Test and Measurement” category. The winner will be announced at Photonics West on January 21, 2026. 

Contact: Stefan Vorndran, Vice President Marketing PI USA