Company News March 1, 2021

Active Silicon and Solid State embark on a new chapter

Big fish representing Solid State eating small fish representing Active Silicon

We have always kept you informed of merger and acquisition activity in the vision industry, and today we’re excited to share our own news. Following a successful acquisition, we’re becoming part of the Solid State group.

Solid State plc is a value-added electronics group supplying industrial and military markets with ruggedised and durable components, assemblies and manufactured units, often for use in harsh environments. Operating through two main divisions, Manufacturing (Steatite) and Value Added Supplies (Solid State Supplies and Pacer), the group specialises in complex engineering challenges often requiring design-in support and component sourcing for computing, power, communications, electronic and optoelectronic products.

Our expertise in the design, manufacture and supply of industry-leading vision components will enable Solid State to further their operations in the areas of machine and computer vision, as well as provide us greater potential to develop our embedded computing and AI capabilities. The timing of this acquisition fits perfectly with the expansion of our Harrier range of camera solutions, opening access for us to a wider and more diverse marketplace.

We’ll continue to operate as Active Silicon with sales, production and customer support continuing without interruption or change. We’d like to thank all our staff who have continued to support and grow the business, and who will now benefit from the opportunities provided by the larger Solid State group.

We are also grateful to all our customers who have placed their trust in us to deliver innovative, quality-driven vision components. This acquisition ensures that we’ll be able to continue to invest in the research and development needed to keep your vision systems evolving and adding value to your applications.

We are really looking forward to a shared and bright future as an independent entity within the industrial computer portfolio of Steatite’s manufacturing division. More details on the acquisition can be seen on the Solid State website www.solidstateplc.com, or get in touch to hear from us directly.

Latest News

See More News
Read More Learning Center
A frame grabber in front of a close-up camera lens
September 16, 2025

Tech Focus: Real-Time Triggering Using Frame Grabbers

In machine vision systems, precision and control are paramount. From imaging high-speed items on production…

Read More Event News
Photos from the exhibition stand at DSEI
September 10, 2025

Meet the team at DSEI

We’re onsite at DSEI this week, the UK’s leading trade show for the Defense and…

Read More Industry News
large fish swallowing small fish with company logos
August 28, 2025

Exosens Agrees to Acquire Phasics

Exosens, the French manufacturer of high‐end electro‐optical technologies, has signed an agreement to acquire Phasics,…

Read More Product News
FireBird 8xCXP-12 frame grabber
August 20, 2025

FireBird 8xCXP-12 CoaXPress Frame Grabber

Designed for bandwidth-intensive multi-CoaXPress camera systems, the new FireBird 8xCXP-12 frame grabber with a PCIe…

Upcoming Events

See More Events
Read More about VISION 2026 6-8 October 2026
Announcement for VISION 2026 Machine Vision Show in Stuttgart

VISION 2026

Stuttgart, Germany

Active Silicon will be exhibiting again at VISION 2026 and we look forward to inspiring…