Our History

OPTEX Group is founded

Founded on 25th May 1979, the idea and principles of the company were first agreed in a coffee house in Kyoto, Japan, between Toru Kobayashi, an electronics engineer and three of his colleagues. They had a vision for a new business, a business that had sensing technology at its heart, precision technology that could detect the 'status' and 'changes' of people and things.

Introduction of world's first far infrared sensor for automatic doors

OPTEX developed and launched the OP-01, the world's first sensor for automatic doors based on far infrared rays. It was the take off for years of developing and innovating. 

OPTEX developed one of the first, wireless outdoor security sensors – a significant innovation in its time.

Introduction of Active Infrared for Automatic door sensor

The OA-10 was OPTEX's first sensor based on Active Infrared and it was the beginning of many successors based on this reliable detection method. 

Established Research and Development Center.

OPTEX research and development has allowed for the innovation of the world's leading detection solutions. With the development of sensing algorithms and putting the detectors through their paces with 150 different tests, OPTEX delivers the gold standard.

OPTEX opens EMEA Headquarters in the U.K. 

Introduced the Wonder Track digital event recording system in the digital CCTV system market.

Time of Flight technology for entrance security

The first generation, Stereovision, was developed and became a phenomenon because of the anti tailgating and anti piggybacking solution. Nowadays it results in the advanced successor based on Time of Flight technology. 

OPTEX established the Entrance Division HQ in the Netherlands

The entrance market for EMEA became larger and larger, requiring its own headquarters. In 2008 OPTEX Technologies HQ opened and served the EMEA market ever since, expanding from residential and commercial applications to industrial sensors and vehicle detection.

Developed laser technology for security applications and brought the innovative LiDARs REDSCAN RLS-3060 to the market.

OPTEX expands its product portfolio into fibre optics perimeter solutions. 

Fiber Sensys has been a leading manufacturer of perimeter security solutions since its inception, with global installations of over six-million meters of fiber and the sale of more than fifteen-thousand alarm processor units (APUs).

Introducing OPTEX BLUEZONE™ 

This one of a kind technology significantly improves the safety of an automatic doors. It detects the presence of a person or object in the threshold and prevents the door from closing as long the detection zone isn't cleared. This significantly reduces the chance of accidents with people or objects that linger in the door opening.

Developed the VX Infinity PIR, the worlds best selling detention sensor.

Launching above-ground vehicle detection solution

The OVS sensors are launched and offer a practical and reliable above ground solution for vehicle detection and is the perfect substitute for the labour intensive ground loop.

OPTEX celebrates it's 45th anniversary