Company profile
Aerotech
Aerotech, Inc. is a privately held US maker of precision motion control and positioning systems, founded in 1970 and headquartered at 101 Zeta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, telephone +1 412 963 7470. Its UK subsidiary, Aerotech Limited, is at The Old Brick Kiln, Ramsdell, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5PR, telephone +44 1256 855055.
| Legal name | Aerotech, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Stephen J. Botos, Dallas B. Perkins and Emery Hornok |
| Owner / parent | Aerotech, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, PA 15238-2811, United States |
| Website | aerotech.com |
Aerotech contact details
World headquarters
101 Zeta DrivePittsburgh, PA 15238-2811
United States
Telephone +1 412 963 7470
Website aerotech.com
Aerotech Limited (UK)
The Old Brick Kiln, RamsdellTadley, Hampshire RG26 5PR
United Kingdom
Telephone +44 1256 855055
Contact details as published by Aerotech, Inc., checked 2026-10-30. Specify Motion is not affiliated with Aerotech, Inc..
Aerotech product lines
| Automation1 iSMC and iPC | Software-based motion controllers coordinating up to 32 axes |
|---|---|
| Automation1 XC, iXC, XR3, iXL5e drives | PWM and linear servo drives, with and without built-in controller |
| PRO series stages | Mechanical-bearing ball-screw and linear-motor stages |
| ANT series | Direct-drive nanopositioning stages |
| ABL, ABRX, PlanarHD | Air-bearing linear, rotary and planar stages |
| APR, AGR, ALAR-XP | Rotary stages |
| HexGen hexapods, gantries and laser scan heads | Multi-axis positioning and laser processing systems |
Who Aerotech is
Aerotech is a US manufacturer of high-precision motion control and positioning systems, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It makes both halves of a precision axis: the mechanics (linear, rotary and planar stages, nanopositioners, hexapods and gantries) and the electronics (servo drives and the Automation1 motion control platform). That combination is why Aerotech is often specified on machines where nanometre-level positioning and synchronised laser firing matter, such as laser micromachining, semiconductor and photonics alignment, and metrology. Aerotech, Automation1, HyperWire and PlanarHD are trademarks of their owner.
The company describes itself as global and privately held, with six full-service facilities, direct representation in more than 15 countries and 240,000 sq ft of production space.
History and ownership
Aerotech was founded in 1970 by three mechanical engineers, Stephen J. Botos, Dallas B. Perkins and Emery Hornok, starting in a garage in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty district. It patented a differential screw in 1971 and moved to its RIDC Park site in 1974. International expansion began with a subsidiary in Nuremberg, Germany in 1979 and a UK subsidiary in 1980.
On the control side, Aerotech introduced the U500, which it describes as the first PC-based motion control platform, in 1990, followed by the A3200 platform in 2001 and Automation1 in 2020. Mechanical milestones include the ABL8000 air-bearing stage (1994), the ANT nanopositioners (2001), the AGV laser scan heads (2012) and the HexGen hexapods (2016).
Mark Botos succeeded Stephen J. Botos as President and CEO in 2008, and Robert Novotnak was named president in 2021. The company expanded its Pittsburgh headquarters in 2013, added a second Pittsburgh facility in 2020, built a facility in Fürth, Germany in 2017, and invested in a Korean manufacturing and research facility with its partner ANI Motion Tech in 2024.
Product portfolio
Motion controllers
The Automation1 iSMC is a software-based motion controller that runs on an industrial PC or on drive hardware and coordinates up to 32 axes of servo, stepper and laser scan head motion over Aerotech’s HyperWire fibre-optic bus. It is programmed in AeroScript, with .NET, C and Python APIs, and supports gantry control, calibration tables and position-synchronised output (PSO) for laser firing. See our motion controllers hub.
Servo drives
The Automation1 XR3 is a 19-inch rack drive for up to six axes, mixing PWM amplifiers up to 30 A peak and linear amplifiers for the lowest noise, with 20 kHz current and servo loops. The Automation1 iXC6e is the high-power single-axis drive with a built-in controller, up to 100 A peak and 50 A continuous at a 680 VDC bus, with EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP and STO to SIL 3 / PL e. Compact XC2e and iXC2e drives and the linear-amplifier iXL5e complete the range. Our servo drives hub covers PWM versus linear amplifiers.
Stages
The PRO190LM is a mechanical-bearing linear stage driven by a brushless linear motor, with travels to 600 mm, 2 m/s and 3 g, 60 kg load and 5 nm minimum incremental motion. The ANT130XY is a two-axis nanopositioning stage with ironless linear motors, ±75 nm bidirectional repeatability and resolution down to 0.5 nm. The PRO165SL is a ball-screw stage with travels to 400 mm. Air-bearing ABL1500, ABRX and PlanarHD stages and rotary APR, AGR and ALAR-XP stages extend the range. Our linear actuator hub covers stage selection.
Technologies and standards
Aerotech’s key technologies are direct-drive linear and rotary motors with non-contact encoders, air bearings for the highest straightness and smoothness, and controller features aimed at precision processes: high-resolution sine-encoder multiplication (up to 65,536 on the XR3 and iXC6e), 2D calibration and position-synchronised output for laser and scanner timing. Published accuracy data separates standard and calibrated (HALAR or -PL2) grades, so check which grade a quoted figure applies to. The company holds ISO 9001 certification, achieved in 1995.
Industries served
Aerotech’s history and product pages point to laser processing and micromachining, medical device manufacture (its 2004 Vasculathe system was for cardiovascular implant machining), semiconductor and electronics, photonics, metrology and test. Our semiconductor and electronics and medical and laboratory pages cover the wider component choices in these sectors.
Global and UK presence
Aerotech lists its own companies in the USA, Germany (Fürth), the UK, France, China, Taiwan and Singapore, with distributors elsewhere. Aerotech Limited, The Old Brick Kiln, Ramsdell, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5PR, telephone +44 (0)1256 855055, serves the UK and also handles Lithuania, Sweden and Israel. UK engineers can deal with this office directly.
What to have ready for an Aerotech enquiry
Give the full part number of the stage or drive, including option codes: Aerotech’s codes carry travel, encoder, metrology grade, cable and amplifier options. For stages, add payload and its offset, required accuracy and repeatability over the working travel, speed, acceleration and orientation; for drives, the motor, encoder type and controller in use.
Sourcing Aerotech parts through Specify Motion
Specify Motion is independent of Aerotech and is not affiliated with it. We can help source Aerotech products for an existing machine, or propose stages, drives and controllers from our supply network that meet the same published figures. Find a replacement takes the part number and the requirement.
Aerotech history: key dates
- 1970Founded in Pittsburgh by three mechanical engineers
- 1979First international subsidiary opened in Nuremberg, Germany
- 1980UK subsidiary established
- 1990U500 PC-based motion control platform introduced
- 2001ANT nanopositioners and A3200 controller launched
- 2016HexGen hexapod series launched
- 2020Automation1 platform launched; second Pittsburgh facility
- 2024Automation1 XA4 drives introduced
Aerotech controllers, plcs and hmis
Aerotech servo drives
Automation1 XR3 multi-axis servo drive rack
3U 19-inch rack drive for up to six axes, mixing PWM amplifiers (10 to 30 A peak) and linear amplifiers (10 A peak), with bus options to 320 VDC and 20 kHz current and servo loops.
Automation1 iXC6e high-power PWM servo drive with controller
Single-axis high-power PWM servo drive with built-in controller, up to 100 A peak / 50 A continuous at a 680 VDC bus, 20 kHz loops, EtherCAT/EtherNet/IP/Modbus TCP and STO to SIL 3 / PL e.
Aerotech linear actuators
PRO190LM direct-drive linear stage
Mechanical-bearing linear stage driven by a brushless linear servomotor, travels from 100 to 600 mm, up to 2 m/s and 3 g, 60 kg load and 5 nm minimum incremental motion.
ANT130XY two-axis nanopositioning stage
Two-axis XY stage with ironless direct-drive linear motors, travels of 60 to 160 mm per axis, 350 mm/s, bidirectional repeatability of +/-75 nm and resolution down to 0.5 nm.
PRO165SL ball-screw linear stage
Mechanical-bearing linear stage with a precision-ground ball screw and BM130 brushless servomotor, in travels of 100 to 400 mm with calibrated metrology options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Aerotech website?
Aerotech's website is aerotech.com, with regional sites for Germany and China. It covers Automation1 controllers and drives, stages and actuators, motors, gantries, hexapods and laser scan heads, the company history and a contact page listing every office and distributor. A separate Global Technical Support Portal handles technical help.
What is the Aerotech UK phone number?
Aerotech Limited, The Old Brick Kiln, Ramsdell, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5PR, lists telephone +44 (0)1256 855055. The UK office also handles Lithuania, Sweden and Israel. Email enquiries go through the contact form on aerotech.com rather than a published address. UK customers can call or use the website form to reach the office directly.
Where is Aerotech's headquarters?
Aerotech's world headquarters is at 101 Zeta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238-2811, USA, telephone +1-412-963-7470, with a second Pittsburgh site at 610 Epsilon Drive. The company has been at its RIDC Park site since 1974. Founded there in 1970, the company now has six full-service facilities worldwide.
Who owns Aerotech?
Aerotech describes itself as a global, privately held company. It was founded in 1970 by Stephen J. Botos, Dallas B. Perkins and Emery Hornok. Mark Botos succeeded Stephen J. Botos as President and CEO in 2008, and Robert Novotnak was named president in 2021.
Does Aerotech have a UK office?
Yes. Aerotech set up a UK subsidiary in 1980. Aerotech Limited is based at The Old Brick Kiln, Ramsdell, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5PR, telephone +44 1256 855055, and UK engineers can deal with it directly. It also handles enquiries from Lithuania, Sweden and Israel.
What does Aerotech make?
Aerotech makes precision motion control: Automation1 motion controllers, software and servo drives, mechanical and air-bearing linear and rotary stages, nanopositioners, hexapods, gantries, motors and laser scan heads, plus custom and integrated motion systems. Its current Automation1 control platform launched in 2020.
Sources
- Aerotech: About and history
- Aerotech: Contact (offices worldwide)
- Aerotech: Home
- Aerotech: Motion control platforms
- Aerotech: Stages and actuators
- Aerotech: Automation1 iSMC
- Aerotech: Automation1 XR3
- Aerotech: Automation1 iXC6e
- Aerotech: PRO190LM
- Aerotech: ANT130XY
- Aerotech: PRO165SL
Figures are summarised from the sources above and from manufacturers' published data on the date shown. Always confirm against the current datasheet for your exact part.
Spec builder
Specify Aerotech parts or an equivalent
Select every part you need, answer the questions an applications engineer would ask, and see your summary before we ask for any details.
- 1Products
- 2Performance
- 3Environment
- 4Volumes
- 5Your spec
Engineer support
Ask about Aerotech parts or equivalents
Tell us what you need, whether it is this part, an equivalent or a complete axis built around it. An engineer will review your requirements and reply, normally within one working day.
- Reviewed by an engineer, not an autoresponder
- Like-for-like and better-fit alternatives
- Standard, modified and custom options
Prefer to configure it? Use the spec builder.