Pulse Tube Cooler Cryocoolers Market to Reach USD 445 Million by 2031 Top 10 Company Globally

Pulse tube coolers cryocoolers are closed-cycle, helium-working-fluid refrigeration systems that produce cryogenic temperatures without moving parts in the cold head; that design yields excellent reliability, low vibration and long maintenance intervals, so pulse-tube technology is the preferred cryocooling approach for vibration-sensitive applications such as superconducting detectors, quantum sensors, cryogen-free dilution refrigerators, spaceborne instruments, small MRI/NMR systems and certain types of helium reliquefiers. Pulse-tube products typically appear as integrated systems (cold head + compressor/regenerator + control electronics) available in single-stage and two-stage architectures with cooling capacities spanning milliwatts at sub-kelvin ranges up to several watts at 4 K and tens of watts at higher temperatures; vendors sell complete units, system-level subsystems and custom cryostats built around pulse tube cold heads. The industry is therefore a specialized segment of the broader cryocooler market with demand driven by scientific research, quantum computing, medical imaging, defense and space instrumentation.
The pulse tube cooler cryocooler market size at roughly USD 308 million in 2024 and projected to reach USD 445 million in 2031, with a CAGR of about 5,4% over 2024-2031. Approximately 20,023 unit pulse tube coolers cryocoolers are sold in 2024, with average price of USD 15,390 per unit.
Latest Trends and Technological Developments
Pulse-tube vendors continue to push compact, higher-efficiency two-stage designs, lower input power per watt of cooling, and options tailored for quantum and space markets where low vibration and reliability are paramount. On March 2025, Bluefors (marketing Cryomech-branded pulse-tube products) announced the compact PT205 two-stage pulse tube cryocooler aimed at quantum sensing and communication applications, emphasising sub-3 K capability with low power consumption and low vibration a concrete example of vendors targeting quantum/SNSPD markets. On December 2024 through 2025, Sumitomo Heavy Industries / SHI Cryogenics continued product rollouts of 4 K pulse-tube cold heads (for example RP-082B2 series listings) and highlighted improvements in maintenance-friendly compressor packages and lower vibration. Industry analysts and market trackers in 2024 to 2025 also single out the accelerating need for pulse-tube solutions in helium-free MRI and small-footprint quantum labs, and several OEMs reported expansions of production capacity and service networks in 2024 to 2025 to meet growing scientific and space demand. These dated developments indicate both product innovation (compact two-stage units, energy efficiency gains) and expanding commercial demand from quantum computing, space instruments and helium-constrained medical applications.
Asia Pacific is a strategic and fast-growing market for pulse-tube cryocoolers because the region hosts major quantum research centres, significant space instrumentation programs, expanding semiconductor and superconducting research, and growing medical imaging capacity in hospitals and research institutes. Japan and South Korea have strong domestic OEMs (Sumitomo Heavy Industries / SHI is a prime example) and research adoption, while China is rapidly increasing purchase volumes for research cryogenics, microsatellite instruments and quantum projects. Taiwan and Singapore are important cluster locations for quantum startups and test labs that select low-vibration pulse-tube coolers for SNSPDs and dilution-refrigerator pre-cooling. Regional demand is reinforced by vendor announcements and local distributor expansions that prioritize service, calibration and fast spare parts turnaround in APAC markets. Given the technology concentration and the large installed base of research labs, Asia-Pacific is a leading growth engine for pulse-tube sales and aftermarket service.

Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart)
https://www.qyresearch.com/sample/5038039

Pulse Tube Cooler Cryocoolers by Type:
Single Stage Pulse

Two Stage Pulset

Others

Pulse Tube Cooler Cryocoolers by Application:
Civil Use

Defence Use

Space Use

Others

Global Top 10 Key Companies in the Pulse Tube Cooler Cryocoolers
Market
Northrop Grumman

SHI Cryogenics

Chart industries Inc

Thales

Cobham

AIM

Lihantech

Air Liquide Group

West Coast Solutions Inc

Oxford Instruments

Regional Insights
ASEAN is an emerging but accelerating market for pulse-tube cryocoolers, beginning with university research labs, national labs and specialized medical or space instrumentation projects. Indonesia, while not yet a major buyer of high-volume pulse-tube systems compared with Japan or China, is showing increased interest in advanced scientific infrastructure and medical imaging upgrades that can create a steady stream of small research-bench and low-to-mid capacity systems purchases. Singapore and Malaysia lead within ASEAN in terms of higher-end purchases and cluster activity for quantum startups, while Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines tend to procure smaller, lower-cost research units or rely on regional service providers for cryogenic testing. As ASEAN governments and research institutions invest in quantum communications testbeds and satellite payloads, local demand for pulse-tube cold heads and integrated cryostats will grow, but initial adoption in the region will be equipment-light and focused on serviceable, rental or demo programs rather than large factory orders. Regional distributor listings, trade notices and university procurement records across 20232025 support this gradation of demand patterns.
The pulse-tube cryocooler segment faces several persistent constraints that shape buying cycles and vendor strategy. First, the high capital cost and custom integration required for many systems lengthen procurement cycles, favouring established OEMs and integrators with field service capability. Second, manufacturing scale is constrained by specialized components (high-precision regenerators, helium compressors and low-vibration valve assemblies) and the need for skilled calibration; these supply-side specifics limit rapid price erosion and make local service networks a competitive advantage. Third, competing cryocooler technologies (Gifford-McMahon and Stirling) still have niches where they are more cost-effective, so pulse-tube vendors must justify premium pricing through vibration, lifetime and maintenance benefits. Fourth, for space and defense applications, long qualification timelines and stringent testing elevate time-to-revenue and raise bar for newer entrants. Finally, helium supply volatility and environmental/regulatory pressures on refrigerants can add procurement and operational complexity for system integrators and end users. These realities are visible in vendor disclosures, buyer RFPs and industry commentary.
Strategic winners will combine strong product roadmaps (compact two-stage, low-power, low-vibration units), robust after-sales networks (local spares, calibration and maintenance), and close collaboration with high-value customers (quantum startups, space integrators, medical OEMs) to secure long-term supply contracts. Offering modular compressor packages and standardized interface kits reduces integration friction for instrumentation OEMs and shortens procurement time. In Asia and ASEAN, establishing regional service hubs (Singapore hub, regional partners in Indonesia and Thailand) and rental/demo fleets helps vendors penetrate price-sensitive early adopters and research institutions. For OEMs and integrators, bundling cryostat integration, software control and multi-year service agreements turns capital sales into recurring revenue and improves lifetime value. Investors should prioritise companies with validated field deployments, demonstrable MTBF/maintenance metrics, and established commercial relationships with universities, national labs and space agencies.

Product Models
Pulse tube cooler cryocoolers are highly efficient cryogenic refrigeration systems used for cooling infrared sensors, superconducting devices, medical imaging systems, and space instruments. Unlike traditional cryocoolers, they have no moving parts in the cold head, which improves reliability and reduces vibration.
Single-stage pulse cryocoolers which reach moderate cryogenic temperatures. Notable products include:
SPTC-408 Stirling Cryogenics: Single-stage pulse tube unit optimized for compact laboratory cooling.
LPT6510 Thales Cryogenics (with Absolut System): A compact high-frequency single-stage pulse tube designed for space and terrestrial use at ~60 K and above.
PT60 Cryomech: Offers 60 W cooling at 80 K with cooldown to 80 K in about 20 minutes; suitable for applications needing moderate cooling with quick startup.
30-50K Dual Stage (for First-Stage Operation) Thales: Though classified as dual-stage, the first stage operates like a single-stage source at 3 W @ 105 Kuseful where only moderate cooling is needed.
Two-stage pulse cryocoolers which achieve much lower temperatures for advanced scientific and aerospace applications. Examples include:
SPTC-430 Stirling Cryogenics: Two-stage pulse tube cooler designed for ultra-low vibration and long duty cycles.
PT415 Cryomech: Two-stage cooler offering 1.5 W at 4.2 K, used for superconducting magnets.
PT420-RM Cryomech: Remote motor design with 2 W at 4.2 K for low-vibration scientific research.
RP-082B SHI Cryogenics: Higher capacity 2-stage unit reaching < 3 K; suitable for ultra-low temperature labs needing more cooling power.
PT205 Cryomech: Compact two-stage cooler delivering > 10 mW at ~2.5 K; designed for sensitive equipment like photon detectors
Pulse-tube cryocoolers are a technically strategic sub-segment of cryogenics, combining low vibration, high reliability and suitability for frontier applications in quantum technologies, space instruments and helium-free medical systems. Using reconciled market inputs, the pulse-tube cryocooler segment is estimated at about USD 308 million in 2024, growing at an approximate CAGR of 5,4% to reach roughly USD 445 million by 2031 under the central scenario. Unit shipments in 2024 are likely at 20,023 units, with ASP at USD 15,390 per unit. Asia Pacific will be the dominant geographic growth engine for higher-value and research-grade purchases, while ASEAN (including Indonesia) will see rising but more modest demand initially focused on research institutions, medical imaging upgrades and rental/service arrangements. Vendors that invest in compact, energy-efficient low-vibration designs and regional service networks will enjoy both equipment sales and recurring aftermarket revenue.

Investor Analysis
What investors should care about is that pulse-tube cryocoolers serve high-value, mission-critical applications where uptime, low vibration and long MTBF are monetizable attributes; the market is niche but growing at a mid-single-digit to high-single-digit pace and supports attractive aftermarket services. How investors can capture returns is by targeting: (a) engineered cryocooler OEMs with deep installed bases and documented field reliability (recurring service contracts); (b) system integrators that bundle cryostats + control + service, smoothing cash flows; and (c) regional service and rental platforms in APAC/ASEAN that reduce buyer capex friction and accelerate adoption in price-sensitive research markets. Why now: quantum investments, space instrumentation programs and medical moves away from liquid helium create multi-year demand tails that increase the value of vertically integrated suppliers and service providers; key diligence points are installed base, spare-parts lead time, MTBF/field performance history and qualification contracts with national labs and space agencies.
Request for Pre-Order Enquiry On This Report
https://www.qyresearch.com/customize/5038039
5 Reasons to Buy This Report
It reconciles focused pulse-tube market estimates into a defensible 2024 baseline and a clear CAGRcwith a 2031 projection, enabling investment and procurement scenario modelling.
It converts revenue to practical unit-shipment ranges using transparent ASP scenarios, allowing capex planning for OEMs and rental operators.
It documents dated product and market developments that confirm product innovation aimed at quantum and space customers.
It provides regionally actionable insight for APAC and ASEAN, mapping where research, medical and space investments will drive purchases and where service hubs are needed.
It profiles the competitive supplier set and strategic levers product performance, low-vibration claims, service networks that determine who will capture long-run aftermarket revenue.
5 Key Questions Answered
What is a defensible 2024 market size for pulse-tube cryocoolers and what CAGR should be used to model growth to 2031?
What are realistic price-per-unit bands for pulse-tube systems and what implied shipment volumes did 2024 represent?
Which recent product launches and dated market events materially change buyer choice and product roadmaps?
How will Asia and ASEAN demand dynamics translate into regional purchases and service requirements?
Who are the top suppliers and what supplier capabilities should be prioritized in supplier due diligence?
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Introduces the report scope of the report, executive summary of different market segments (by region, product type, application, etc), including the market size of each market segment, future development potential, and so on. It offers a high-level view of the current state of the market and its likely evolution in the short to mid-term, and long term.
Chapter 2: key insights, key emerging trends, etc.
Chapter 3: Manufacturers competitive analysis, detailed analysis of the product manufacturers competitive landscape, price, sales and revenue market share, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information, etc.
Chapter 4: Provides profiles of key players, introducing the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including product sales, revenue, price, gross margin, product introduction, recent development, etc.
Chapter 5 & 6: Sales, revenue of the product in regional level and country level. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and its main countries and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and market size of each country in the world.
Chapter 7: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Type, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different market segments.
Chapter 8: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different downstream markets.
Chapter 9: Analysis of industrial chain, including the upstream and downstream of the industry.
Chapter 10: The main points and conclusions of the report.

Contact Information:
Tel: +1 626 2952 442 (US) ; +86-1082945717 (China)
+62 896 3769 3166 (Whatsapp)
Email: willyanto@qyresearch.com; global@qyresearch.com
Website: www.qyresearch.com

About QY Research
QY Research has established close partnerships with over 71,000 global leading players. With more than 20,000 industry experts worldwide, we maintain a strong global network to efficiently gather insights and raw data.
Our 36-step verification system ensures the reliability and quality of our data. With over 2 million reports, we have become the world's largest market report vendor. Our global database spans more than 2,000 sources and covers data from most countries, including import and export details.
We have partners in over 160 countries, providing comprehensive coverage of both sales and research networks. A 90% client return rate and long-term cooperation with key partners demonstrate the high level of service and quality QY Research delivers.
More than 30 IPOs and over 5,000 global media outlets and major corporations have used our data, solidifying QY Research as a global leader in data supply. We are committed to delivering services that exceed both client and societal expectations.

This release was published on openPR.