Industrial imaging industry gathers in Stuttgart
The 31st edition of Vision takes place at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Center from 8-10 October (Credit: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH)
The 31st edition of Vision, the trade fair for machine vision, returns to the Stuttgart Trade Fair Center this year from 8-10 October.
Held every two years, the event plays host to the complete range of machine vision technology, with the conference programme designed to help visitors find out about all innovations in machine-vision technologies, both current and in-development for the future. The exhibition floor, meanwhile, will be home to exhibitors from all over the world, showcasing the latest systems and components for integrators.
Despite an admittedly challenging year for the industry, the event looks set to be bigger and better than ever. Earlier this year, Florian Niethammer, Manager of Exhibitions and Events at Messe Stuttgart revealed at a Vision/VDMA round table event in Stuttgart that the Vision show had already surpassed the exhibitor numbers experienced in 2022, with 385 exhibiting companies, which he described as “a pleasing development path with the Vision show.” The 2022 event itself saw a rise in visitor number over the previous iteration, with some 6,505 visitors walking through the doors.
Niethammer said that the organisers have been receiving more enquiries and expressions of interest every day, and he expected to break the 400 exhibitor mark and achieve a growth of at least 10% in exhibitor numbers by October. At the time of going to press, that number stands at 468. He believes that this reflects the positive expectations of the industry, despite some difficult market conditions. He said: “We see that, despite consolidation and merger and acquisition activities in the market, the imaging and machine vision field is still a very attractive field for many new companies to enter. Thus, we have accomplished around 25% of new companies that will exhibit for the very first time."
Emberion, booth 10B10
VIS-SWIR Cameras using quantum dot technology Emberion has developed quantum dot based Vis-SWIR sensors and cameras for a wide range of applications that can take advantage of its unique benefits such as wide spectral range (400-2000)nm , high dynamic range (>120dB) and high speed (400fps full frame)
Emberion designs its own CMOS ROIC and monolithically integrates the quantum dot nanomaterial stack which makes it scalable and affordable.
Products available for demonstration, evaluation, and purchase:
- VS20-GigE: 400fps high speed Vis-SWIR camera with GigE Vision Interface.
- VS20-Compact: As above but in a size, weight, and power optimised housing.
- VS20-Core: As above for integration into high volume end applications.
Emberion will demonstrate the variants above at Vision Stuttgart targeting various applications in machine vision (sorting, recycling, food, quality inspection, laser profiling, semiconductor imaging, automotive, moisture detection, packaging inspection, surveillance and defence).
In addition Emberion is developing a push broom sensor for hyperspectral imaging. Talk to us!
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The 31st edition of Vision takes place at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Center from 8-10 October (Credit: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH)
Some 67% of exhibitors are international this year, with around 40 countries participating. Commenting on the geographical trends, Niethammer said: “We see strong growth again from China, followed by the U.S. as the second strongest international nation and then Japan, France, and the UK."
Hot topics: AI, hyperspectral imaging, embedded and 3D vision
During three days, the focus will be on the latest trends and product developments, development, including startup pitches, panel discussions. Some of the hottest topics at this year’s event include (as one might expect) artificial intelligence (AI), hyperspectral imaging, embedded vision and 3D.
Resolve Optics, booth 10G44
Specialist lenses for demanding vision applications.
With new vision cameras and sensors appearing almost weekly it is rare to find a standard format device. Consequently, sourcing a lens optimised for your vision application has never been more critical to ensure the quality of the final image. This in turn has an impact on factors including measurement accuracy, operational speed, reproducibility, and downstream analysis reliability.
Rob Watkinson of Resolve Optics commented “We are uniquely placed to design and develop specialist lenses for vision applications no matter what the format or required resolution. When developing a new lens, we take the demands of your application into account from the very beginning. We can optimise lens performance for a certain working distance, a specific waveband and design an optimised lens to camera mount. We have also produced specialist vision lenses that provide wide fields of view with little or no distortion and compact lens designs where the target application is space limited.”
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Lars Rosenkvist Fenger, CEO of Qtechnology A/S, explained how hyperspectral imaging in conjunction with AI could open up a multitude of application areas in medical technology, the food industry and the recycling industry: "Hyperspectral imaging with a higher spectral resolution enables very precise material identification. Worldwide, less than 5% of plastics are recycled. Using hyperspectral imaging, however, we can now already separate all types of plastic polymers. This means that we have ways to recycle plastics. Qtechnology A/S has chosen a targeted approach for AI and hyperspectral cameras. We will present our new hyperspectral cameras at VISION. Since they are some of the best in their class, we want to show them to the entire world."
On embedded vision technologies, and how they can offer intelligent application solutions by enabling very compact and highly efficient machine vision systems, Jan-Erik Schmitt, VP of Sales at Vision Components said: "The influence of AI is increasing continuously through the integration of AI chips in processors. Vision is the leading event for the machine vision industry and is becoming increasingly important in the area of embedded vision. Vision Components specialises 110% in embedded vision and will present the latest trends such as MIPI connections to processors, extended accessories, innovative functionalities and various FPGA accelerators at this year's Vision."
Looking at the trend for 3D sensors in applications such as electronics and e-mobility, for example the inspection of surfaces Daniel Seiler, CEO of AT – Automation Technology said: "The highest concentration of experts in machine vision can be found at Vision. Users can find all technologies for their applications in one place. During Vision, AT will present the new 3D sensor series XCS which was developed together with electronics OEMs. The XCS detects the smallest surface details by means of high-quality laser line projection and precise optics. Since speed and software solutions also play an important role in the area of 3D, we will specifically address these topics.”
In addition to the topics covered at the event, other highlights will include the 26th edition of the Vision Award, which is sponsored by Imaging and Machine Vision Europe. It was launched in 1996 to recognise innovation in the field of machine vision, and the winning company will be announced and presented with the prize on site.
Zebra Technologies, booth 8B40
Zebra Technologies’ booth will feature more than a dozen machine vision demonstrations, highlighting portfolio flexibility and capabilities. Attendees can interact with Zebra’s Aurora software suite, including Focus, Design Assistant, Imaging Library and Zebra Aurora Vision Studio.
Other demos include PC-based and FS42 camera-based deep learning optical character recognition, deep learning anomaly detection on the newly launched Zebra NS42 camera, an Aurora Vision Studio conveyor demo. The Zebra booth will also feature a specially dedicated preview area for forthcoming, cutting-edge deep learning solutions due in 2025.
Come and listen to Donato Montanari’s presentation about how the cloud can deliver end-to-end AI solutions, on Tuesday 8 October, 12:00 - 12:20, Hall 8 Booth C70, or find out more at the company's website.
Zebra Technologies, booth 8B40
Zebra Technologies’ booth will feature more than a dozen machine vision demonstrations, highlighting portfolio flexibility and capabilities. Attendees can interact with Zebra’s Aurora software suite, including Focus, Design Assistant, Imaging Library and Zebra Aurora Vision Studio.
Other demos include PC-based and FS42 camera-based deep learning optical character recognition, deep learning anomaly detection on the newly launched Zebra NS42 camera, an Aurora Vision Studio conveyor demo. The Zebra booth will also feature a specially dedicated preview area for forthcoming, cutting-edge deep learning solutions due in 2025. Come and listen to Donato Montanari’s presentation about how the cloud can deliver end-to-end AI solutions, on Tuesday 8 October, 12:00 - 12:20, Hall 8 Booth C70, or find out more at the company's website.
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The Industrial Vision Days will also return for 2024. The Industrial Vision Days are designed as an all-encompassing lecture forum, where professionals can learn about the hottest topics from the machine vision industry. The days are organised by VDMA Machine Vision, alongside Messe Stuttgart. Said Niethammer: “There will be 70 presentations during three days, and the focus will be on the latest trends and product development, including startup pitches, panel discussions.”
Industrial and scientific vision lecture forums
In addition, the Scientific Vision Days, a lecture series in association with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, will bring experts from science and applied research to present cutting-edge technologies in the field of machine vision. This year's topics include 3D vision, high-speed imaging, inline computational imaging, deep learning and the testing of machine vision systems. Both lecture series will also be available via live stream and on-demand.
Guided Tours allow visitors the opportunity to gain insights into the latest machine vision technologies and solutions for specific industries (Credit: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH)
Theia Technologies, booth 10A47
Theia will showcase its TL410 lens demonstrating the motorised zoom and focus capabilities as they relate to production line inspection and pick and sort environments with variable object size and distance requirements. The demo will highlight the lens’ 300 lp/mm resolution performance in visible and NIR, and its remote filter switching ability for multi-spectral applications. The lens will image barcodes, produce and circuit boards, changing zoom and focus remotely to maintain excellent image quality.
Theia’s versatile TL410 motorised zoom and focus lens has a 4-10mm varifocal range, allowing precise adjustment of the HFOV from 44 – 112° on a 1/1.7” sensor. The lens provides 300 lp/mm resolution in visible and NIR light suitable for imaging high detail components. With NIR correction from 435 – 940nm it enables excellent image quality in multi-spectral applications. Its motorised zoom, focus, and iris enable remote operation to minimise manual intervention and costly line downtime.
Find out more about Theia Technologies by visiting the company's website.
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The popular Guided Tours feature will also make a return this year, allowing visitors the opportunity to gain exclusive insights into the latest machine vision technologies and solutions for specific industries, with each of the three days focusing on a different vertical.
The industries covered are: logistics, food and beverages, and electronics and semiconductor. Logistics is recognised as an important economic sector, which is coming under pressure to become even more economic and sustainable. Automation can be used to increase efficiency in logistics, and many processes benefit from the use of industrial machine vision, such as machine vision systems and deep learning technologies.
Machine vision makes significant contributions to efficiency for producers of food and beverages to ensure high-quality food that is economically produced; while those signing up to the semiconductor themed Guided Tour can find out about the latest technological developments and their economic potential for electronics and semiconductor manufacture.
Said Niethammer: “The selected industries will be some of the most growing and vertical markets that use machine vision. These tools will offer an attractive benefit for end users and machine builders from specific vertical markets, not only by bringing them in touch with relevant exhibitors, but also by offering them machine vision crash courses on site.”
Special events: standards and skills
Special Show events this year include the "International Machine Vision Standards," organised by the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA), in partnerships with the associations A3 (North America), CMVU (China), JIIA (Japan) and VDMA (Germany). It is designed to provide visitors with a global insight into the world of machine vision standards.
XIMEA, booth 8E46
XIMEA is set to present an impressive range of advanced, customisable industrial and scientific cameras at this year’s Vision event. The lineup will showcase a diverse selection, from ultra-compact camera models to high-performance cameras designed for the most demanding applications. Key technologies on display will include subminiature cameras that push the boundaries of size, Time-of-Flight (ToF) scanners for precise distance measurement, and advanced UV and SWIR imaging capabilities that enhance visibility in challenging environments. Additionally, XIMEA will highlight its fastest data transfer interfaces, such as PCIe and Thunderbolt, which enable rapid and efficient handling of high-resolution data payloads, crucial for industries that require speed and precision.
Beyond showcasing products, XIMEA is offering something unique this year. Vision attendees will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the company’s OEM partnerships and custom design processes, providing deeper insights into how XIMEA collaborates with clients to create innovative, tailor-made solutions that meet specific needs and challenges. Find out more by visiting XIMEA's website.
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The Career Center + Job Board Special Show event is designed for use by visitors looking to find out how best to change jobs or start a new career, or who have career questions they would like answered. Experienced HR professionals will be on-hand to answer questions, provide coaching talks and offer tips on career planning.
Meanwhile, the popular Start-up World will take place in Hall 8, to offer start-ups from sectors such as image processing and computer vision the chance to present their innovations to the industry. This, said Niethammer, is a particular highlight. “The Start-up World has been a success story during the past two editions of Vision show, and for the third time we will bring new young companies to the show to give an overview of the most innovative start-ups in the area of image processing and computer vision. They deal with the latest camera technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning software, and also exciting machine vision systems. At the end of the show the Vision Start-up 2024 will be announced.”
The Start-up World is back for its third year, offering start-ups the chance to present their innovations to the industry (Credit: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH)
Pleora, booth 8B02
Pleora will be demonstrating its latest technologies for high bandwidth and embedded imaging at Vision Stuttgart.
The company’s new external frame grabber converts GigE Vision cameras into PCIe cameras and transmits high-bandwidth imaging and video data over Ethernet cabling directly to a Thunderbolt port on PCs, laptops, embedded, and single-board devices. The solution optimises CPU usage to free valuable resources for application tasks, while reducing system level latency and managing resend to avoid packet loss. System designers can leverage the cabling and multicasting advantages of GigE Vision for complex higher-speed applications while avoiding unnecessary integration, cost, and interoperability challenges posed by traditional NIC approaches.
The company will also be demonstrating its eBUS Edge software transmitter, which converts from 3D cameras, image sensors and embedded platform into fully compliant GigE Vision and GenICam devices. eBUS Edge has been designed into 3D and smart cameras and medical data transmission systems. Find out more about these products and more at the company's website.
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Niethammer also shared his personal expectations and wishes for the 2024 event: "I would love to see Vision developing back towards the numbers before Covid, both exhibitors and also attendees. But if developments continue at this rate, then I'm happy. Of course, we will work in the following months to attract as many new attendees, people that are new into machine vision technology, new users, to bring them to the upcoming show."
Mark Williamson, Chairman of the VDMA Machine Vision Division also believes that the event will be something of a turning point for industry fortunes. He said: “Overall, it’s still a very good industry, with 9% growth on average in the last 10 years. Vision technologies are actually outperforming the wider industry, which is really positive, showing that machine vision is a robust market to be in. Having a drop in order entry in the second half of 2023 is what's causing the lower revenue in 2024. The feedback we're getting from the monthly statistics is, we expect this to start to pick up in probably three-to six months, and people are beginning to say the recovery will start in Q4. We're seeing the beginnings of this happening, so Vision is going to be a very interesting point of view by then, we will know how it's been throughout the year, and see how things are. But, we believe, moving into 2025, we should get back into a positive recovery, and we believe in our industry. The feedback is that things will remain strong. New applications are still coming along, new leads are still coming along and it is very positive. Vision will play a key part in refuelling that for future growth.”
Olaf Munkelt, Managing Director at MVTec Software echoed this sentiment: “Vision in Stuttgart showcases the technological trends in the international machine vision industry and attracts large numbers of visitors every two years. The first-rate discussions with trade visitors are what makes Vision so special. It is very exciting to become personally acquainted at Vision with the people behind the companies and technologies. It's a window because it presents, in various forums, technology markets, trends, and standardisation. So, it's a condensed view of the market and this is unique.”
Hardy Mehl, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Basler added: “Vision is a unique opportunity to meet existing and new customers, suppliers and partners, as well as interesting start-ups. Networking and the inspiration gained through innovative products, talks and podium discussions with leading machine vision experts are extremely profitable. We are expecting a large number of innovations in the field of AI. In the area of cameras there is a trend towards more megapixels and higher bandwidths, including solutions for handling high processing loads with pre-processing "at the edge" (on-camera/on-frame grabbers). The focal points on the software side are user-friendly image analysis software solutions which are being made accessible to a wider group of customers (no-code/low-code image analysis software solutions). Vision is one of the most important shows, and for the western world, definitely the most important show for the vision industry.”
inno-spec, booth 10D21
inno-spec is a worldwide leader in developing and deploying non-contact industrial inspection systems using hyperspectral imaging technology. We set standards in quality and reliability that add value to our customers' products. System integrators and researchers value our expertise and the precision and accuracy of our systems. Thousands of our imagers are in use every day. We support you from the initial analysis of your need to the implementation of our technology at your site.
We are always there for you with world-class support and service. inno-spec is now a Headwall Group company, leading the industrial machine vision business with Headwall Photonics and perClass, maker of perClass Mira, the most intuitive and capable spectral imaging package in the industry with unrivalled automated acquisition, fast and simple spectral-classification model development and regression analysis, and the ability to be deployed for real-time operation along the production or processing line. Find out more at the inno-spec website.
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Dr. Martin Klenke, Director Business Development at Teledyne said: “Teledyne regards Vision 2024 as one of the most important events for the European machine vision market and as an important trade fair for many different market segments. Vision represents an ideal opportunity to make direct contact with existing and new customers. We are looking forward to holding many interesting discussions on different machine vision topics at Vision 2024.”
Concluded Niethammer: “The whole team is very much looking forward to welcoming the industry and the community back to Stuttgart after two years, and we are almost ready!”
