Lakesight Technologies has acquired line scan imaging company Chromasens. Chromasens is now the third company in the Lakesight group, joining Tattile, bought in 2012, and Mikrotron, purchased in 2015.
Based in Konstanz, Germany, Chromasens’ core expertise is in line scan technology including cameras, lights and custom imaging solutions. It has around 60 employees, the majority of which are in R&D, and sales of €10 million.
Chromasens was established in 2004 as a result of a management buyout from Ocè Group led by the current managing directors Markus Schnitzlein and Martin Hund. Both managers have been reconfirmed in their positions and the company will continue to operate independently.
Schnitzlein commented: ‘We are pleased to join Lakesight which we see as a strong partner that can sustain Chromasens in our next phase of development.’ Hund added: ‘As part of Lakesight we will continue our growth path through investment in new technologies, developing projects with blue-chip customers and expanding our international sales leveraging Lakesight’s resources and sales network.’
Corrado Franchi, board member of Lakesight, commented: ‘The acquisition of Chromasens fits perfectly with the Lakesight portfolio as it is complementary on all levels to the existing group members. Furthermore, the fact that the Chromasens management stays on board ensures stability and continuity.’
The Chromasens acquisition provides Lakesight with a portfolio of line scan machine vision cameras and access to 3D and hyperspectral technologies. As a result of the acquisition, Lakesight has pro-forma sales of €40 million.
The acquisition is backed by Ambienta, a European private equity fund that owns Lakeside Technologies. By creating Lakesight Technologies in 2015, Ambienta's aim was to overcome some of the issues smaller companies face – 90 per cent of machine vision suppliers have a turnover of less than €10 million – by establishing a European platform comprised of smaller synergic players that can share sales channels, management resources and investment programmes.
The Lakesight group also includes Tattile, which makes imaging systems for the industrial, traffic, and railway markets, as well as high-speed camera supplier Mikrotron.
