VISION STUTTGART


What would have been on display


Here’s what the firms we spoke to would have shown at Vision 2020. Look out for them soon:


lMVTec was planning to introduce Halcon 20.11, which will be released on 20 November. The new version has optimised technologies for code reading, OCR, 3D, deep learning, as well as an update of the integrated development environment Hdevelop for better usability. The firm was also going to show the possibilities of machine vision on edge computing platforms and in the cloud. Halcon supports all popular embedded platforms, and is now also used by pilot customers to implement a cloud


computing setup. lVision Components planned to display a quad-core-based VC Dragoncam embedded vision system; Mipi camera modules based on Sony’s sensors IMX335, IMX392 and IMX273; and a time- of-flight Mipi module. The firm was also due to present a smart camera series with dimensions


the same as a MIPI module. lMatrox Imaging would have given the Altiz 3D profile sensor its debut at the trade fair. The dual-camera single-laser design


reduces optical occlusions. lSony Europe Image Sensing Solutions was due to show its polarised camera for Windows or


Linux. lBitFlow would have displayed additional items in its CXP12 frame grabber family, a single- and dual-link version to go along with the quad-link version. The company also would have been showing its Jetson AGX Xavier solution for vision in Nvidia embedded products. Its next- generation Axion family was due


to be available as a prototype. lOne of the products Basler was due to display was its expanded Coaxpress portfolio, its Boost


camera series. lThe highlight on Edmund Optics’ booth would have been its LT series, a set of fixed focal length lenses with integrated liquid lenses for 1.1-inch sensors. It will launch the line around November.


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organised its virtual Imaging Innovation Summit, which was held on 10 September. Agnes Huebscher, the firm’s marketing director, said: ‘Online channels have been and will be increasing in importance; Covid just accelerated this.’ She added that Edmund Optics is taking


the approach that product launch timelines can be handled a bit softer and meetings pushed over to a digital format, now that Vision Stuttgart is not happening this year. Mark Williamson, director of corporate


marketing at Stemmer Imaging, said that the company has been able to focus on a number of digital marketing projects without the distraction of exhibitions. ‘For a short period, this has allowed us to redirect our expenditure,’ he said. ‘However, no shows for a long period would have a negative impact on our industry. We look forward to them returning.’


On the road again Waide, at BitFlow, doesn’t expect to make any international trips before 2021. He said: ‘Sales and marketing don’t need to make trips as much right now. Te travellers should be the engineers who are installing and repairing [equipment] – people who bring a knowledge base with them that the customer may need to get to the next step.’ Waide explained that several of BitFlow’s


customers were shut down as they were producing non-essential items, or simply didn’t have the work that they normally did. ‘Purchasers were working from home for the most part, so their productivity comprehension wasn’t always the same as the company’s heartbeat,’ he said. On the positive side, BitFlow did have success contacting engineers who were either furloughed or working from home, and therefore had more time on their hands.


Roll on 2021 All of these companies are established firms and have exhibited many times at Vision Stuttgart, but the trade fair also champions


8 IMAGING AND MACHINE VISION EUROPE VISION YEARBOOK 2020/21


‘No shows for a long period would have a negative impact on our industry. We look forward to them returning’


startups and young companies with new technology to show. It might be that these firms are more adept at making use of digital platforms than the older companies. One thing is for sure, everyone is eager for


the return of Vision Stuttgart and trade fairs in general. Arnaud Destruels, product marketing and communication manager at Sony Europe Image Sensing Solutions, said the cancellation of Vision Stuttgart has ‘totally changed our approach to promotion and new leads’, shifting to digital methods, but that the company still ‘needs to “touch” the machine vision market’ through physical shows. Schreiber, of Vision Components, hopes


that trade fairs will resume next year, as ‘we see trade shows as necessary [for] communication and marketing’, while Edmund Optics’ Huebscher said that ‘trade shows remain an essential platform for new technology releases’, and that the firm doesn’t expect to reduce its efforts for such events. Williamson, at Stemmer Imaging, said:


‘I believe Vision will evolve and come back stronger with concepts to better align new markets and customers which, if it happens, will make the show a valuable event again in the future.’ Laser Components’ Michalke said: ‘Tere


is also a positive side: we are all in the same situation worldwide. I would not say it is a new beginning, but it is going to be a great opportunity to explore modern ways of communicating.’ O


@imveurope | www.imveurope.com


Messe Stuttgart


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