Tuli Success Stories
Machine vision - the next level in measuring
LabVision’s product concept is simple and effective: measuring the quality of printed paper with machine vision technology, accurately, quickly and reliably. The end user – the paper industry – has been closely involved in commercializing the product.
Using machine vision in measuring print quality has several benefits: it is considerably quicker and more reliable than traditional measuring methods. Commercializing LabVision’s product is well on its way, with researchers, end users and TULI – who have provided funding for the commercialization – having been involved in the process. LabVision’s Pasi Saarinen is convinced of the success of the result.
“When the end user becomes involved already at the development phase, one can be sure that the product suits the customers’ exact requirements”, says Saarinen.
Pasi Saarinen has worked at the Lappeenranta University of Technology for six years. His job is to develop co-operation with the paper industry in commercializing a machine vision technology product concept. Saarinen has vast experience from both Finnish and international paper industries. However, he has one thing on his mind that he has always dreamed of: employing himself.
Saarinen founded LabVision in 2003. In the same year, the company received funding from TULI for conducting a second market research. TULI has also helped with investigating and protecting the company’s immaterial rights. In the past, a requirement and competitor survey and an initial market research had been conducted in co-operation with the paper industry. The industry parties suggested recruiting a third party into the process. This is where TULI stepped in.
Especially the Finnish paper industry has been actively involved in researching and developing the product concept. But the situation looks promising for international markets as well. The number of paper mills in Finland will diminish, and part of the production will be relocating to countries with lower production costs. Saarinen goes on to mention that LabVision has already received inquiries from the east.
Measurements made with machine vision technology are more exact and reliable, but also significantly faster. The measuring is conducted by a desktop robot, digitally and automatically. One measuring unit can perform ten measurements at a time, whereas with traditional technology only one measurement per unit can be performed at a time.
As an example in which the paper industry has shown special interest, Saarinen mentions measuring the profile and topography of paper surface. With machine vision, this can be performed in a few seconds, whereas with earlier methods the process could take as long as nine hours.
More information:
LabVision Technologies Ltd
firstname.lastname@labvisiontec.fi
gsm: +358 40 528 3612
http://www.labvisiontec.fi
