{"id":5841,"date":"2024-05-03T10:19:21","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T08:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/v2.vision-tools.com\/?page_id=5841"},"modified":"2025-04-17T15:23:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:23:04","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/company\/history.html","title":{"rendered":"Milestones in the company&#8217;s history"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Unternehmen_Header.jpg\" alt=\"banner\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group banner-content is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/en\">Start<\/a> &gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/company.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"\/en\/company.html\">Company<\/a> &gt; History<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Milestones<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">in the company&#8217;s history<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"history-container\">\n<div class=\"history-wrapper\">\n    <i id=\"left\" class=\"fa-solid fa-angle-left\"><\/i><\/p>\n<ul class=\"carousel\">\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1986_HermannTropf_89fcb50b05.jpg\" alt=\"Hermann Tropf\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1986<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Company founded by <br \/> Dr Hermann Tropf<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1986_VT-Logo_601aecd6f5.jpg\" alt=\"VisionTools Logo\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1986<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>First Logo VisionTools <br \/> Bildanalyse Software GmbH <br \/> St. Leon-Rot<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1986_Vision-Verify_ee5c65eead.jpg\" alt=\"Vision-Verify\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1986<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction of the <br \/> Image processing software <br \/> Vision-Verify<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1988_VT_Wohnzimmer_669db8d9bb.jpg\" alt=\"VT living room\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1987<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Company in the living room <br \/> Blumenstra\u00dfe, St. Leon-Rot<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1987_Schriftzeichen_BMW_3143ad95f2.jpg\" alt=\"Characters\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1988<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>First system for embossed <br \/> character recognition in the <br \/> ger. automotive industry (BMW)<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1992_VT_Stumpenfabrik_edda124ef3.jpg\" alt=\"VT cheroot factory\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1989<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Move to a former cheroot <br \/> factory in St. Leon-Rot<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1990_VT-256_ErsterFG_c047275223.jpg\" alt=\"VT-256 image memory\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1990<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Frame grabber VT-256 <br \/> First VT image memory<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1991_VT-Kamera_K-100i_f2ae4c8211.jpg\" alt=\"Camera K100-i\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1991<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Industrial camera K100-i <br \/> First VT camera<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1995_Sandoz_Ampullen_740f97d3ac.jpg\" alt=\"Sandoz Ampoule\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1993<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Ampoule control at <br \/> Sandoz (today Novartis)<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1996_SlyCam_1_3b55386138.jpg\" alt=\"SlyCam\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1996<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>First smart camera <br \/> &#8220;SlyCam I&#8221;<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1998_V60-WIN95_4500b74182.jpg\" alt=\"V60-WIN95\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1998<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction VisionTools V60 <br \/> Image analysis software <br \/> for Windows 95<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1998_VT-St-Leon_eaf72a4653.jpg\" alt=\"The staff in St. Leon-Rot\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1998<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>The staff in <br \/> St. Leon-Rot<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1998_Zellenaufbau_3fb7fdacd2.jpg\" alt=\"Inspection cells\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1998<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Assembly of complete inspection <br \/> cells in confined spaces. As a <br \/> result the move to Wagh\u00e4usel<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1998_VT_WAG_be6546cdc0.jpg\" alt=\"Company building\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1998<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>New company building <br \/> Goethestra\u00dfe 63 <br \/> in Wagh\u00e4usel-Kirrlach<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1999_VT_SlyBox_1_e930b8868d.jpg\" alt=\"VT SlyBox\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1999<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction VT SlyBox-I <br \/> 12&#8221; Touch Panel PC <br \/> with integrated V60<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_1999_VT_FlexCam_c7a2d2d744.jpg\" alt=\"VT FlexCam\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>1999<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction VT FlexCam <br \/> Pan-tilt colour camera <br \/> with zoom<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2001_SlyCam_2_014e3e67e7.jpg\" alt=\"SlyCam\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2001<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Slycam II <br \/> with integrated lighting<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2003_Sony_XC-ST50_3fa08d4262.jpg\" alt=\"Sony XC-ST50\/51\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2003<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>First projects with XC-ST50\/51, <br \/> Number of units until now <br \/> approx. 12,000<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2004_VT_Sued_1f681eafdd.jpg\" alt=\"Office in Karlsfeld\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2004<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Foundation of the branch <br \/> &#8220;VT-South&#8221; in Karlsfeld <br \/> near Munich<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2004_DIN_ISO_9001_f147f49c3f.jpg\" alt=\"DIN ISO 9001 Logo\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2005<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Certification according to <br \/> DIN ISO 9001:2005<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2006_VT_WAG_Erweiterung_5412cc39c2.jpg\" alt=\"Company building\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2005<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Company premises <br \/> expanded by new building <br \/> Goethestra\u00dfe 65<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2004_1000LizenzenV60_3f7a647de6.jpg\" alt=\"VT V60 licence\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2006<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>More than 1,000 licences of <br \/> VisionTools V60 in use<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2006_QBS_a10b64024b.jpg\" alt=\"QIS\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2006<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction QIS &#8211; 3D height <br \/> images via quotient <br \/> image stereo method<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2007_3D_Sensor_Projekte_e38d143605.jpg\" alt=\"3D Sensor\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2007<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>3D image processing for <br \/> Precision measuring <br \/> Source: HMP-tec<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2008_Cyclospotter_I_53e2bd99e1.jpg\" alt=\"Cyclospotter\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2008<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Cyclospotter I <br \/> In-process adhesive bead <br \/> control during application<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2008_GidKi_f09856778e.jpg\" alt=\"image of a robot\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2008<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>&#8220;Bin picking&#8221; project <br \/> Handling of roof frames <br \/> at Daimler AG<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2008_GigE_Kamera_fb81b91f52.jpg\" alt=\"GigE Camera\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2008<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Camera <br \/> with Gig-E Vision<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2009_CADaVision_fc6766d832.jpg\" alt=\"CADaVision\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2009<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>CADaVision research project <br \/> Simulation of image acquisition <br \/> on the basis of CAD models<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2009_MDL_3dee626135.jpg\" alt=\"LED module lights\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2009<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Module lights <br \/> in various lengths with <br \/> efficient LED technology<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2010_AlexanderTropf_8272d485b1.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Tropf\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2010<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Management expanded <br \/> with Alexander Tropf<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2010_Neues_Logo_f020a7e0bb.jpg\" alt=\"VisionTools Logo\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2010<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Re-designed company logo<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2010_TOPOchecker_919a708c68.jpg\" alt=\"TOPOchecker 3D Sensor\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2010<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction TOPOchecker <br \/> 3D sensor<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2012_VT_Leipzig_3def26e2f2.jpg\" alt=\"Company building in Leipzig\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2012<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Foundation of the branch <br \/> &#8220;VT East&#8221; in Leipzig<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2012_JosefDjulic_b1d54b9f8a.jpg\" alt=\"Josef Djulic\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2012<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Management expanded <br \/> with Josef Djulic<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2013_Erweiterungsbau_Goethestrasse_b21c92e2b9.jpg\" alt=\"Company building\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2013<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Premises expanded by <br \/> new production hall <br \/> Goethestra\u00dfe 63<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2013_Q-Gate_mit_UR_f960d8a842.jpg\" alt=\"Quality gate on robot\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2013<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Quality gate with mobile <br \/> camera on lightweight robot<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2013_Cyclospotter2_60f1f673f7.jpg\" alt=\"Cyclospotter\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2013<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Cyclospotter II <br \/> In-Process adhesive bead <br \/> control during application<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2014_VoE-Konzept_5ab0f1fdf3.jpg\" alt=\"VoE concept\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2014<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction VoE concept <br \/> Vision over Ethernet &#8211; <br \/> Decentralised hardware<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2014_Robocam_69ce24fb24.jpg\" alt=\"Robocam\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2014<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Robocam <br \/> Zoom camera with lighting <br \/> for robot inspection systems<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2015_MRK_9a1a5f5477.jpg\" alt=\"HRC inspection station\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2015<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>First HRC inspection stations <br \/> Image processing with <br \/> Human-Robot Collaboration<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2017_Waermebilder_3556bf36da.jpg\" alt=\"Thermal imaging technology\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2017<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>First projects with thermal <br \/> imaging technology, <br \/> supported by V60<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2017_Rob-LPI_a6e2bbd002.jpg\" alt=\"Rob-LPI\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2017-2018<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Rob-LPI research project <br \/> CAD-based planning of robot- <br \/> guided camera systems<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2018_VT_USA_4a09d67f0b.jpg\" alt=\"Company building\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2018<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Foundation of VisionTools <br \/> Service Corporation in <br \/> Greenville, SC, USA<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2019_VT_Wiesental_1b2cb48300.jpg\" alt=\"Company building\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2019<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Move to the new <br \/> company building in <br \/> Wagh\u00e4usel-Wiesental<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2018_AutpStore_b0d6369cca.jpg\" alt=\"Storage system\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2019<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Commissioning of the new, <br \/> automated storage system<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2019_OPC-UA_8c7289f537.jpg\" alt=\"OPC-UA\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2019<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Extension of the <br \/> interface diversity in V60 <br \/> with OPC-UA<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2020_VoE-2.Gen_a6a8063b9a.jpg\" alt=\"VoE\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2020<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>2nd generation VoE <br \/> Completely revised <br \/> hardware with 10 GBit<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2021_Cyclo-T_3971135ee3.jpg\" alt=\"Cyclospotter-T\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2021<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction Cyclospotter-T <br \/> Adhesive bead control with <br \/> thermal imaging<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2021_AIBox_e7320395ea.jpg\" alt=\"VoE AI Box\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2021<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Introduction VoE AI Box <br \/> Multicore GPU Hardware <br \/> for AI-based evaluation<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2022_VisionCockpit_768d52ff0b.jpg\" alt=\"VisionCockpit online service\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2022<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Online service for AI-Training <br \/> and TISAX certified storage <br \/> of labelled image data<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2023_3D-Linienvermessung_46102118d9.jpg\" alt=\"3D line evaluation\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2023<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>3D adhesive bead inspection \/ <br \/> 3D line evaluation<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/csm_Virtuelle_Inbetriebnahme_KI_Header_cebc85393a.jpg\" alt=\"Virtuelle Inbetriebnahme von KI-basierten Kamerasystemen\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2023<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Virtual commissioning of <br \/> AI camera systems<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/VT-g300-VoE-ThermalCam.png\" alt=\"Gigabit Thermal Imaging camera\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2024<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>VoE Thermal Cam <br \/>Thermal Imaging<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Presse_VT_AC.png\" alt=\"Atlas Copco Group Member\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2024<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>VisionTools is part<br \/>of Atlas Copco Group<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"card\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/csm_2022_KI-QuoVadis_5eeec44de7.jpg\" alt=\"AI image\" draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<h2>2025<\/h2>\n<p>        <span>Further innovative products <br \/> for image processing <br \/> and training with AI<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>    <i id=\"right\" class=\"fa-solid fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group gray-block is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">39 years VisionTools &#8211; how it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-1abe4828\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group three-columns-text is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>After 12 years as a scientific employee at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, several of them as a group leader, Dr. Hermann Tropf founded the company VisionTools in 1986 &#8211; initially as a one-man business in his private rooms. Today, VisionTools employs about 90 people at its Wagh\u00e4usel location and in its branch offices; its systems are in use worldwide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dr. Tropf on his decision to start his own business in 1986:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I saw the possibilities to solve three of the main problems of machine vision at that time and to found a company with good development potential on this basis, without too much investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1st &#8211; Every application was still specially programmed at that time. I was able to remedy this by breaking down frequently occurring tasks into a few basic functions and providing tools for compiling and parameterising the basic functions &#8211; that was my essential contribution. That&#8217;s why I gave the company the name Vision Tools. Years later, the buzzword &#8220;configuring instead of programming&#8221; came into general use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2nd &#8211; As far as computing time was concerned, the secret was in limiting the tasks to those where the regions to be evaluated were small and easy to localise. There were plenty of such tasks in industry, and they still exist today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3rd &#8211; Until the 1980s, the systems worked with special hardware and therefore cost at least 100,000 DM, often considerably more. But these were times of change: with the advent of (industrial) PCs and inexpensive frame grabbers, as well as the transition from CRT cameras to semiconductor cameras, there was a chance, in conjunction with the above-mentioned tools, to realise complete systems for different applications at a fraction of the previous costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The situation today:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, once again&nbsp;industrial image processing is in a period of upheaval.&nbsp;With the performance of today&#8217;s hardware and the current maturity of AI methods, the window to new shores is opening once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, we are working specifically on advanced virtual commissioning, based solely on CAD data of the workpieces and the acquisition and lighting geometry, so that on-site work&nbsp;can be reduced to a minimum. That way we are also tackling the issues of high numbers of variants and rapid product changes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group gray-block is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Back story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-1abe4828\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group three-columns-text is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p>Long before VisionTools existed, our company founder Dr. Hermann Tropf had been scientifically involved in the field. As head of the machine vision group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing in Karlsruhe, he was one of the pioneers of industrial image processing. Theoretical work was awarded prizes (IEEE Computer Society Pattern Recognition Award 1980, German Association for Pattern Recognition extra award 1987), pioneering practical applications successfully ran over the long term at VW, Ford and Siemens. <a href=\"https:\/\/hermanntropf.de\/media\/Details_Gruppe_Fraunhofer.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Details_Gruppe_Fraunhofer.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Details (in German)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A fundamental work on multidimensional range search in mass data found its way into diverse technical applications and into today commercial big data systems. <a href=\"https:\/\/hermanntropf.de\/media\/Z-Curve_LITMAX_BIGMIN_History_and_Applications_en.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/DB-Artikel_Geschichte_und_Anwendungen.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Details<\/a> with history, applications. For explanation of the key function (LITMAX \/ BIGMIN), with&nbsp;Pascal source code, see <a href=\"https:\/\/hermanntropf.de\/media\/DBCode_mit_Erlaeuterung.txt\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/DBCode_mit_Erlaeuterung.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interview on the occasion of the 35th anniversary &#8211; Dr Hermann Tropf founded the company VisionTools in 1986. At today&#8217;s location in Waghaeusel and its branches, VisionTools employs around 90 people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3299,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5841","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5841\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vision-tools.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}