Interview from the VISION show floor: IDS Imaging Development Systems

My second appointment of the second day of the VISION show was with Tom Hospod, Sales Director, North America, at IDS Imaging Development Systems.

I don’t know if it was just the time of day, or the new products that on display, but this booth was bustling. When we eventually sat down in a location where we could talk (and hear each other), I asked Hospod about the machine vision industry, and whether or not he agreed with the sentiment that it was on the rise.

"Machine vision is becoming more pervasive, and as a result, more companies are embracing the technology to help improve their manufacturing processes," he said. "Sales are up, prices are becoming more cost-effective, and this is pushing up annual volumes in our industry."

For IDS itself, business seems to be healthy. Recent reports indicate that 2013 sales were up more than 20% compared to 2012, and that 2014 could be up by an addition 12%. The jump in sales, according to IDS, can be attributed to an increase in international business. The company’s export ratio rose to 40% in 2013, up from 32% the previous year and sales to China more than doubled. As business continues to grow, the company is in a position to develop new and innovative products, one of which is the newly-launched USB 3.0 uEye XC autofocus camera.

The camera, which is pictured in the photo above along with Hospod, is a 13 MPixel USB 3.0 camera that features autofocus, facial detection, 16X digital zoom, backlight compensation, and automatic white balance capabilities.

"This USB 3.0 camera is the perfect choice for applications requiring adaptability to changing lighting conditions or operating distances, such as in building access controls, kiosk systems, or in logistics. Its robust metal housing, lockable USB 3.0 connectors and long-term availability make this camera particularly well-suited for OEMs and system integrators,” he said.

Hospod also mentioned 3D imaging as an escalating growth area, and something that could be the 'next big enabler.' Many camera manufacturers are already developing 3D cameras, he suggested. IDS, for one, has introduced two new 3D cameras. In the demonstration video above, a Fanuc robot is using IDS’ Ensenso N20 3D camera for bin picking at VISION 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany.

View more information on IDS Imaging Development Systems.

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