VISION 2016: World’s largest machine vision trade show expected to be biggest yet

More than 400 exhibitors from 28 different countries are expected to gather at VISION 2016, the world’s largest trade show for the machine vision and imaging industry.

This figure, according to Messe Stuttgart, would represent the most exhibitors in the 27-year history of the show. When the show was last held in 2014, more than 8,600 visitors from 57 countries attended, 39% of which came from abroad. Given the amount of exhibitors at this year’s show, one would expect that the number this year would be near the same, if not more, than two years ago.

As noted by Messe Stuttgart, the show represents a "who’s who in the machine vision industry," and presents a wide range of products and services, including sensors, processors, cables, cameras, software, and illumination systems. (Editor’s note: Keep an eye out for our official product preview, which will be released late next week.) This year, a number of potential “Hot topics” have already been identified, which include embedded vision, 3D imaging, andhyperspectral imaging.In addition to these, the show will have a number of special exhibition areas dedicated to the following:

• Food and beverage. A number of specialized exhibitors will highlight their expertise in machine vision products for food and beverage.
• International machine vision standards. The International Machine Vision Standards exhibit at VISION 2016 is set to once again provide global insight into the machine vision standards used in today’s products and technologies.
• TRAFFIC VISION. A number of specialized exhibitors will highlight their expertise in machine vision products for traffic and transportation.
• IPC 4 VISION. At the IPC 4 VISION stand, attendees will find products and services dedicated to industrial PCs (IPC) that are used for machine vision applications.
• Integration Area. In the VISION Integration Area, a number of companies that offer systems integration and solutions will be able to talk to you about your imaging needs.

There will also be a number of talks and presentations offered at the show, for those looking to learn more about the latest technologies, developments, and products. At Industrial VISION Days, which is sponsored by the VDMA, attendees can sit in on presentations on the following topics:

• Camera technology
• Optics and lighting
• Machine vision software
• 3D
• Embedded vision and industrial PCs
• Standards
• Research and innovation
• New visions for vision

Furthermore, the inspect application forum aims to connect potential users of machine vision technologies with relevant systems and solution providers. The focus will be on different sectors and applications and their specific requirements for machine vision. The following topics and application areas will be addressed under the slogan Vision 4.0 – Smart Vision for Smart Factories:

• Automotive
• Food and beverage
• 3D inspection
• Identification and sorting
• Embedded vision
• Vision-guided robots
• Internet of Things

This year, Messe Stuttgart will also hand out its 22nd annual VISION Award, which celebrates outstanding machine vision innovation in the industry. Five companies now remain in the running for the prize:

• Machine Vision Lighting Inc: VISA Method Lighting (Variable irradiation solid angle) – Overturning conventional wisdom about lighting
• Perception Park: Chemical Color Imaging – The next step in the evolution of machine vision
• Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc: LineCAM12 SWIR and visible line scan camera
• TAG Optics: TAG zIP – Ultrafast 3D z-inspection photography for machine vision applications
• ViDi Systems: ViDi Suite 2.0 - Artificial intelligence-based visual analytics for machine vision

Four of these companies—Perception Park, Princeton Infrared Technologies, TAG Optics, and ViDi Systems are all past winners of Vision Systems Design’s Innovation Awards. The evaluation criteria of the award are comprised of the formal quality of the entry, the technological complexity, the novelty of the applications and degree of innovation, importance for the machine vision industry, and the importance for end users. The winner of the award will have the opportunity to present their innovation during the VISION Press Conference, and also receives €5,000 prize money.

The Vision Systems Design team will be at this year’s show, and we hope to meet as many of you as possible. We will be covering the show live through a dedicated Twitter stream on our website. Tweet at us here or use the hashtag #VSDVISION2016 to interact with us or have your content show up in our feed. Interested in having one of our team members stop by your booth at the show? Click here and let us know.And as previously noted, keep an eye out for our product preview, which will be published next week.

View more information on VISION 2016.

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