TKH Group NV (Haaksbergen, the Netherlands) has acquired Liberty Robotics, developer of 3D volumetric machine vision solutions for robotic guidance.
As a result of the deal, which has closed, Liberty Robotics (Dexter, MI, USA) will be integrated into LMI Technologies (Vancouver, BC, Canada), which TKH Group also owns.
Founded in 2005, Liberty Robotics’ systems enable end-of-arm robotic guidance for such use cases as part handling and the application of coatings and sealers in the automotive industry. In the logistics/warehousing industry, the company develops solutions to automate material handling in logistics centers.
Its products pair 3D volumetric sensors with proprietary algorithms to calculate an object’s pose relative to a trained position. This helps the robot make necessary adjustments to its movements when it is interacting with parts and objects in real-world situations.
Related: TKH Group Acquires Euresys
Smart 3D Vision Sensors
Meanwhile, LMI Technologies develops smart laser, structured light, and confocal sensors that produce 3D shape-based data for measurement and inspection applications. The company also markets its sensors for robotic applications.
Many of LMI Technologies’ sensor products are marketed under the Gocator brand. In April, the company released the Gocator 4000 series of Smart 3D Coaxial Line Confocal Sensors that are designed for inspection of such products as semiconductors, consumer electronics, and EV batteries. They provide 1920 points per profile and fields of view up to 5 mm.
In explaining the acquisition, Mark Radford, CEO of LMI Technologies, says, “Liberty Robotics brings deep expertise in robot integration with large field-of-view snapshot scanning as well as powerful application-level software, including its industry-leading solutions for vision-based robotic guidance and mixed-case palletization, that perfectly complement LMI's advanced smart 3D sensor technology infrastructure and global market presence."
Related: TKH Group NV Acquires FocalSpec for LMI Technologies Group
TKH Group focuses on advanced technology in three areas: smart vision systems, smart manufacturing systems, and smart connectivity systems. The company also owns Euresys (Seraing, Belguim), SVS-Vistek (Gilching, Germany), Allied Vision (Ahrensburg, Germany), and Chromasens (Constance, Germany).
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Linda Wilson joined the team at Vision Systems Design in 2022. She has more than 25 years of experience in B2B publishing and has written for numerous publications, including Modern Healthcare, InformationWeek, Computerworld, Health Data Management, and many others. Before joining VSD, she was the senior editor at Medical Laboratory Observer, a sister publication to VSD.