Zeiss Acquires Majority Interest in Steinbichler

Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH (Neubeuern, Germany) is one of the world’s leading providers of digitization systems with optical 3D sensors for surface inspection on car body and sheet metal parts. Established in the market for over 25 years, with a global workforce of more than 200 people, the company has a broad spectrum of competencies in photogrammetry and laser scanning that are featured in the extensive installed user base of COMET and T-Scan series systems.

In addition to these mobile systems, their ABIS surface inspection systems and COMET sensors are also installed with robots as complete solutions. Extensive software products and services round off a product line that offers users reliability and major benefits over many years. The company is also a leading supplier of interferometric tire inspection systems used for intact series guarantee nondestructive testing and quality control involving shearography as applied in car/truck/aerospace and F1 tire inspection.

In the field of car body metrology, Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC (Maple Grove, MN) presented the new, extremely fast Eagle Eye II triangulation laser scanner for its horizontal measuring machines of the PRO series last year. It has already proven its excellence in several benchmark studies. This development was jointly implemented by Zeiss and Steinbichler and demonstrates the many years of close collaboration and outstanding capabilities of the two companies.

The interaction of the Steinbichler portfolio with the Zeiss software line (such as the PiWeb platform and the surface measuring programs) will generate synergies and potential that can be offered through the global distribution and service organization of Zeiss for the benefit of their customers in the future.

“This will further strengthen our business group in the field of optical measuring technology, promote digitization and position us as a solutions provider in the area of quality processes in car body production. In the future we will cover the entire process, from the CAD data model and digitization right up to car body shell inspection,” explains Rainer Ohnheiser, the head of the Industrial Metrology business group.

Marcus Steinbichler, the managing partner of Steinbichler Optotechnik, adds, “The competencies and positioning of the two companies are the perfect match. Access to the their global distribution and service organization will enable us to reach even more customers and address additional, new sectors.”

Subject to the approval of the authorities, the transaction is due to be finalized by mid-summer this year. Steinbichler headquarters will remain in Neubeuern, with Marcus heading the new company as its managing director over the long term.

“The competencies and positioning of these two companies is a perfect match,” notes Marcus Steinbichler. “The interaction of our portfolio with their software line will generate synergies and potential for the benefit of users. Because we have already been collaborating closely on developments for many years, we know them very well and are now evolving this solid, proven partnership into a joint company with its focus firmly on the future.”

www.steinbichler.de

www.zeiss.com/industrial-metrology