With the acquisition of Point Grey Research, the thermal imaging products maker FLIR Systems aims to strengthen its position in the machine vision sector, bringing in more products that can reach a broader set of customers.
With the
acquisition of Point Grey Research, the thermal imaging products maker
FLIR Systems aims to strengthen its position in the machine vision sector, bringing in more products that can reach a broader set of customers.
Early in October, FLIR announced it had entered into definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire the business of Point Grey Research. This is the latest in a line of acquisitions that FLIR has entered into recently. Earlier, the company had bought ISD, DVTel and Lorex in an attempt to strengthen presence in the visible camera segment. The acquisition of Point Grey, however, is different from the rest as its primary focal point will not be the security segment.
In an exclusive interview with
a&s, Shane Harrison, Sr. VP of Corporate Development and Strategy at FLIR, explained that the addition of Point Grey business augments the company’s existing OEM cores and components business by adding a broad range of high-end visible spectrum cameras for use in industrial machine vision applications.
“The business will become FLIR’s Integrated Imaging Solutions line of business operating within our OEM and Emerging segment,” said Harrison. “We see tremendous synergy between our collective technologies and we’ll continue to launch new products that drive growth for our position in the machine vision sector.”
The Richmond, Canada-based Point Grey develops advanced visible imaging cameras and solutions that are used in industrial automation systems, medical diagnostic equipment, intelligent traffic systems, military and defense products and advanced mapping systems. The company is also a provider of solutions for the retail people counting market. FLIR sees this too as a major opportunity to take advantage of with their thermal technology.
In addition to the new technologies this acquisition brings, there is also the question of how it all helps the customers. FLIR pointed out, in addition to expanding its portfolio, the acquisition could pave way for new customers.
“The addition of Point Grey effectively expands FLIR’s technology and product suite so that we can provide solutions to a broader set of customers,” Harrison added. “We also expect to develop products based on each of our core technologies to attract new sets of customers. For example, FLIR’s thermal sensor technology, with its unique ability to remotely measure temperature, see through factory obscurants such as smoke and steam, and accurately detect and characterize human activity in retail settings, will help deliver new products and applications to existing Point Grey customer base. The combination creates countless opportunities for FLIR customers in both visible and thermal sectors.”