Viscom

Viscom AG is a German industrial technology company headquartered in Hanover that develops and manufactures automated inspection systems. Its principal technologies include automated optical inspection (AOI), solder-paste inspection, X-ray inspection, computed tomography, wire-bond inspection, conformal-coating inspection and systems for examining energy-storage devices. The company serves manufacturers that need to detect defects in electronic assemblies, semiconductor-related components, microsystems, battery cells and other technically demanding products without interrupting or damaging production. The company originated in 1984, when Dr. Martin Heuser and Volker Pape established Viscom as a software developer specializing in image processing. This initial software and machine-vision expertise became the technical foundation for the company’s later equipment business. After moving to its present site in Hanover’s Badenstedt district in 1992, Viscom began serial production of inspection systems for electronics manufacturing. In 1995, it expanded into microfocus X-ray inspection and introduced a system that combined inspection using incident light with X-ray analysis, broadening the range of defects that could be identified in assembled electronic products. Viscom’s internationalization accelerated in 1998 with the creation of subsidiaries in the United States and Singapore, supported by a wider network of sales representatives. The company subsequently added inspection capabilities for microsystems in 2001. That same year, it converted into a German stock corporation, or Aktiengesellschaft, and later completed its initial stock-market listing in May 2006. The listed structure supported the company’s development as an international supplier of production-inspection equipment while retaining a strong engineering and manufacturing base in Germany. A notable technology milestone came in 2012, when Viscom developed its XM camera-sensor technology for AOI systems. The sensor was designed for high-resolution optical inspection and remained part of the company’s AOI technology portfolio. Viscom reported record sales in 2017, although the available reference material does not provide a corresponding financial amount. In 2018, co-founder Volker Pape moved to the supervisory board, while Carsten Salewski became responsible for sales and operations as the company continued to develop its commercial organization. The business has continued to broaden its geographic and application footprint. In 2021, Viscom established subsidiaries in Bangalore, India, and Huizhou, China. In 2022, it founded Exacom GmbH in Hanover to develop and sell X-ray machines for inspecting battery cells, reflecting the increasing importance of energy-storage manufacturing. The corporate network also includes operations in France, Tunisia, the United States, Singapore, China, Mexico, India and Germany, together with application and service centers. Viscom’s customers and target industries include automotive electronics, consumer and entertainment electronics, telecommunications, industrial electronics, semiconductor-related manufacturing and battery production. Its systems may be used inline within a production line or in manual and laboratory-style settings, depending on the product and inspection task. The company’s positioning is based on combining machine vision, X-ray imaging, software and application expertise into integrated quality-control solutions rather than selling only a single inspection modality. Its present portfolio covers the inspection of solder paste, component placement, solder joints, printed circuit boards, heavy power-electronics assemblies, wire bonds, coatings, materials and energy-storage devices.

Viscom was founded in 1984 by Dr. Martin Heuser and Volker Pape as a developer of image-processing software. Its early competence in machine vision later became the basis for inspection equipment used in electronics manufacturing. In 1992, after relocating to its current Hanover site in the Badenstedt district, the company began serial production of inspection systems for electronic assemblies. The company added microfocus X-ray inspection in 1995. It also introduced a system that combined inspection under incident light with X-ray analysis, allowing manufacturers to assess different classes of defects through complementary imaging methods. This development established X-ray inspection as a second major pillar alongside optical inspection. Viscom began building an international commercial structure in 1998, when it established subsidiaries in the United States and Singapore and expanded its worldwide sales-representative network. In 2001, it entered microsystem inspection and changed its legal form to a German stock corporation. The company’s initial listing on the stock market followed in May 2006. In 2012, Viscom developed XM camera-sensor technology for use in AOI systems. The technology became part of the company’s optical-inspection platform. Viscom reached record sales in 2017; the available reference does not state the amount of those sales. On June 1, 2018, co-founder Volker Pape was elected to the Supervisory Board, and Carsten Salewski became the company’s Director of Sales and Operations. International expansion continued in 2021 with the establishment of subsidiaries in Bangalore, India, and Huizhou, China. In 2022, Viscom founded Exacom GmbH in Hanover to develop and market X-ray equipment for battery-cell inspection. This move extended the company’s inspection expertise into energy storage, in addition to its established work in electronics, automotive electronics, telecommunications, industrial electronics, microsystems and semiconductor-related production. Viscom’s corporate network includes entities and operations in France, Tunisia, the United States, Singapore, China, Mexico, India and Germany. Its product and service organization supports optical and X-ray inspection in inline production, manual inspection, non-destructive testing and three-dimensional computed tomography. The company remains an active, publicly listed German manufacturer focused on industrial quality assurance.

1. 2022Exacom founded for battery-cell inspection

   Viscom establishes Exacom GmbH to develop and sell X-ray systems for inspecting battery cells.

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2. 2021Subsidiaries established in India and China

   Viscom expands its international structure with subsidiaries in Bangalore and Huizhou.

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3. 2018Supervisory-board and sales leadership changes

   Volker Pape is elected to the Supervisory Board on June 1, and Carsten Salewski becomes responsible for sales and operations.

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4. 2017Record sales reported

   Viscom records its highest sales level to that point, although the available reference does not provide a financial amount.

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5. 2012XM camera-sensor technology developed

   Viscom develops XM camera-sensor technology for AOI applications.

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6. 2006Initial stock-market listing

   Viscom completes its initial listing on the stock market in May.

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7. 2001Microsystem inspection added

   The company enters microsystem inspection and changes its legal form to a German stock corporation.

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8. 1998International subsidiaries established

   Viscom establishes subsidiaries in the United States and Singapore and develops a broader international sales network.

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9. 1995Microfocus X-ray inspection introduced

   Viscom adds microfocus X-ray inspection and presents a system combining incident-light and X-ray inspection.

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10. 1992Serial production begins in Hanover

    Following its relocation to the Badenstedt district of Hanover, Viscom begins serial production of inspection systems for electronics manufacturing.

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11. 1984Viscom is founded

    Dr. Martin Heuser and Volker Pape establish Viscom as a company focused on image-processing software.

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High-end industrial inspection and machine-vision solutions provider for electronics, semiconductor-related, microsystem and energy-storage manufacturing.

• 3D Solder Paste InspectionOptical inspection

  Viscom’s 3D SPI systems inspect deposited solder paste before components are placed on a printed circuit board. They are intended to identify defects such as insufficient, excessive or misplaced paste and to provide process data for electronics production lines.

• 3D Automated Optical InspectionOptical inspection

  3D AOI systems use machine vision to inspect component placement, solder joints and other visible features on assembled electronic boards. The systems are designed for serial production and can support automated quality control in sectors including automotive and industrial electronics.

• 3D AXI and MXI SystemsX-ray inspection1995

  Viscom’s X-ray portfolio covers inline and manual inspection of printed circuit boards and larger or heavier power-electronics assemblies. AXI systems support automated inspection, while MXI systems are used for manual or flexible X-ray examination.

• Microfocus X-ray and Computed TomographyNon-destructive testing

  The company supplies specialized X-ray equipment for non-destructive materials testing and three-dimensional microfocus computed tomography. These systems enable internal structures and defects to be examined without physically opening or damaging the inspected part.

• Wire-Bond InspectionSemiconductor and microsystem inspection

  Optical and X-ray wire-bond inspection systems examine bonded connections used in electronic and semiconductor-related assemblies. They address quality-control requirements where bond geometry, placement or internal connection quality must be checked.

• Conformal-Coating InspectionCoating inspection

  Viscom provides inspection solutions for conformal coatings applied to protect electronic assemblies. The systems are intended to detect coating-related irregularities and verify coverage in automated manufacturing environments.

• Energy-Storage Inspection SystemsBattery inspection2022

  Through its Exacom business, Viscom develops and sells X-ray systems for inspecting battery cells and other energy-storage devices. The offering extends the company’s non-destructive inspection capabilities into battery manufacturing.

• 2022Creation of Exacom for battery-cell inspectionProduct launch

  The growth of energy-storage manufacturing created demand for specialized non-destructive inspection of battery cells.

  What changed. Viscom founded Exacom GmbH in Hanover to develop and sell X-ray machines for battery-cell inspection.

  Aftermath. Battery and energy-storage inspection became an identifiable extension of Viscom’s established X-ray technology portfolio.

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• 2021Expansion in India and ChinaStrategy

  Demand for electronics manufacturing and localized technical support created a rationale for strengthening Viscom’s presence in major Asian production markets.

  What changed. Viscom established subsidiaries in Bangalore, India, and Huizhou, China.

  Aftermath. The company expanded its direct international operating and service network in Asia.

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• 2001Entry into microsystem inspectionStrategy

  The company sought to apply its inspection and image-processing capabilities beyond conventional electronics assembly.

  What changed. Viscom introduced microsystem inspection and reorganized as a German stock corporation.

  Aftermath. The move broadened the company’s application scope and established the corporate form preceding its later public listing.

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• 1995Expansion into microfocus X-ray inspectionProduct launch

  Viscom’s original image-processing and optical-inspection expertise was extended into internal inspection of electronic assemblies and components.

  What changed. The company introduced microfocus X-ray inspection and a system combining incident-light and X-ray inspection.

  Aftermath. X-ray inspection became one of Viscom’s principal business areas alongside optical inspection.

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1. Viscom
2. Viscom official website