Camera maker Basler buys up Silicon Software

20 Jul 2018

Acquisition of card and software firm extends Basler's portfolio towards performance segment of computer vision market.

Industrial camera manufacturer Basler, based in Ahrensburg, Germany, has acquired Silicon Software, a German manufacturer of image acquisition cards and software for the graphical programming of vision processors.

The deal, announced this week, sees Basler take over 100% of the shares of Silicon Software with immediate effect. The two managing directors Dr. Klaus-Henning Noffz and Dr. Ralf Lay will be working for Silicon Software and Basler in the future. Financial details were not disclosed.

Basler stated that by this acqusition it is continuing to expand its product portfolio for computer vision applications: “Camera customers will benefit from comprehensive and easy-to-integrate solutions for capturing and processing images in the future. With a view to next-generation image sensors and their associated higher data rates; easy-to-use high-performance image acquisition cards are becoming increasingly important.”

The partners anticpate that by combining Basler's cameras with intelligent image acquisition cards from Silicon Software, customers will benefit from obtaining solutions from a single source, which already allow pre-processing and analysis of image data "on board" and open up cost-cutting potential. The graphical programming of the vision processors via Silicon Software's VisualApplets software makes for shorter development times and faster time-to-market cycles for customers, say the partners.

Dr. Dietmar Ley, CEO of Basler AG, commented, “Silicon Software's product portfolio complements ours and will significantly contribute to successfully implement our planned expansion strategy towards the performance segment of the Computer Vision Market."

Dr. Klaus-Henning Noffz and Dr. Ralf Lay, CEOs of Silicon Software, added, "The strategic alignment of the two companies fits together well. Basler and Silicon Software can now offer solutions from image acquisition to analysis for all performance areas worldwide. There are two strong brands that also stand for innovations in embedded and Industry 4.0."

• The Silicon Software acquisition closely follows last week’s announcement of Basler’s establishing a joint venture with Chinese distributor Beijing Sanbao Xingye. Both companies agreed to transfer the Machine Vision division to the newly established Beijing-based Basler China.

Replacement for cameras with discontinued Sony sensor

Last month, Basler announced a new ace U camera model that enables 1:1 replacement of older CCD cameras that incorporate Sony's popular but discontinued ICX618 sensor.

Basler's patented algorithm allows the sensor characteristics of the Sony ICX618 to be reproduced 1:1 without distorting the EMVA values of the camera. With identical exposure scenarios, the new ace U delivers comparable gray values; at the same working distance, it delivers the same image detail and the same resolution.