Kontron and Stemmer Imaging close cooperation contract

Partnership to reduce development time and cost for customer-specific image processing projects

Eching, Germany, October 5th, 2010 – Today Kontron, the global leader of Embedded Computing Technology (ECT) and Stemmer Imaging, Europe’s largest technology provider for industrial image processing announced the closing of a cooperation contract. The goal of the collaboration is to optimize the customization of hardware and software for image processing applications as well as reduce cost and time to market for large-scale customer-specific image processing projects through single source supplying.

The cooperation between Stemmer Imaging and Kontron has given rise to application-ready image processing platforms which will be available from both organizations. The platforms are based on the configurable Kontron Industrial Silent Server KISS and are adapted to the individual requirements of industrial image processing. This allows optimal deployment of Common Vision Blox, Stemmer Imaging’s image processing software platform. The emerging industrial image processing solutions focus on the identification and quality control of general and bulk cargo in manufacturing and packaging as well as the quality control of sheet goods such as woven items and plastic and metal sheeting. The certification standards of Kontron products ensure the platforms are particularly suited for use in intelligent traffic systems and medical technology applications.

Christof Zollitsch, Managing Director of Stemmer Imaging remarked: "Working with Kontron will allow us to increase the innovation available to our customers. This will enable us to considerably increase the speed and efficiency with which we implement large-scale industrial image processing projects, which always have a strong need for individualization when it comes to configuring hardware and software and the interaction between them. We also expect that the further optimization of our image processing algorithms can take the overall quality of our applications to an even higher level by tying our algorithms even closer to the underlying hardware, which is based on the latest processor generations. Kontron’s broad embedded hardware portfolio enables exceptionally rapid access to the latest embedded processor technology. Furthermore, customers also stand to benefit from a high degree in flexibility when it comes to the configuration of their application as well as high design security due to long-term availability. Customers have the added advantage that Kontron develops its own server boards in house, so that responsibility for the entire system lies entirely with a single source. Our collaboration now enables customers to obtain everything including the software from a single source."

Günther Dumsky, Director of Systems & Boards EMEA at Kontron stated: "As a developer of sophisticated image processing algorithms and a provider of customer specific image processing solutions, Stemmer Imaging has the necessary know-how to optimally support customers in meeting innovative challenges in image processing. Major customers often prefer system platforms in which the hardware and software originate from a single source, and where the platform is optimized to make best use of the hardware, which is itself designed using the latest processor technology in order to ultimately reduce operating cost via higher processing quality and speed. Working together with Stemmer Imaging will now enable us to provide this. Furthermore, customers will not only benefit from a faster and more efficient development and commissioning of their individual configurations. We are also able to respond more rapidly once the system is up and running, for example in the case of servicing or if image processing requirements are modified."