NanoFocus AG celebrates 20th company anniversary

20 years of international innovation in modern surface metrology

NanoFocus AG, from Oberhausen/Germany, looks back on a 20 year success story. Since its foundation in 1994 the company has become the technology leader in optical 3D surface metrology. Today customers in various industries, from automotive, medical technology to semiconductor and electronics industry, around world use the nanometer accurate measurement systems of NanoFocus for quality assurance, production control and laboratory analysis.

In 1994 a small team began realizing an ambitious aim: the development of high-resolution and robust optical microscopes which will provide three-dimensional insights in production processes. “Optical confocal metrology was not widely used for industrial quality assurance at that time”, says Dr. Hans Hermann Schreier, founding member and current chairman of the supervisory board.

Emphasis on continuous innovation
The young company could already introduce the first generation of µsurf-measurement systems, the world’s first industrially applicable 3D confocal microscope for roughness measurements. This was only the first of many milestones that led to NanoFocus’ technological leadership in the area of industrial 3D surface metrology. Today the product spectrum of NanoFocus consists of the three product lines µsurf (high-resolution 3D confocal microscopes), µscan (3D scanning profilometers) and µsprint (extremely fast 3D confocal sensors) as well as the software products for measurement, evaluation and automation of the µsoft-platform.

This year NanoFocus introduced the new product µsurf expert to the international market. The high-end measurement system combines the best of 20 years of know-how in confocal measurement technology. It is the world’s most powerful measurement system for the three-dimensional optical surface analysis in research laboratories and production control. 
 
NanoFocus received numerous awards for its innovative accomplishments. At the beginning of this year the company was honored as “Technology leader in optical 3D surface metrology” by the Ministry of Economy of North-Rhine Westphalia within the campaign Germany at its best. In June, the company received the award TOP-Innovator 2014 from TOP 100-mentor and TV moderator Ranga Yogeshwar.

Pronounced customer proximity and qualified employees as key to success
What started in a small team 20 years ago is today and internationally active company. “We have acquired a wide circle of customers who trust in our products and who have remained loyal to us over the years. The good and faithful communication with our customers is an essential part of our corporate culture”, explains Jürgen Valentin, CTO of NanoFocus AG and himself one of the first team members.

The management board also values the performance of the employees. “Without the commitment and know-how of our employees the success of NanoFocus would not have been possible”, says Mr. Valentin.
NanoFocus has been headquartered in Oberhausen/Germany since 2002. Additionally the company has a customer centre in the south of Germany and representative offices in the USA and Singapore.