Whether on land, in water or in air, industrial image processing has managed to reach virtually every sector imaginable. Nevertheless, the manufacturers in this industry segment are largely unknown to the public, staying behind the scenes as the provider of the technology in the final products. One such "hidden champion" is Matrix Vision. Head-quartered in the Swabian district of Oppenweiler near Stuttgart, the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

When Gerhard Thullner and Werner Armingeon set up the company on June 24 1986, little did they know that 30 years later they would have close to 100 employees and a depth and breadth of technological expertise that is unusual in the industry. The young company did not begin with image processing directly. Rather, at the start it developed software for atomic absorption spectrometers. In contrast to the business direction, the division of roles was clear right from the get-go: while Armingeon was responsible for the technical part, Thullner was in charge of the business side of things. With this approach, the team developed an instinct for correctly interpreting technological trends and constantly evolving and adapting the business.