Swiss manufacturing leaders rely on VU Engineering

Visual inspection is a critical step in manufacturing processes, as it ensures high-quality products by identifying visual defects. However, these repetitive processes, often manual, are prone to errors and very expensive to automate. VU Engineering’s platform revolutionises how manufacturers manage and automate visual inspection. It is a SaaS solution that effortlessly works with existing equipment, like digital microscopes and robots, to digitise and streamline quality checks.

The platform self-improves by analysing the operators’ activities and fine-tuning its inspection algorithms to meet their specific requirements without needing extra data or AI technical know-how. This not only upholds consistent quality across operators but also enables a seamless collaboration between quality stakeholders. Additionally, it allows manufacturers to trial inspection algorithms during actual production, enabling them to make informed decisions before committing to expensive automation equipment, thus reducing financial risks.

The startup has caught the attention of leading industry players in Switzerland, achieving early profitability without marketing activities or external investments. Among its customers are companies like Georg Utz, a global manufacturer of sustainable plastic containers for logistics, and Rollomatic SA, the market leader in high-precision CNC tool grinding machines. Both companies are integrating VU Engineering’s software into their factories to deliver high-quality products faster and more economically.

Currently, the Zurich-based startup generates around CHF 300,000 in annual revenue. One of their newest deals could account for up to 25 per cent of its revenue, potentially reaching one million. The startup is also amid a pre-seed financing round, which will help accelerate its growth, advance its solution, and expand its now 4-member team to boost its sales and accelerate the development of its product.

Collaboration with S3C
VU Engineering has been selected for a project with the Swiss Cobotics Competence Center (S3C). This project, funded by the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Transfer Centers and the Swiss Confederation, aims to integrate VU Engineering’s solution into a cobotic (collaborative robot) cell. This versatile automation tool can work directly with humans to support various production processes.

(RAN)

Photo left-right: Adriano Pagano, Yutong Xiang, Lucas Vandroux and Xuemei Jiang