INDUSTRY NEWS
Infrared Thermography News
Uncooled IR Cameras & Detectors for Thermography and Vision
Initially developed for the military market by US defense companies, use of uncooled infrared (IR) cameras in commercial applications has been growing over the last ten years. In the infrared spectrum, Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) is the most commonly used wavelength (8-12 microns). Thermography and a variety of vision enhancement applications are the main growth markets for uncooled IR cameras. Camera prices have been significantly reduced in the thermography business, which has allowed expansion of the use of IR cameras to maintenance engineers and building inspectors.
This camera cost reduction will continue through 2015 in the thermography business and will also be a strong factor in the vision market (also called night vision or vision enhancement) with the growth of the security/surveillance and automotive markets.
Driven by the continued cost reductions, the volumes of camera sold will triple by 2015 from more than 200,000 cameras today to more than 700,000 units, meaning +23 % annual growth rate. The revenue growth will be about + 9% as market prices for the cameras decrease.
FLIR (US) has been, and remains, the pioneer of uncooled IR cameras with a vertically integrated business model (internal detector production) and a presence in all markets. This domination will be challenged at two levels in the future:
- At the camera level: camera manufacturers specialized in each market have strong distribution networks and market presence. In the thermography business, Fluke will take market share from FLIR. In the security/surveillance market, visible camera leaders will enter the IR camera business (Axis, Bosch, Pelco).
- At the detector level: new detector suppliers will arrive on the market from the MEMS and semiconductor industry with low cost/high volume product capabilities (Sensonor, Bosch,Faun Infrared…).
One of the major cost components for uncooled IR cameras is the IR detector. Hence, detector cost reduction is one of the major keys to further widespread use of IR cameras.
Microbolometers are the dominant uncooled IR detector technology with more than 95 % of the market in 2010. Microbolometer manufacturers were few up to now, often owned by camera manufacturers, which limited the cost competition at the detector level. More than 75 % of the production is based in USA, due the original development of the technology by US Defense Department. This landscape will change in the next five years: many new players (Sensonor, Faun Infrared, Bosch…), focusing only on selling detectors, often in Europe, will enter on the market place with aggressive price strategies.
Vanadium Oxide (VO x), the current dominant microbolometer material, will be challenged by a-Si material and new silicon based materials introduced by new market entrants, thanks to their cost structure, and easier manufacturability.
Detector/Microbolometer product lines are mainly segmented by format from small format (typically 160 x 120) to large format (640 x 480). Price reduction will be huge with -58 % expected between 2010 and 2015 for small format. Larger format will be under less price pressure. The following technical trends make detector cost reduction possible:
- At the packaging level: Wafer Level Packaging and even Pixel Level Packaging will play a huge part in reducing cost, -20 % at least.
- At the pixel level: smaller pixel size (17 microns is becoming a standard) will allow smaller detectors.
- At the integration level: 3D integration, wafer bonding techniques will allow the production of
microbolometers in standard MEMS or CMOS foundries.
Flir sues rival Fluke
Infrared camera-maker Flir Systems Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit against competitor Fluke Corp., claiming the company manipulated Flir’s cameras to make it appear they broke when dropped.
Portland-based Flir (NYSE: FLIR) filed the lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland.
In it, the company claims that Everett, Wash.-based Fluke in March published a video comparing how a Fluke camera fared against three Flir cameras when dropped onto a concrete floor from two meters high.
The video, published on YouTube and made available through Fluke’s website, shows all three Flir cameras breaking upon impact while the Fluke camera remained intact and operable, according to the claim.
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The International Maintenance Excellence Conference (IMEC) 2010 - held Sept. 21-24 in Toronto, Canada - offers maintenance and asset-management professionals an opportunity to get more from their benchmarking efforts with the full-day Workshop "Benchmarking: An Analytical Approach to Achieve World-Class Reliability & Maintenance Excellence," held Fri. Sept. 24. The Workshop will be taught by 30-year industry veteran Serge Mathieu of ABB Reliability Services Canada.
Join the best in the global maintenance field in a unique opportunity to network and learn from top industry professionals and research academics. Scheduled for September 21-24 in Toronto, Canada, the International Maintenance Excellence Conference (IMEC) will mark the sixth edition of this annual event.
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MRI Lie Detectors
No Lie MRI, in San Diego, is charging US $5000 for “truth-verification” sessions. Already, customers have bought these sessions to prove faithfulness to a spouse and to deny allegations of child abuse. But does the technology really work?
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World’s 1st Panoramic Thermal Image Recording Camera
July 29, 2010
SOLTEC Corporation proudly announces the new Models G100 & G120 High Resolution, Portable Thermal Imaging Cameras (InfRecTM series) with the world’s first Panoramic Thermal Image Recording feature (G120). These are the latest of many revolutionary InfRecTM Thermal Imaging Cameras from NEC Avio Infrared Technologies, a world leader in Thermal Imaging Cameras and Systems.
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China's Manufacturing Slows, Inflation Jumps
August 11, 2010by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer
BEIJING (AP) — China's industrial growth slowed further in July as Beijing clamped down on a credit boom, fueling expectations it will ease monetary policy to shore up its economic expansion.
Inflation spiked to its highest level this year as summer flooding wrecked crops but analysts said the increase will likely prove temporary.
The government data Wednesday added to signs China's boom is cooling and fed expectations Beijing needs to reverse course after imposing lending curbs this year to prevent a bubble in stock and real estate prices.
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The 5th Annual Process Industry Engineering and Maintenance Congress 2010
September 14 - 15, Shanghai, China
The 5th Annual Process Industry Engineering & Maintenance Congress, the largest event in China, will be held on September 14-15 in Shanghai, China.
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Early detection key to beating the odds of breast cancer
NIAGARA FALLS -- Nancy Ryan said she is lucky to be alive after a brief battle with breast cancer more than 10 years ago.
Ryan, the executive director of Meals on Wheels in Fort Erie, was 42 when she discovered a lump on one of her breasts after a shower. The Niagara Falls resident wasn't sure at first what she was seeing in the mirror. She said she did breast self-exams regularly as well as mammograms, but she knew it wasn't good. And she wanted the lump off.
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Used Infrared Cameras Wanted
In these recessionary times companies have to optimize their finances as best they can. Because of this we here at the Institute have been getting many calls to recommend what we think is the best IR Camera to purchase for the money. In other words what is the best value?
Now, we do not recommend any camera or manufacturer, if we did we would lose our independence and our “unbiased” status, and become like the other training companies out there.
But, we wanted to help our students and the Infrared Community, so we have created a new service:
The IR Camera Buy and Sell
To sell or purchase an IR camera simply send an email and let us know in details what you want to sell or purchase and we will do our best to match you up with what you are looking for.
There is no fee for this; it is a courtesy of IRT.
IR Cameras Wanted:
Mikron 7800 series IR Camera with 320x 240 detector.
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