Meet our CODE_n CONTEST Finalists 2016: twip optical solutions from Germany

“The innovation of our product is a combination of many details,” states Dr. David Fleischle, Managing Director of twip optical solutions. The German startup is a supplier for 3D measurement solutions and one of our finalists in the “Photonics 4.0” contest cluster. Find out more about twip in the latest part of our finalists blog series!

What is twip all about? How did you come up with the idea?

David: twip is a supplier for 3D measurement solutions that can be used for automation process in manufacturing. We developed the idea while we were working at the University of Stuttgart. As members of the institute staff, we received a lot of requests for measurement solutions that can be implemented into fabrication and manufacturing.

“Digital Disruption“ – that’s the motto of this year’s CODE_n CONTEST. What makes your solution innovative, what makes it disruptive?

David: The innovation of our product is a combination of many details. Nevertheless, the biggest and most outstanding is the small size and low weight. We were able to realize the compact design due to the implementation of a new measurement approach: The use of a microlens disc in our special setup. With the reduction of size and weight of 3D measurement systems, the cornerstone for the movement from these measurements technique out of the lab into production is set. And with this aim in mind, a complete change of quality assurance is possible!

You’re one of the 13 finalists in the Photonics contest cluster. Which challenges do you think young companies have to face in this sector? How do you handle these challenges?

David: Especially for the sector of measurement and quality assurance, the biggest challenge for young companies is the conservative behavior of potential clients. If you are a young company and offer new, innovative products, they will still go for established companies, for the only reason that their products are already well known. We for our part, were lucky to find an established partner that takes the “risk” to use our measurement system.

You mention that your solution ensures a broad range of applications from all different kinds of measurement challenges. Can you give us some concrete examples from practice?

David: The broad range of applications is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is, that it can be used in many different sectors: Starting from the semiconductor sector, e.g. for the geometrical evaluation of bond connections, over classical sectors like chipping for roughness evaluation to the point of medical applications, e.g. the measurement of test targets for LASIK eye surgery. But this wide range can also be a curse, because you have to be able to address all these different needs and clients.