OCTUM – Industrial Machine Vision and AOI System Integrator
Machine vision expertise, software, integration and local support across the Americas
Founded in 1996, OCTUM develops and integrates industrial machine vision and automated optical inspection systems for quality control in manufacturing. Around 50 employees at locations in Germany and the United States develop custom-engineered inspection solutions for industrial production processes.
As a machine vision system integrator, OCTUM combines cameras, optics, lighting, software, mechanics, interfaces and machine integration into one coordinated system. Each solution is engineered around the specific product, inspection task, production speed and conditions within the manufacturing environment.
OCTUM supports projects from the initial technical evaluation through system development and integration to commissioning, training and long-term support. OCTUM USA in Charlotte, North Carolina, provides customers throughout the Americas with a local point of contact for technical coordination and service.
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OCTUM at a Glance
- industrial machine vision since 1996
- approximately 50 employees
- locations in Germany and the United States
- more than 6,000 systems installed worldwide
- custom-engineered machine vision and AOI systems
- proprietary software solutions
- integration into new and existing production equipment
- experience in regulated manufacturing environments
- international project and service experience
- local coordination and support from Charlotte, North Carolina
System Integration Instead of Individual Components
Machine vision must work as part of the manufacturing process
A machine vision system consists of more than a camera and inspection software. Reliable inspection under actual production conditions requires the coordinated interaction of image acquisition, lighting, optics, software, product handling, machine controls, operator interaction and data connectivity.
OCTUM therefore assumes responsibility for the complete inspection system. Together with OEMs, equipment manufacturers, automation companies and manufacturers, we determine where inspection should take place, which defect characteristics are relevant and how inspection results should be incorporated into machine and quality processes.
Inspection stations can be included during the planning of new production equipment or retrofitted into existing machines and production lines. OCTUM can also expand existing systems to accommodate new products, formats or inspection characteristics.
From the Inspection Task to a Production-Ready System
Custom-engineered solutions for specific manufacturing requirements
Every project starts with the specific inspection task. Which characteristics need to be detected, measured, read or documented? Which defect patterns are relevant? Which production speed, product handling and installation conditions must be considered?
For demanding applications, OCTUM investigates technical feasibility using real known-good and known-defective samples. Suitable cameras, optics, lighting and image evaluation methods are assessed. The results provide the basis for an inspection concept designed around the application and manufacturing environment.
OCTUM then supports system design, mechanical engineering, software configuration, integration, commissioning and acceptance testing. This transforms an inspection concept into a system that can be used reliably in production.
In-House Software Expertise
Software platforms for flexible and scalable inspection systems
In addition to integrating commercially available cameras, optics and lighting components, OCTUM develops proprietary software solutions for industrial machine vision and automated optical inspection.
OCVis, OCTUMISEr and CV-Inspect provide different software platforms for standalone inspection stations and complex multi-camera systems. Depending on the application, functions for image evaluation, product and format management, user management, result visualization, data communication and system diagnostics can be integrated.
Our in-house software expertise enables OCTUM to adapt inspection processes, operator concepts and interfaces to the specific production equipment and manufacturing process.
Experience in Demanding Industries
Inspection solutions for high quality and process reliability requirements
OCTUM machine vision systems are used in industries where products and components must be inspected reliably and reproducibly. Depending on the application, every product can be inspected directly within the manufacturing process.
OCTUM has particular experience in:
- pharmaceutical manufacturing
- medical device manufacturing
- packaging
- automotive manufacturing
- metal and plastics processing
- electronics
- cosmetics
- additional industrial applications
In FDA-regulated pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, inspection performance is often accompanied by requirements related to user access, audit trails, traceability, data integrity, product and format management and documented system changes.
Depending on the project and system configuration, OCTUM solutions can include functions and documentation designed to support requirements derived from 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5 and EU GMP Annex 11.
The specific system configuration always depends on the product, manufacturing process, equipment environment and project-specific quality and compliance requirements.
Local Support Across the Americas
Charlotte-based coordination backed by global engineering expertise
OCTUM combines a local presence in the United States with the engineering, software and application expertise of its teams in Germany.
Charlotte, North Carolina
OCTUM USA in Charlotte supports customers in the United States, Central America and South America. The location provides a regional point of contact for technical coordination, remote support and on-site service assignments.
Shorter travel distances and improved coordination across American time zones help connect customers with the appropriate technical specialists and support faster communication throughout the system lifecycle.
Rodenbach near Kaiserslautern, Germany
The Rodenbach location expands OCTUM’s application and support capabilities. Customer projects receive technical support from this location, and existing systems are serviced throughout their lifecycle.
OCTUM systems are installed and supported worldwide. The locations work closely together, combining local accessibility with the technical experience of the entire company.
Responsibility Throughout the Entire System Lifecycle
Our cooperation does not end with commissioning
Production equipment and quality requirements change over time. New product variants are introduced, formats are adapted, inspection criteria are expanded and technical components continue to evolve.
OCTUM therefore supports inspection systems throughout their entire lifecycle:
- technical consulting and feasibility studies
- system development and design
- integration into production equipment and manufacturing lines
- commissioning and acceptance testing
- operator and system training
- remote technical support
- on-site service coordination
- maintenance and repairs
- adaptation to new products and formats
- expansion of existing inspection tasks
- system modernization and retrofit
This long-term support helps ensure that machine vision systems can continue to be used reliably for many years and adapted to changing manufacturing requirements.
What Sets OCTUM Apart
Technical experience combined with long-term project responsibility
OCTUM combines more than 30 years of industrial machine vision experience with in-house software development, technology-independent system design and comprehensive integration expertise.
Customers throughout the Americas benefit from:
- a local point of contact in Charlotte, North Carolina
- one partner for the complete inspection system
- more than 6,000 systems installed worldwide
- experience with new equipment and existing production lines
- proprietary software solutions
- expertise in traditional rule-based and AI-based evaluation methods
- experience in FDA-regulated manufacturing environments
- international engineering, project and service experience
- long-term support beyond commissioning
People, History and Network
Get to know OCTUM
Behind our technical solutions are people, experience and an established network of customers, technology partners and professional associations.
Corporate management
Meet the people responsible for OCTUM’s strategic and technical development.
>> Meet the OCTUM management team
Locations
Learn more about our locations in Charlotte, Ilsfeld and Rodenbach near Kaiserslautern.
>> Explore OCTUM locations
History
Follow OCTUM’s development from its foundation in 1996 to an international machine vision system integrator.
>> Discover the history of OCTUM
Vision
Learn about the goals and values that guide our work.
>> Discover the OCTUM vision
Partners and memberships
Learn more about our technology partners, professional associations and industry networks.
>> Explore our partners and memberships
Customer references
Learn how customers describe their cooperation with OCTUM.
>> View customer references
Does OCTUM Provide Local Support in the United States?
Yes. OCTUM USA in Charlotte provides customers in the United States with a local point of contact for technical coordination and service support. The US team works closely with OCTUM’s engineering, application and software specialists in Germany.
Discuss Your Inspection Application with OCTUM USA
Are you planning new production equipment, looking to retrofit an existing manufacturing line with machine vision or considering expanding an existing inspection system?
Tell us about your product, the relevant inspection characteristics and the conditions within your manufacturing environment. Together, we will determine which technical solution is appropriate for your application and whether a feasibility study or proof of concept is recommended.
OCTUM USA Inc.
14045 South Lakes Drive
Charlotte, NC 28273
USA
Phone: +1 (980) 431-9540
Email: info@octum-usa.com
