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Zebra Technologies to Acquire Photoneo, Backed by Central and Eastern Europe Investment Fund
Combining Photoneo’s 3D Machine Vision and Zebra’s Advanced Technologies to Address Complex Use Cases
Jan 20, 2025
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By combining Photoneo’s 3D machine vision solutions with Zebra’s advanced sensors, vendor- agnostic software and AI-based image processing capabilities, customers will benefit from a unique portfolio of offerings to address their most challenging use cases. These include high value applications such as bin picking, depalletizing, creating digital twins, and inspecting objects used in automotive manufacturing, logistics and other key markets.
From left to right: Co-founder, CTO Photoneo Group, Tomas Kovacovsky; Co-founder, Director of AI Photoneo Group, Michal Maly; Co-founder, CEO Photoneo Group, Jan Zizka; Co-founder, CRO Photoneo Group, Branislav Puliš.
Photoneo’s intelligent sensors are particularly effective within the vision-guided robotic (VGR) segment. They are certified to interface with many of the largest robotic manufacturers for a variety of use cases including robot-arm applications for bin picking. Photoneo differentiates itself through parallel structured light technology in complex 3D applications which provides a faster, more accurate, higher resolution and more robust solution comprising both hardware and software.
“This acquisition addresses the needs of customers globally who want to maximize the potential of machine vision within their frontline operations,” said Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer, Zebra Technologies. “Building on Zebra’s proven expertise in autonomous data capture, inspection software and deep learning AI capabilities, this combination expands our portfolio of highly differentiated 3D sensors and advanced 3D machine vision software. We look forward to welcoming the Photoneo team to the Zebra family.”
“Zebra Technologies will provide an ideal environment for Photoneo to further accelerate its innovation,” said Jan Zizka, Co-founder and CEO, Photoneo Brightpick Group. “By combining world-class 3D sensors from Photoneo with Zebra’s global reach and best-in-class 3D software, customers will be able to unlock considerable business value from machine vision across new, exciting use cases.”
This acquisition is accretive to Zebra's profitable growth profile while advancing the company’s portfolio of machine vision solutions. Zebra expects to fund the purchase price with cash on hand. The transaction is subject to closing conditions and expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. Financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.
About Photoneo:
Photoneo Brightpick Group, the parent company of Photoneo, a leading provider of robotic vision sensors and intelligence software, and Brightpick, a leading provider of warehouse automation solutions for ecommerce and grocery order fulfillment. Taiwania CEE Fund led the Series B in 2022.
Photoneo is a leading provider of robotic vision and intelligence. Based on a patented 3D technology, Photoneo developed the world’s highest-resolution and highest-accuracy 3D camera, thus unlocking the full potential of powerful, reliable, and fast machine learning and also reducing the training and deployment time. By bringing intelligent robots into the field, Photoneo helps companies mainly in the automotive, logistics, e-commerce, food, and medical industries to improve the performance and efficiency of their manufacturing, fulfillment, and assembly processes. For more information, visit https://www.Photoneo.com.
About Zebra Technologies:
Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) helps organizations monitor, anticipate, and accelerate workflows by
empowering their frontline and ensuring that everyone and everything is visible, connected and
fully optimized. Our award-winning portfolio spans software to innovations in robotics, machine
vision, automation and digital decisioning, all backed by a +50-year legacy in scanning, track-
and-trace and mobile computing solutions. With an ecosystem of 10,000 partners across more
than 100 countries, Zebra’s customers include over 80% of the Fortune 500. Newsweek
recently recognized Zebra as one of America’s Most Loved Workplaces and Greatest
Workplaces for Diversity, and we are on Fast Company’s list of the Best Workplaces for
Innovators. Learn more at www.zebra.com or sign up for news alerts. Follow Zebra’s Your Edge
blog, LinkedIn, X and Facebook, and check out our Story Hub: Zebra Perspectives.
