EMVA sets independent path for machine vision in Europe
Lisbon, Portugal--During its 10th annual meeting held April 19-21, the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA) endorsed a change that makes it an independent entity, no long part of the German Engineering Federation or VDMA (Frankfurt, Germany). The EMVA Executive Committee noted that the new structure will allow the association to improve its visibility as a true European entity. It will also make the organization more functional because it will enable EMVA to deepen its existing activities and to offer a much broader portfolio of services to its 125+ members.
Toni Ventura-Traveset, member of the EMVA board, said, “Machine vision companies in Europe need a strong European association. All projects addressed by the EMVA so far were important for the industry. However, the EMVA resources have not been adequate for all tasks relevant to the machine vision industry."
He added that the new structure will focus more resources on international machine vision standards and on obtaining market data about the industry. In addition, there will be more activities in funding and innovation through a stronger presence with the European Commission in Brussels, as well as intensified marketing of the machine vision industry and the association.
Until a new general secretary is hired, former member of the Executive Committee, Cor Maas has volunteered to serve as interim general manager starting July 1. Together with Toni Ventura-Traveset (Datapixel, Spain), four other members were elected into the new Executive Committee: Pierre-Alain Champert (Coherent, France), Gabriele Jansen (Vision Ventures, Germany), Dirk Käseberg (Mettler-Toledo Garvens, Germany), and Ignazio Piacentini (Imaging Lab, Italy).
Conard Holton
Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.