Cognex acquires 3D vision maker Chiaro and industrial ID company Webscan

Cognex (NASDAQ:CGNX; Natick, MA) announced that over the past two months it has acquired Chiaro Technologies (Boulder, CO) and Webscan (Longmont, CO).

Chiaro’s Cloudburst sensor offers high-speed, real-time 3D image streaming that is useful in applications where speed is more important than capturing a high resolution image. The Cloudburst sensor provides Cognex with technology complementary to the company’s high-performance 3D sensors, which are used for more demanding 3D vision applications.

Cognex also acquired Webscan, a leader in barcode verification solutions that enables manufacturers to ensure that barcodes marked on packages, parts, and components are applied accurately before items are shipped, and verifies that codes comply with industry standards.

“These acquisitions add important capabilities in two high-growth areas of Cognex’s business,” said Robert J. Willett, President and CEO of Cognex. “The Cloudburst sensor enables Cognex to address a wider range of applications and price points in the fast-growing 3D vision market. And the combination of Webscan’s verification software with our DataMan product line will enable Cognex to provide the industry’s broadest range of high-performance and easy-to-use verification solutions.”

The purchase of Chiaro was Cognex’s third 3D vision acquisition of 2016, following the purchase of 3D vision software maker AQSense in August 2016, and 3D vision sensor manufacturer EnShape in October 2016.