Barriers to the manufacturing sector’s adoption of hyperspectral imaging are falling, improving high-precision process inspections and real-time analyses for pivotal industries.
Hyperspectral imaging is firmly established in environmental monitoring and aerospace applications, and the technology is gaining favor across mainstream manufacturing. In sectors including semiconductors, thin films, energy materials, and displays fabrication, hyperspectral imaging provides detailed in-process insights. Precision and yield are paramount in these sectors; hyperspectral imaging optimizes these parameters while also offering high speeds of operation and a nondestructive approach to inspection.
Oliver Grass, managing director of inno-spec GmbH, a Headwall Group company, said that this opportunity for hyperspectral imaging exists in parallel with the potential for broader adoption in industrial applications. “Until now, the high cost of hardware and the complexity of analyzing hyperspectral data have hindered widespread adoption,” Grass said. “However, the economics are changing, not only because the value of the products being inspected or graded has risen, but also because the barriers to entry are being effectively addressed.”