Microscan : Global Leadership with Technology Innovation

We focus on three core vertical markets: electronics, packaging, and the life sciences, with dedicated teams to support the unique needs of each of these markets. This approach differentiates us in the market; we do not try to be everything to everyone. We offer products that are highly specialized, yet easy to use and implement; our flexibility as a company allows us to customize our products to the applications they serve.

Scott Summerville – President
Mircroscan

Q. Please brief us about company’s global reach & what are the global alliances that has been made in order to out-front the competition?
Microscan is a global company, with offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, including one in New Delhi. We serve a worldwide marketplace and we have a thorough understanding of the needs of today’s global companies. As a part of Spectris, plc, we are able to leverage the market reach of a larger organization while maintaining the flexibility that comes from being a smaller company.By offering complementary products and/or complete solutions, our partner network is central to our market access. We place high value on our partner network and look for distribution partners who are similarly market-focused and can add value to our product line. We feel this is a key advantage to our customers over our competition.

Q. What are the growth opportunities for Microscan Products in India?
The Indian government has identified the manufacturing sector as one of the country’s primary growth engines over the next several years, and has outlined aggressive output objectives in its National Manufacturing Policy. Microscan develops products to help manufacturers improve efficiencies and streamline processes, which means higher throughput and less waste, as well as improved product quality – this is a recipe for sustained growth. If India is to successfully compete on a global stage, it must adopt track, trace, and control technologies.

Q. Please elucidate the export performance of Mircoscan products? What is the demand scenario of Mircoscan products in global market?
Currently, approximately 55% of Microscan’s global sales comes from outside of North America. APAC represents much of our growth over the past few years.We focus on three core vertical markets: electronics, packaging, and the life sciences, with dedicated teams to support the unique needs of each of these markets. This approach differentiates us in the market; we do not try to be everything to everyone. We offer products that are highly specialized, yet easy to use and implement; our flexibility as a company allows us to customize our products to the applications they serve.

Q. Please elucidate the product portfolio of your company & do have any plans to launch new products in the market in near future?
Microscan has a comprehensive portfolio of track, trace, and control products to help manufacturers reduce costs, increase yields, improve product quality, and comply with industry regulations. We offer barcode scanners and imagers (fixed mount and handheld) to read any linear or 2D barcode, either ink on paper or direct part marked; machine vision software, smart cameras, and PC-based solutions for inspection and identification of parts, products, and packaging; and lighting to ensure optimal performance in any Auto ID or machine vision inspection application.

We will be adding several new products to our line in the upcoming months. A new release of our AutoVISION software, designed for easy implementation of machine vision inspection, includes the Microscan Link feature for one-click connectivity to industrial controls including Profinet and Ethernet IP platforms.

For the first time, the software will be available in German and Chinese versions. Additionally, we’ll be launching Mini Hawk Xi, an Ethernet-enabled 24V version of our popular MINI Hawk Imager, and a new wireless handheld reader, the HS-51x.

Q. Indian market is price sensitive, what is your marketing strategy for India to counter this situation?
Commoditization, particularly when it comes to barcode readers, is a trend that presents a challenge to us not just in India, but worldwide. We need to remain market-focused to counter this trend. We differentiate our products in the marketplace by producing innovative technologies to address the unique needs of our target customers in the electronics, life sciences, and packaging industries. Our expertise and support, particularly in regards to solutions engineering and our channel network, add tremendous value for our customers.

Q. As per your opinion what is the role of research & development in product performance? How do you score R&D in your company against all other functional heads?
Microscan prides itself on its long history of innovation, which includes the invention of the first laser diode barcode scanner, the industry standard 2D symbology, Data Matrix, and the AutoVISION machine vision product suite. We place a high value on our intellectual property, which includes over 100 technology patents.

We take a customer-centric approach to product development. By listening to and understanding the needs of our customers, we are able to provide solutions that are tailored to their applications. Our engineering group makes a point of directly observing technology in action to keep abreast of current trends.

Q. What is your quality policy for the business?
Microscan places top priority on quality manufacturing and monitoring processes. Microscan’s Quality Management System has been certified to ISO 9001 requirements since 1996. In our many years of compliance to ISO 9001 standards and all of the ensuing audits, Microscan has never received a major non-conformity notice. That is a claim very few companies today can make.

We guarantee quality by maintaining established standards, encouraging innovation, and inspiring our employees to excellence. We are committed to the continual improvement of processes, products, and services, and to the delivery of solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations.

Q. What is your vision for your company?
Microscan’s vision is to deliver innovative, high performance products and services that improve process efficiency, quality control, and product safety worldwide.