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Draft:Sensofar

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Sensofar Group
Native name
Sensofar Group
Company typePrivate
IndustryOptical metrology / Scientific instrumentation
Founded2001
FounderSpin-off of CD6 (UPC)
HeadquartersTerrassa, Spain
Key people
Ferran Laguarta (President, Sensofar Medical)
Roger Artigas (President & CTO, Sensofar Metrology)
Cristina Cadevall (VP Strategic Actions & Software, Sensofar Metrology)
Marc Canales (CEO & General Manager, Sensofar Group)
Agustí Pintó(R&D Manager)
Products3D optical non-contact metrology instruments (confocal, interferometric, focus variation, spectroscopic reflectometry profilometers). Systems for medical device inspection such as stents.
BrandsSensofar Metrology
Sensofar Medical
Number of employees
+100 (2025)
Websitewww.sensofar.com

Sensofar is a Spanish company headquartered in Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain, founded in 2001 as a spin-off from the Center for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development (CD6) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).[1]

The company develops and manufactures 3D optical surface metrology systems based on confocal microscopy, interferometry, and focus variation techniques.[2] These instruments are used in research and development laboratories, quality inspection, and industrial production processes.

A separate division, Sensofar Medical, designs optical systems for the inspection of implantable medical devices and components, as well as equipment used in biomedical research.

Sensofar collaborates with academic research groups and has expanded internationally, with regional offices in Spain, Germany, China, Taiwan, and the United States, and distribution in more than 30 countries.[3]

History

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Sensofar was founded in 2001 in Terrassa, Spain, as a spin-off from the CD6-UPC. In the same year, the company launched its first line of confocal optical profilers, the PLu series. In 2005, the PLu 2300 received the Photonics Circle of Excellence Award.[4]

In 2012, the company created Sensofar Medical, introducing the Q six optical profilometer, designed for stent inspection.

In subsequent years, Sensofar expanded internationally, opening offices in Asia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.[5]

In 2019, Sensofar introduced the fifth generation of its S neox system.

In 2022, the company launched a new series of integrable heads for industrial production environments.

Metrology contributions

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Sensofar has participated in research in optical metrology, particularly in measurement techniques such as confocal microscopy, interferometry, structured illumination, and focus variation.[6]

Publications linked to the company have reported methods for high-speed topographic imaging using encoded focal scanning, achieving up to 67 measurements per second,[7] enhancements in confocal microscopy for analyzing rough surfaces from additive manufacturing, and single-shot 3D imaging techniques applied to rough samples.[8]

In 2019, a study described a single-shot 3D optical profiling method using structured illumination, applied to rough surfaces.[9]

In July 2025, Zhukova et al. described a computational self-corrected method to estimate and suppress scanner positioning non-linearity in non-interferometric 3D topographic imaging systems, such as confocal microscopy. The approach improved axial precision to levels comparable with piezoelectric scanners while maintaining the measurement range of motorised stages.[10]

Products

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Sensofar develops 3D optical metrology systems used in both industrial and research contexts. The company’s instruments apply techniques such as confocal microscopy, interferometry, focus variation, and fringe projection.

In the metrology division, product lines include optical profilometers such as the S neox series, S lynx, and S wide, which are employed in applications ranging from semiconductor manufacturing to the analysis of advanced materials.[11]

The medical division develops inspection systems for implantable devices, including the Q six and Q vix series, designed for applications in stent and component analysis.[12]

Awards and recognition

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  • 2004 – Received the Photonics Spectra “Circle of Excellence” Award in the photonics and metrology sector.[13]
  • 2009 – Became a founding member and vice-president of SECPhO (Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics), a consortium promoting collaboration among organizations in photonics and optics.[14]
  • 2009 – Company representatives participated in the working group that defined the ISO 25178 standard, which introduced non-contact optical techniques such as confocal microscopy into the international framework for areal surface measurements.[15]
  • 2014 – Received the AAC Robert L. Kersman Award of Excellence for Best Paper at the Aluminum Anodizers Council Conference in Pittsburgh.[16]
  • 2019 – The Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) presented Sensofar with the Research Valorization Award as the “best technology-based company/spin-off”.[17]
  • 2025 – Participated in the European COMETA project, which aimed to replace Cr(VI)-based surface treatments for aluminum and steel with Zr-Ti formulations compliant with REACH standards.[18]


References

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  1. ^ "Sensofar, una apuesta por el futuro de la óptica y la fotónica". Biocat (in Spanish). 23 June 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Metrology in Semiconductor Fabrication". AZoM. AZoNetwork. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  3. ^ "S neox system". Stanford Nanofabrication Facility. Stanford University. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  4. ^ "New S neox Five Axis 3D optical profiler". CMM Magazine. CMM. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Three-in-one technology for 3D optical profiling". The Sempre Group. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  6. ^ "S neox system". Stanford Nanofabrication Facility. Stanford University. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  7. ^ Zhukova, L. (2022). "Super-resolved 3D optical profiling for surface metrology using structured illumination". In De Groot, Peter J.; Leach, Richard K.; Picart, Pascal (eds.). Optics and Photonics for Advanced Dimensional Metrology II. Proceedings of SPIE. Vol. 12137. Bellingham, Washington: SPIE. pp. 121370L. doi:10.1117/12.2621813. ISBN 9781510651500.
  8. ^ Zhukova, L. (2021). Optical Super-Resolution Techniques for 3D Profilometry (PhD thesis). Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  9. ^ Zhukova, L. (2019). "Surface plasmon-polariton waves guided by reciprocal, uniaxially chiral, bianisotropic material". In Tanaka, Takuo; Tsai, Din Ping (eds.). Plasmonics: Design, Materials, Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications XVII. Proceedings of SPIE. Vol. 11057. Bellingham, Washington: SPIE. pp. 110570J. doi:10.1117/12.2525303. ISBN 9781510628571.
  10. ^ Zhukova, L; Artigas, Roger; Carles, Guillem (2025). "Computational self-corrected quantitative 3D topographic imaging". Scientific Reports. 15 (1): 24298. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-08284-9. PMC 12234762. PMID 40624205.
  11. ^ "New S neox Five Axis 3D optical profiler". CMM Magazine. CMM. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Optical metrology advances". Laser Focus World. 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2025.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Circle of Excellence Awards". Photonics Spectra. Photonics Media. 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Socio Sensofar". SECPhO (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2025.[dead link]
  15. ^ "ISO 25178 – Geometrical product specifications (GPS)". International Organization for Standardization. ISO. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Annual Conference Awards". Aluminum Anodizers Council. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Sensofar, una apuesta por el futuro de la óptica y la fotónica". Biocat (in Spanish). 23 June 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  18. ^ "COMETA Project". CORDIS. European Commission. 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
[edit]

Category:Spanish companies established in 2001

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