A drive for innovation

InspecVision, a leading UK manufacturer of precision inspection systems for quality control, has achieved the highest business honour in the UK for its outstanding export performance. Announced on 6 May 2025, InspecVision is one of 197 organisations in the UK (and one of only two in Northern Ireland) to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.

The Newtownabbey-based company has been recognised for its excellence in international trade with overseas sales growth of 126% over the last three years. The company currently exports 96% of its products outside the UK. Its products are sold in over 40 countries with the main export markets as the United States, China and Europe.

InspecVision Ltd. was founded in Northern Ireland in 2003 by Dr. Jan Antonis. He saw a gap in the market for a system which could measure parts quickly and easily. Sales of the company’s Planar 2D inspection system, for quality control and reverse engineering applications, began in 2005. The company’s product range has now expanded to include 3D inspection machines.

In recent years, the company has also earned other prestigious awards including ‘Exporter of the Year (Northern Ireland)’ at the 2023 Federation of Small Business (FSB) Awards, the ‘Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade’ in 2021 and ‘FSB High Growth Business of the Year (Northern Ireland)’ in 2020.

Dr. Jan Antonis, founder and managing director of InspecVision Ltd, outlined his strategic and technical vision, as well as the company’s latest new innovations, to ISMR.

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ISMR: What are your views on the current global business climate/markets for sheet metal professionals?

JA: The market is dynamic, and while there are headwinds—geopolitical shifts, supply chain disruptions etc.—there is also tremendous opportunity. The push for smarter manufacturing, re-shoring of supply chains and the growing focus on quality assurance are driving demand for advanced inspection solutions.

Companies are increasingly investing in automation and precision, which is exactly where our strengths lie. Our range of products help our customers to find practical, shop floor-friendly solutions to the challenges that they face streamlining their inspection processes.

ISMR: What is your strategic focus/vision over the next few years? Do you project any growth in turnover for this year, compared to last year?

JA: With current global issues, such as tariffs and geopolitics, it is difficult to make an exact prediction. Our vision is to become the global leader in fully automated, camera-based inspection systems for sheet metal production.

Strategically, we’re expanding our product lines, entering new regions and forming strategic alliances with OEMs and automation integrators. InspecVision will continue to focus on its core strengths, pushing the boundaries of innovative inspection solutions for the sheet metal industry.

ISMR: Which trends do you see developing in global sheet metal/inspection markets?

JA: Smart factories, digital twins and AI-driven quality assurance are defining the future. Customers want integrated, real-time inspection systems that can close the loop in production. There’s also a shift toward zero-defect manufacturing and a strong emphasis on traceability and compliance, all of which require robust, automated inspection solutions.

To read the rest of this interview in the June 2025 issue of ISMR, see https://joom.ag/Rqsd/p20