About Optris

Foundation of Optris GmbH

Optris GmbH was founded in 2003 to enhance the range of non-contact temperature sensors with advanced measurement and application principles.

The initial support of Micro-Epsilon as a 24.9% shareholder, especially at the beginning of this development, also made the big success of becoming one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pyrometers and infrared cameras possible. The MICRO-EPSILON-MESSTECHNIK group provides an extensive selection of sensors, systems, and solutions, including displacement sensors, color sensors, and thickness measurement tools.

First stationary Optris IR thermometer developed

The first stationary infrared thermometer CT is developed. In the same year, the company expands internationally and enters the Chinese market.

Optris onboards the first sales partners to establish indirect sales channels

Next to the direct sales structure, Optris onboards the first third-party sales partners.

Optris has begun adopting an indirect sales strategy in response to increasing product demand. This approach streamlines the sales process, reducing the final price of infrared products and ensuring a global presence. The combination of a compelling cost-performance ratio, attractive discounts, and private labeling options drives the growth of partnerships. Today’s the oldest sales partnership reach back to 2004.

Optris introduces the portable IR thermometer LaserSight (LS) with patented crosshair laser sighting

In addition to the launch of this sophisticated instrument with switchable optics in 2005, the miniaturized pyrometer series CS and CSmicro will be introduced in the following year 2006.

Launch of first IR imager PI 160

It is a new state of the art thermal imager with ready to use USB 2.0 interface for real time thermography with 120 Hz frame rate.

Doubling of manufacturing area

“The spatial expansion reflects the company’s development during the last years. I am delighted to see our products in applications all over the world”, Ulrich Kienitz PhD, CEO of Optris.

Fully radiometric aerial thermography with the PI LightWeight.

PI 640 VGA infrared camera

One of the worlds smallest infrared cameras with VGA resolution – ideal for integration in industrial and R&D processes.

PI 1M Short wavelength IR camera for the metal industry

The PI 1M features a continuous temperature measurement range of 450 °C to 1800 °C, a frame rate of up to 1 kHz and selectable and exchangeable opti

PI 640 G7: First VGA infrared camera for the glass industry

Dedicated for flat glass production or glass tempering lines this camera can also be used in line scan mode which makes it ideal for process control in these applications.

Management buyout of founder Dr. Ulrich Kienitz

To streamline operations and consolidate different strategic directions, the founder and majority owner, Dr. Ulrich Kienitz, acquires all business shares to ensure reinvestment into the company’s future growth. The company leaves the Micro-Epsilon Group, but Micro-Epsilon stays greatly appreciated for this long-lasting relationship, especially for their support in the early years, and continues to be an important business partner.

Optris is deeply committed to innovating stationary industrial infrared temperature monitoring devices as a privately owned family business. This commitment, coupled with the attractive cost-performance ratio, attractive discounts, and private labeling options, drives the expansion of partnerships through indirect sales channels worldwide.

The MICRO-EPSILON-MESSTECHNIK group continues offering a broad range of sensors, systems, and solutions, which include displacement sensors, color sensors, thickness measurement, and infrared temperature sensors, such as the thermoIMAGER TIM infrared camera series, thermoMETER CS, thermoMETER CT, and thermoMETER CTLaser series.

Optris Mitarbeiterbeteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, the employee participation company for first employees and co-founders, has also been merged with Optris GmbH.

Optris IR sensing starts its business in Portsmouth/USA

Optris IR Sensing starts business in Portsmouth/USA. Meanwhile in Berlin the annual production of more than 60.000 pyrometers and cameras forces an expansion of the manufacturing area to 3000 square meters.

Launch of the compact spot finder IR cameras Xi 80 /Xi 400 & IRmobile app for Android

The Xi series is a fusion of a rugged, compact pyrometer and a modern IR camera. The integrated spot finder function will identify the hottest (or coldest) spot in the image and automatically communicate these measurements without an external PC.

Specialized infrared camera for laser machining processes PI 08M

The PI 08M is ideal suited for almost all NIR and CO2 laser processing applications as radiation above 800 nm is blocked excellently.

Ratio pyrometer CTratio for high-temperature measurement of metals

It is especially suited for measurement of extremely high metal temperatures. The rugged sensing head and fiber optics can be used in hot environments up to 315 °C.

New high speed pyrometer CT 4M for very fast processes

With a response time of only 300μs the pyrometer is a great fit for fast high-volume production and packaging processes (eg. PET preform temperature monitoring).

New Bottom up system for glass tempering plants

The new system solves the low-E coating problem by having two infrared imagers installed underneath the tempering line which measure the temperature on the non-coated high emissivity side of the glass.

Innovative ratio pyrometer with video sighting

With the CSvision Optris launches a new class of pyrometers with video and laser sighting, motorized focus and a unique switchable two-stage brightness reduction filter.

The Xi product family is growing fast! Launch of Xi 640 and Xi 1M

The Xi 640 and Xi 1M from the Optris Xi series merge the durability of a compact pyrometer with modern IR camera capabilities, featuring an integrated spot finder that detects and communicates the hottest spot without needing an external PC.

Appointment of Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kienitz to the Management Board Marks a New Chapter in Leadership and Strategic Direction of Optris

In a significant milestone for our company, we are excited to announce the addition of Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kienitz to our management board. With his wealth of experience and strong leadership background, Dr.-Ing. Kienitz brings a fresh perspective and invaluable insights that will help drive our company’s growth and innovation forward. His expertise aligns with our strategic goals, and we are confident that his contributions will further strengthen our commitment to delivering exceptional services to our customers and sales partners.

In conjunction with this leadership enhancement, we have also restructured our legal form from Optris GmbH to Optris GmbH & Co. KG. This change reflects our evolving business landscape and positions us for greater operational flexibility and long-term stability. The transition to this new legal structure will enable us to optimize our management processes, while continuing to uphold the same high standards of quality and integrity that have always defined Optris.

Partnership with MicroEpsilon ends

After 21 years of a highly successful partnership, Optris and MicroEpsilon have mutually decided to conclude their collaboration within the infrared market. This journey began in 2003 with Optris’s founding and was crucial in helping Optris become a global leader in infrared temperature measurement devices, including pyrometers and infrared cameras. In 2017, Optris left the MicroEpsilon Group became independent.

The MICRO-EPSILON-MESSTECHNIK group provides a comprehensive range of systems, and solutions, including displacement, color, and thickness measurement. Their infrared temperature measurement portfolio featured the thermoIMAGER TIM infrared camera series and the thermoMETER CS, thermoMETER CT, and thermoMETER CTLaser series.

Optris continues to provide these well-known and established IR sensing solutions.