Surfscan appoints European agency

Web inspection systems designer Surfscan Technologies has appointed WM-Systeme as its European agent to promote, sell and provide technical support to its range of 100 percent inspection systems.

The linescan-based systems are known under the Check brand, such as Checkrewinder, Checkproof and Checkrecord.

WM-Systeme has its headquarters in Euskirchen and its general manager Bernd Wissing believes that Surfscan’s vision inspection technology has a distinct advantage when it comes to selling into both central and Eastern Europe: ‘Surfscan systems seem to be more effective when it comes to picking up random errors,’ he said. ‘This is particularly important in the label printing business. In Germany, for instance, most inspection systems are of the area scan type that images a portion of the web as it passes under the camera and compares it with the correct artwork. This method can easily miss random errors that can cause costly problems.’

WM-Systeme says it is confident it can sell Surfscan’s systems which, in the main, consist of two megapixel viewing up to a 300mm web width running at 300m/min or a four megapixel camera system used in the pharmaceutical industry, where picking up every possible defect is critical to quality.

WM-Systeme also handles Ryeco marking systems and believes many of its customers will be interested in Surfscan.  WM-Systeme will be operating mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland but also have existing customers in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia.

‘We know all the major players are in this field within Europe,’ said Bernd Wissing, ‘but, apart from Surfscan’s 100 percent inspection aspect that I believe will find a ready market in these territories, we have a team of highly trained engineers to provide back up technical service and support.’

Surfscan Technologies’ general manager Damian Harvey sees the deal as being an important cog in the company’s onward march towards expansion.

‘In the last few months we have sealed agency deals in the US and now in Europe. UK sales are strong and growing and there are just not enough hours in the day. We are delighted with WM-Systeme and convinced the company will do a highly efficient job of representing our products,’ he said.