- 1989 - Founded as a private company
- 1992 - Developed World’s first Machine Vision package for Windows
- 1996 - Developed our first system for Optical Disc industry
- 1997 - Introduced our Ident Code system
- 2000 - Reoriented Company to focus on Optical Disc Market
- 2001 - Introduced Print Check system
- 2002 - Started cooperation with Dr. Schenk
- 2003 - Established a European office
- 2004 - Established Leadership in the Optical Disc Market
- 2005 - Sold over 1000 systems to the Optical Disc market
- 2007 - Opened sales office in India
Xiris was founded in August 1989 as Xiris Inc., a private company aiming to develop custom machine vision systems for the manufacturing sector throughout eastern Canada and North Eastern USA. It quickly became apparent however, that for Xiris to survive, it had to sell products where it could re-use some of its technology on repeat system sales.
So, in 1992, Xiris released a software package that included many of its developed software algorithms into a library. That product became the World’s first Machine Vision software toolset for Windows. The company began selling the software product to a number of different machine vision developers around the world, creating distribution channels across North America, Europe and the Far East. Xiris operated as two groups: a software group to support the software product and the custom systems group to build machine vision systems.
In 1996, the company was sold to CRS Robotics, a Canadian public company. Within months of the transaction CRS was in a downward financial spiral and was desperate to raise funds. After 8 months an agreement was reached for a group of employees to purchase the assets of the machine vision group and founded a new company, Xiris Automation Inc., in January 1998.
While part of CRS, the decision was made to abandon custom system design and develop standard products using machine vision technology to ensure the long term viability of the company. After an extensive industry search, the Optical Disc market was identified and in 1997, Xiris introduced its first system for the Media industry. This was quickly followed later that year with a prototype Ident Code system for the Optical Disc market.
Having found a nice little niche market, Xiris became solely focused on this market in 2001, expanding its product line with a Print Check. This product was enhanced, when a complete dealer network was set up in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe and Brazil in 2002 to help grow revenues .
In 2003, Xiris established a European office near Hamburg, Germany with a one man sales office. By 2004, Xiris became the largest seller of Ident Code systems in the world and the leading technology provider of inspection systems for optical disc printing and packaging. By 2005, over 1000 systems had been sold to the Optical Disc market.
The pace of development continued, as Xiris developed a process of Kai-zen, continuous product development to constantly improve its products to meet the needs of its global marketplace. Additional products came along including a Disc Orientation and Read side inspection system, also for the Optical Disc business.
To reflect the growing markets of Asia, Xiris opened a single sales office in India in 2007.
As the Optical Disc market matures, Xiris management is looking for additional markets to pursue that are willing to adopt new advanced technology. Two new identified industry segments for Xiris’ inspection systems are Corrective Eyewear and the Steel Tubing industry. Xiris is currently pursuing these sectors for optical quality control. Xiris continues to be profitable and is well positioned for stable growth in three different markets.