Creaform

What Creaform does

Creaform Inc. is a Quebec-based designer, manufacturer, and servicer of portable 3D measurement and metrology solutions, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Lévis, Canada. The company is the originator of the metrology-grade handheld 3D laser scanner category, with a portfolio spanning portable laser scanners (HandySCAN 3D EVO/BLACK/PRO/MAX, Go!SCAN 3D), optical coordinate measuring machines (MetraSCAN 3D, HandyPROBE, MaxSHOT 3D), robot-mounted automated quality-control systems (R-Series, CUBE-R), and complementary software platforms (Creaform Metrology Suite, Creaform Integrity Suite, VXintegrity, Pipecheck, SmartDENT 3D). Core proprietary technologies include TRUaccuracy and Dynamic Referencing, which deliver shop-floor measurement accuracy of 0.020–0.025 mm without external tracking or controlled environments. The business sells primarily into automotive OEMs and tier suppliers, aerospace and defense, heavy manufacturing, and adjacent verticals including medical devices and cultural heritage, with a customer base that includes BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, Boeing, Airbus, NASA, the US Navy, and the US Department of Defense.

Creaform operates a four-stream revenue model: (1) hardware sales of 3D scanners, optical CMMs, and robot-mounted systems sold on a quote-based, multi-year enterprise contract basis; (2) recurring software licensing across the Metrology and Integrity Suites; (3) professional services through Creaform Engineering covering design, simulation, and on-site metrology; and (4) after-sales support, calibration, and 24/7 automated-QC customer support. Distribution is hybrid, combining a direct field-sales team across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific with an authorized reseller network (e.g., ISSOFT in Korea) and a global partner portal. Pricing is opaque and quotation-driven, reflecting a high-touch, consultative enterprise sales motion supported by demo centers, training programs, and presence at major industry events (IMTS, Euromold, CONTROL, EuroBLECH, ADIPEC, SEMA).

In 2022 Creaform was acquired by AMETEK Inc. (NYSE: AME) and in July 2025 AMETEK completed a $920 million acquisition of FARO Technologies, consolidating Creaform and FARO into a unified entity branded "FARO Creaform" that operates alongside FARO Insight and Virtek Vision as distinct business units under AMETEK. The consolidated business now holds a broad intellectual-property stack (13+ registered trademarks, TRUaccuracy and Dynamic Referencing patents), a global compliance posture (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO/IEC 17025, TISAX, CMMC Level 2), and certified-acceptance status with Boeing and Airbus, positioning it as a leading platform in industrial 3D metrology.

Name

Creaform

Legal name

Creaform Inc.

Website

http://creaform3d.com/en

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Creaform, now operating as FARO Creaform under AMETEK, designs and manufactures metrology-grade portable 3D laser scanners, optical CMMs, and automated quality-control systems for automotive, aerospace, defense, and heavy-manufacturing OEMs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

3D Metrology and Industrial Scanning

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology & Dimensional Measurement (CMMs, laser trackers, gauges, surface/roughness) (IMAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology Automation & Robotics (Automated Cells, In-Line Gauging) (IMAAAHAH), Prototype Metrology, Inspection & Reverse Engineering (Prototype-Focused) (IMAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Portable 3D scanners
• Optical coordinate measuring
• Metrology software suite
• Automated quality control
• Non-destructive testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lévis

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 3D Scanner Hardware Sales: Sale of portable 3D laser scanners, optical CMMs, and coordinate measuring machines including HandySCAN 3D series, MetraSCAN 3D, Go!SCAN 3D, HandyPROBE, MaxSHOT 3D, and R-Series systems
2. Metrology Software Licensing: Licensing of Creaform Metrology Suite, VXintegrity, VXinspect, VXmodel, Pipecheck and other software modules for 3D measurement, inspection, and NDT applications
3. Professional Services and Training: Metrology services including on-site measurement services, technical training, calibration, and engineering services through Creaform Engineering division
4. After-sales Support and Maintenance: Customer support services, 24/7 support for automated quality control customers, repair center services, and calibration center operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Creaform designs, manufactures, and sells portable 3D laser scanners, optical coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and automated quality control systems for industrial metrology applications. The company also develops and licenses metrology software (Creaform Metrology Suite, Integrity Suite) and provides professional metrology services through Creaform Engineering for industries including automotive, aerospace, heavy manufacturing, and non-destructive testing.

Product overview

Creaform (now operating as FARO Creaform under AMETEK) offers a comprehensive portfolio of 3D scanning, coordinate measuring machine (CMM), and metrology measurement solutions organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core hardware portfolio includes the HandySCAN 3D series (EVO, BLACK, PRO, MAX) for metrology-grade handheld laser scanning, Go!SCAN 3D for white light color scanning, MetraSCAN 3D for optical CMM scanning, HandyPROBE for portable coordinate measuring, MaxSHOT 3D for photogrammetry, R-Series for robot-mounted automated quality control, and CUBE-R for turnkey automated inspection cells. The software ecosystem centers on Creaform Metrology Suite (with Scan-to-CAD, Inspection, Dynamic Tracking, and Automation modules) and Creaform Integrity Suite (for NDT/non-destructive testing including Pipecheck and VXintegrity). The company also offers Creaform ACADEMIA for education, FARO products following the 2025 acquisition, and Creaform Engineering services for design and simulation. These products work together to enable applications spanning product development, reverse engineering, quality control, maintenance/repair/overhaul, NDT, and education/science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creaform Engineering: Engineering services division providing design, simulation, and 3D measurement services

Products and services

• HandySCAN 3D EVO Series Metrology-grade handheld 3D laser scanner optimized for efficiency with blue laser technology, 46 laser lines, and 0.020mm accuracy, designed for quality inspection in production environments.
• HandySCAN 3D BLACK Series Metrology-grade portable 3D laser scanner offering high accuracy and reliability for professional inspection and quality control applications in industrial environments.
• HandySCAN 3D PRO Series Proven professional-grade portable 3D laser scanner with 0.030mm accuracy, trusted by over 10,000 users worldwide for quality control and inspection.
• HandySCAN 3D MAX Series Metrology-grade portable 3D scanner optimized for large parts measurement, delivering 3D measurement efficiency scaled for industrial-scale components.
• Go!SCAN 3D White light portable 3D scanner enabling accurate 3D scanning of objects in full color and detail for product development and reverse engineering applications.
• MetraSCAN 3D Optical CMM 3D scanner with ISO-certified accuracy of 0.025mm and measurement rate of 1,800,000 measures/s for total inspection flexibility in production environments.
• HandyPROBE Portable coordinate measuring machine (PCMM) providing arm-free optical CMM capabilities for shop floor 3D measurement and inspection.
• MaxSHOT 3D Optical coordinate measuring system with photogrammetry camera for large format 3D measurement, offering 0.015mm/m accuracy based on VDI/VDE 2634 standard.
• R-Series Robot-mounted optical CMM scanner for automated 3D quality control with shop-floor accuracy of 0.025mm, dynamic referencing, and measurement rates up to 3,000,000 measurements/second.
• CUBE-R Turnkey 3D scanning coordinate measuring machine for at-line inspection, providing fast and accurate automated dimensional quality control. Also available as CUBE-R M Series with enhanced modularity.
• Creaform Metrology Suite Comprehensive metrology application software suite including Scan-to-CAD, Inspection, Dynamic Tracking, and Automation modules for product development, reverse engineering, inspection, dynamic tracking, and digital twin generation.
• Creaform Integrity Suite Non-destructive testing application suite for surface damage assessment with modules for Pipeline, Aircraft, Pressure Equipment, and Analysis Toolkit applications.
• VXintegrity Surface damage assessment software platform for infrastructure Fitness-For-Service (FFS) analyses, modernizing non-destructive testing workflows.
• Pipecheck Pipeline integrity assessment software for NDT testing in oil and gas industry, providing corrosion and mechanical damage assessment with ASME B31G compliance.
• SmartDENT 3D Aircraft surface inspection software for assessing hail damage and other surface conditions on aircraft.
• Creaform ACADEMIA Educational solution suite including ACADEMIA 20 and ACADEMIA 50 3D scanners designed for research labs and classroom environments in educational institutions.
• peel 3 / peel 3.CAD Professional-grade 3D scanning systems revolutionizing the market with enhanced capabilities for industrial applications.
• FARO Products FARO 3D metrology and laser projection solutions including VantageMax, strengthening the combined FARO Creaform portfolio for 3D measurement and reality capture.

Quantifiable outcome

• MetraSCAN 3D delivers up to 1,800,000 measurements/second for short cycle times
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• InnovMetric (PolyWorks)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 March 2026FARO Creaform and InnovMetric announced direct integration of data acquisition from FARO Creaform's 3D scanners into PolyWorks|Inspector inspection software, enabling continuous measurement workflows and real-time feature analysis.
• FARO TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025AMETEK consolidated FARO and Creaform into unified business units creating FARO Creaform, combining product line-ups in 3D measurement, handheld metrology, and reality capture solutions.
• ISSOFT (Korea)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorean distributor for Creaform 3D scanners, officially launching HandySCAN EVO and PRO Series in Korean market with demo programs and technical seminars.
• HPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with HP for launch of HP DesignScan handheld 3D laser scanning solutions based on Creaform technology.
• StratasysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint marketing agreement for 3D scanning and 3D printing integration, extended to China and Hong Kong markets.
• OlympusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldwide distribution agreement for pipeline integrity assessment solutions combining Creaform scanners with Olympus ultrasonic testing devices.
• SonatestminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal distribution partnership for NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) solutions combining Creaform technology with Sonatest equipment.
• OttobockminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerStrategic OEM agreement for medical device applications using Creaform 3D body scanning technology.
• EADS/AirbusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop applications in the field of 3D optical measurement for aerospace industry.
• BoeingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandySCAN 3D scanner certified to meet Boeing requirements for aerospace applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nikon Metrology: Division of Nikon offering industrial 3D metrology solutions including laser scanners, CT systems, and portable CMMs. A broad incumbent with comparable product overlap to Creaform in optical scanning, particularly in automotive and aerospace inspection applications.
• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Division of Hexagon AB offering a broad portfolio of industrial metrology solutions including CMMs, laser trackers, 3D scanning, and quality management software. Directly competes with Creaform's optical CMM and 3D scanner lines but with substantially larger scale and enterprise reach.
• Trimble: Provider of positioning, modeling, and analytics solutions including 3D laser scanning (Trimble X7, TX8) and geospatial metrology. Comparable to Creaform in portable 3D scanning for industrial measurement, surveying, and reality capture applications.
• Keyence: Japanese manufacturer of factory automation and measurement sensors including laser profilometers, 3D scanners, and dimensional measurement systems. Overlaps with Creaform in shop-floor measurement and quality control, with a strong global sales channel and broad industrial sensor portfolio.
• Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology: Zeiss offers industrial metrology solutions including coordinate measuring machines, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and 3D optical measurement. A broad incumbent competing with Creaform in automotive and aerospace quality control, with deeper R&D resources and a global installed base.

Direct peers

• Renishaw: UK-based manufacturer of precision measurement and healthcare technologies, including CMM probes, laser scanners, and encoder systems. Competes directly with Creaform in metrology-grade 3D scanning and robot calibration, and has an existing partnership with Creaform for robot absolute accuracy services.
• Artec 3D: Luxembourg-based developer of professional 3D scanning hardware and software (Eva, Leo, Spider) targeting reverse engineering, quality control, and healthcare applications. A direct peer competing in the handheld 3D scanner market, particularly in design and medical applications.
• FARO Technologies: Former direct competitor in portable 3D metrology now consolidated with Creaform under AMETEK's FARO Creaform entity following the $920M acquisition in July 2025. Direct overlap in laser scanners, laser projection, and reality capture solutions.

Emerging players

• 3D Systems: Manufacturer of 3D printers, reverse engineering software (Geomagic), and inspection solutions. Has an authorized distributor partnership with Creaform for inspection software integration; overlaps in reverse engineering and quality control workflows.

Others

• InnovMetric Software (PolyWorks): Canadian developer of PolyWorks 3D metrology software platform used by manufacturers for dimensional inspection and reverse engineering. A technology partner and software ecosystem complement to Creaform, with a direct integration announced in March 2026 enabling seamless data flow from Creaform scanners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Creaform
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@farocreaform
• Facebookfacebook.com/creaform
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creaform
• Instagraminstagram.com/farocreaform

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creaform