EyeC

What EyeC does

EyeC GmbH is a Hamburg-based, privately held provider of automated print quality inspection systems founded in 2006 and serving the pharmaceutical, packaging, printing, and brand-owner industries. The company's product portfolio is split into two families: the Proofiler off-line inspection line (including Proofiler Graphic, Proofiler Graphic Connect, Proofiler 400/600/900/1200/1700 DT, and Proofiler 900/1050/1500 RS models) for artwork comparison and print sample verification, and the ProofRunner in-line inspection line (Web, Web Evo, Sheetfed, Carton) for real-time defect detection on production lines, with EyeC Quality Link providing QMS integration. The core technology combines proprietary inspection algorithms and tightly integrated scanner-plus-software systems capable of detecting differences down to 5pt font sizes, performing ISO-conform Braille inspection, ISO-conform 1D/2D code verification, and multi-language text checks, all built to comply with 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11, and ISO 17351:2013.

EyeC operates a predominantly enterprise, field-sales-driven GTM with a 'Request a demo' model and quote-based, multi-year contracts. The revenue mix historically combines one-time hardware sales with recurring software licensing, and in February 2026 the company introduced its first cloud-based SaaS offering, Proofiler Graphic Connect, alongside AI-based defect classification on the ProofRunner line — both demonstrated at Interpack 2026. The company claims over 3,000 inspection systems deployed worldwide, supports customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Notable customers include Novartis, AUGUST FALLER, All4Labels, TAGEOS, WALA Heilmittel, IDT Biologika, and Conditorei Coppenrath & Wiese. Leadership is composed of co-founders Ansgar Kaupp and Dirk Lütjens (CTO) and CEO Sören Springmann, with a recently appointed Business Development Manager (Ioannis Georgiadis, April 2026) tasked with international growth.

Name

EyeC

Legal name

EyeC GmbH

Website

https://eyec-america.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

EyeC GmbH is a Hamburg-based, privately held provider of automated print quality inspection systems combining proprietary software with integrated scanners, serving pharmaceutical, packaging, printing, and brand-owner customers across more than 3,000 deployed systems worldwide, with a recently launched cloud SaaS offering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automated Print Inspection Systems

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection (HDAAAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inspection, Checkweighing & Detection Systems (Vision, Metal, X-ray) (IMALAOAH)

Keywords

• Print inspection systems
• Automated quality control
• Artwork verification software
• Pharmaceutical packaging inspection
• In-line print inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Inspection Software Licenses: EyeC sells proprietary inspection software as part of integrated scanner + software solutions. The Proofiler Graphic Connect represents a cloud-based SaaS model.
2. Hardware + Software Bundles: Scanner and software are sold together as perfectly tailored systems, combining one-time hardware revenue with ongoing software licensing.
3. Cloud-based SaaS Subscription: Proofiler Graphic Connect is a fully cloud-based solution, indicating a subscription-based revenue model for this product line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EyeC develops and sells automated print quality inspection systems that combine proprietary software with purpose-built hardware scanners. Its Proofiler line performs off-line artwork and print sample verification, while the EyeC ProofRunner line delivers 100% in-line inspection on web-fed, sheet-fed and carton presses, with a cloud-based SaaS variant (Proofiler Graphic Connect) and a QMS-integration platform (EyeC Quality Link) completing the offering.

Product overview

EyeC provides a comprehensive portfolio of automated quality control and print inspection solutions. The product line consists of two main categories: Off-line Inspection systems under the Proofiler brand (including Proofiler Graphic/Graphic Connect, Proofiler 400 DTe, Proofiler 400/600 DT, Proofiler 900/1200 DT, Proofiler 1700 DT, Proofiler 900/1050 RS, and Proofiler 1500 RS) for artwork comparison and print sample verification; and In-line Inspection systems under the ProofRunner brand (including ProofRunner Web/Web Evo, ProofRunner Sheetfed, and ProofRunner Carton) for real-time quality control during production. The Proofiler Graphic Connect is the cloud-based SaaS variant of the Proofiler Graphic, while the ProofRunner product line features AI-powered defect classification and 100% inspection capabilities for labels and flexible packaging up to 600mm web width. EyeC Quality Link provides integration capabilities across the inspection ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Proofiler Graphic Connect Cloud-based SaaS artwork verification software for pre-press and packaging teams to centrally review and approve packaging artwork files against reference data, enabling multi-user, multi-location collaboration on artwork proofing.
• Proofiler Graphic (Classic) Off-line artwork verification software that compares packaging artwork files against reference data to detect text, layout, language and code errors before print, for prepress houses, brand owners and packaging teams.
• Proofiler DT Series (off-line print sample inspection) Family of off-line inspection systems (including Proofiler 400 DTe, 400/600 DT, 900/1200 DT and 1700 DT models) that scan flat print samples and proofs to verify text, codes, images and content against reference data, for printers, prepress teams and brand owners across different format sizes.
• Proofiler RS Series (rotary press sample inspection) Off-line inspection systems (including Proofiler 900/1050 RS and 1500 RS models) designed to handle samples from rotary presses, verifying text, codes and content for label and packaging converters running rotary equipment.
• EyeC ProofRunner Web / Web Evo 100% in-line print inspection system (with Web Evo as the enhanced variant) for web-fed presses producing labels, leaflets and flexible packaging, detecting print defects, verifying text, codes and content at full production speed.
• EyeC ProofRunner Sheetfed 100% in-line print inspection system for sheet-fed printing presses, verifying each sheet for defects, codes, text and content to support quality control in commercial and packaging printing.
• EyeC ProofRunner Carton 100% in-line print inspection system designed for carton packaging production lines, inspecting every carton for print defects, codes, text and content quality before shipment.
• EyeC Quality Link Software platform that connects EyeC inspection systems with customers' Quality Management Systems (QMS), Production Management Systems (PMS) and other enterprise software to centralize inspection data, support audits and enable end-to-end traceability of quality results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 EyeC inspection systems deployed worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ISRA VISION (Atlas Copco): ISRA VISION, now part of Atlas Copco, is a leading global supplier of machine vision and surface inspection systems for printing, packaging, and web industries. It directly competes with EyeC's Proofiler and ProofRunner product lines across pharma and packaging customers.
• BST eltromat: BST eltromat specializes in web guiding, video web inspection, color measurement, and 100% inspection systems for the printing and packaging industry. It directly overlaps with EyeC's ProofRunner Web and 100% inspection offering for labels and flexible packaging.
• Erhardt+Leimer: Erhardt+Leimer supplies inspection, web guiding, and process automation systems for the paper, film, foil, and printing industries. Its ELVISION and inspection product lines compete head-to-head with EyeC's inline inspection systems.

Broad incumbents

• Cognex Corporation: Cognex is a global leader in machine vision and industrial barcode reading, serving factory automation across multiple industries. Its vision systems compete with EyeC in print/packaging inspection but address a much broader market.
• SICK AG: SICK AG is a major German manufacturer of sensors and machine vision systems for industrial automation, including packaging inspection applications. Competes broadly with EyeC in industrial vision and quality inspection.
• Keyence Corporation: Keyence is a global leader in industrial automation sensors, machine vision systems, and measurement instruments. Its vision products compete with EyeC in quality inspection across printing and packaging end markets.
• SCREEN Holdings (SCREEN Graphic Solutions): SCREEN Holdings, through its Graphic Solutions division, provides printing equipment and workflow/quality-control software for the print industry. Competes with EyeC's prepress/artwork inspection capabilities in commercial printing customers.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is one of the world's largest manufacturers of printing presses and integrated workflow solutions for the print industry. Its Prinect workflow includes color/quality management that can overlap with EyeC's Proofiler offerings.

Emerging players

• Baumer Group: Baumer Group manufactures industrial sensors, vision, and identification solutions with growing focus on packaging and print inspection. Competes with EyeC in selective vision inspection use cases.
• MVTec Software: MVTec Software is a leading provider of standard machine vision software (HALCON, MERLIC) used by integrators to build custom inspection systems. It is an indirect competitor and enabling technology layer in the same industrial inspection category as EyeC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eyec-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 EyeC