Argos
Argos Solutions AS is a Norwegian industrial technology company that designs and manufactures automated surface grading and panel repair systems using AI-powered computer vision for wood panel, laminate flooring, and gypsum wallboard manufacturers globally, serving enterprise customers across 40+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersKongsberg, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Argos does
Argos Solutions AS is a Norwegian industrial technology company that designs, engineers, and manufactures automated surface grading systems (AGS) and panel repair systems (PRS) for the wood panel, laminate flooring, and gypsum wallboard industries. Founded in 1992 as Argos Control AS in Kongsberg, Norway, the company leverages proprietary multi-angle camera imaging, custom lighting systems, and in-house AI/deep learning algorithms to detect surface defects as small as 0.8mm at production speeds up to 150 m/min. Its integrated hardware-software platform enables 100% automated grading and downstream defect repair (routing, face-putty, 2-component filler) across particleboard, MDF, plywood, decorative melamine panels, furniture components, and gypsum wallboard.
The company generates revenue primarily through one-time capital equipment sales of grading and repair systems, supplemented by aftermarket service, commissioning, and optimization contracts. Sales are conducted via direct enterprise field sales from headquarters and regional offices in the USA and Germany, combined with a global network of independent sales agents covering Latin America, Asia, and parts of Europe. Customer relationships are characterized by long cycles and deep integration: flagship customers such as Egger (7 systems), Uniboard (6 systems), Laminex, Weyerhaeuser, Arauco, Kastamonu Entegre, and Tafisa have deployed multiple systems over 10-20+ year relationships, often as co-development partners.
Since 2015, Argos has been wholly owned by Løvenskiold-Vækerø AS, a family-owned Norwegian conglomerate within forestry, commerce, and real estate. The company employs 11-50 people, has delivered more than 400 systems to 40+ countries, and operates under a long-term ownership structure that prioritizes strategic development over rapid scaling. Its 2023 launch of MFC PatternAlign and continued expansion into edge inspection and furniture components signal ongoing product surface extension within its core industrial customer base.
Argos firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Argos
- Legal name
- Argos Solutions AS
- Website
- https://argossolutions.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Argos Solutions AS is a Norwegian industrial technology company that designs and manufactures automated surface grading and panel repair systems using AI-powered computer vision for wood panel, laminate flooring, and gypsum wallboard manufacturers globally, serving enterprise customers across 40+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Argos industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Quality Inspection Equipment
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection (HDAAAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ)
Keywords
Where Argos is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kongsberg
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Argos business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Automated Grading Systems (AGS): Sale of automated surface grading systems for particleboard, MDF, decorative panels, furniture components, plywood, gypsum wallboard, and laminate flooring. Systems are sold as capital equipment with installation and commissioning services.
- Panel Repair Systems (PRS): Sale of Panel Repair Systems including the PRS Compact and standard PRS configurations for plywood and wood panel repair. Includes hardware and software components with configurable workstations.
- Aftermarket Support and Service: Ongoing support services including annual system checks, remote support, optimization after installation, and commissioning services. The company emphasizes that the job doesn't stop at delivery.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Argos product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Argos Solutions engineers, designs, and manufactures automated Surface Grading Systems and Panel Repair Systems (PRS) for the wood panel and gypsum wallboard industries. The systems use multi-angle camera imaging, AI, and deep learning to detect sub-millimeter defects and perform automated routing, face-putty, and filler repair operations on wood panels at production speeds up to 150 m/min.
Product overview
Argos Solutions offers a portfolio of automated inspection and repair systems for the wood panel and building industry. The core products are the Surface Grading System and Panel Repair System (PRS), which work together as an integrated solution. The Surface Grading System uses advanced camera and lighting technology to automatically detect surface defects across various panel types including particleboard/MDF, decorative panels, furniture components, plywood, and gypsum wallboard. The Panel Repair System transforms grading data to automatically repair detected defects. Both systems leverage AI, deep learning, and machine learning technologies. The product line also includes specialized variants such as the PRS Compact for smaller capacity facilities and systems for edge inspection, EIR (Embossed In Register), and laminate flooring with V-groove technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Surface Grading System Automated inspection system for detecting surface defects in wood panels and gypsum wallboard. Uses multi-angle camera and lighting technology to capture up to 35-megapixel images and detect defects as small as 0.8mm at production speeds up to 150 m/min. Configurable for particleboard/MDF, decorative panels, furniture components, plywood, and gypsum wallboard production lines.
- Panel Repair System (PRS) Automated repair system that integrates with the Surface Grading System to perform routing, face-putty, and 2-component filler operations on detected defects in plywood and wood panels. Includes configurable workstations such as the PRS Compact variant capable of repairing up to 675 panels per hour.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% reduction in poly usage
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Argos
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Argos technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature7 records
Argos partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.
- Con-VeycoreCon-Vey provides material handling expertise and conveyor systems for integration with Argos Panel Repair Systems. The partnership delivers automated Panel Repair Systems combining Argos scanner technology with Con-Vey vacuum conveyors and material handling. Together they delivered the system for Swanson Group's Springfield facility.
- GIM ExportmajorGIM Export is a professional partner with over 40 years of history building up the Turkish wood-based panels industry. They co-exhibit at Intermob trade show with Argos and manage relationships with Turkish panel manufacturers including Kastamonu Entegre, Çamsan Ordu, and others. Managing Director Ralf Spindler leads the partnership.
- EggerflagshipEgger, one of the world's largest manufacturers of decorative panels with over 10,000 employees, has been a development partner since 2011. Argos delivered the first automatic grading system to Egger and has since delivered seven systems. Together they developed both software and hardware tailored for MFC production lines and EIR surfaces. The partnership spans multiple Egger factories in Germany, Austria, and beyond.
- UniboardflagshipUniboard, a Canadian panel manufacturer with a mission of 'redefining wood', has been a customer and development partner since 2001 when they installed their first Argos grading system. Over 20 years they have acquired six systems across multiple facilities and have been instrumental in pushing Argos to customize technology to their specific needs. They are described as both a customer and a development partner.
- Kastamonu EntegreflagshipKastamonu Entegre, one of the world's largest manufacturers of wood products with nearly 7,000 employees and facilities in six countries, partnered with Argos to develop a state-of-the-art grading system for laminate flooring. This partnership has resulted in an innovative lighting system specifically designed for laminate floor requirements. Argos now delivers inspection systems for Kastamonu's complete process: raw board, short cycle press, and laminate floor planks with bevel inspection.
- Kanematsu KGK Corp.majorKanematsu KGK Corp. (KGK) represents Argos Solutions in Japan as the regional sales agent, handling sales and customer relationships for the Japanese market.
- 1G Neo SASmajor1G Neo SAS, represented by Bruno Raudin, serves as Argos Solutions' sales agent for France, managing relationships with French wood panel manufacturers.
- GoodRich MAGMA Industrial Technologies LimitedmajorGoodRich MAGMA Industrial Technologies Limited (Mr. I.R. Rao, Managing Director) serves as Argos's sales representative for India, managing customer relationships in the Indian market.
- CML Trading CorporationmajorCML Trading Corporation (Mr. Gyung-Yeol Andrew Kim), based in Korea, represents Argos Solutions in the South Korean market as the regional sales agent.
- LOVEL GroupmajorLOVEL Group (Mr. Andreas Troeger), based in Russia, represents Argos Solutions in the Russian market as the regional sales agent.
- Innovacion NordicamajorInnovacion Nordica (Vasco Ortúzar Hansen) represents Argos Solutions in Chile, managing sales and customer relationships in the Chilean market.
- Wolves SASmajorWolves SAS (Rafael Colonna Lobo) represents Argos Solutions in Colombia, managing sales and customer relationships in the Colombian market.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Argos competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Keyence Corporation: Keyence is a major Japanese industrial automation and machine-vision company with a global direct-sales footprint. Its vision systems and sensors are widely used in factory automation and represent a broader competitive threat to Argos's niche.
- Cognex Corporation: Cognex is a global leader in machine vision and industrial barcode reading, serving manufacturing, logistics, and surface-inspection applications. It is a broad incumbent whose vision platforms could extend into wood-panel defect detection.
- ISRA VISION (Atlas Copco): ISRA VISION, now part of Atlas Copco, is a large industrial machine-vision vendor serving surface inspection across many industries including metals, paper, glass, and increasingly wood. It competes broadly with Argos in surface defect detection and is a meaningful incumbent threat.
- SICK AG: SICK AG (Germany) is a leading manufacturer of industrial sensors and machine-vision systems for factory and process automation. Its 2D/3D vision portfolio overlaps with Argos's defect detection and quality inspection capabilities.
- Omron Corporation: Omron is a diversified industrial automation vendor offering machine vision, sensors, and quality inspection solutions. Its broad portfolio and global reach make it a relevant broad incumbent adjacent to Argos's industrial vision niche.
Direct peers
- Microtec: Microtec (Italy) manufactures optical scanning and optimization systems for the wood, lumber, and panel industries, including defect detection equipment used by sawmills and panel producers. It is the closest direct competitor to Argos in wood-panel surface inspection and grading.
- Limab: Limab (Sweden) supplies inline board and panel inspection systems using laser triangulation and camera technology for the wood-based panels industry. Like Argos, it serves particleboard, MDF, and plywood manufacturers with high-speed defect detection.
- DALOG Diagnosesysteme: DALOG (Germany) provides condition-monitoring and process-diagnostic systems specifically for the wood-based panels industry. It is a niche competitor selling adjacent process-optimization and quality equipment to the same wood-panel customer base as Argos.
Emerging players
- LMI Technologies: LMI Technologies specializes in 3D scanning and smart sensor solutions for industrial inspection and quality control. Its 3D profiling technology is increasingly used in inline surface inspection, making it a relevant emerging competitor to Argos's vision-based defect detection systems.
- Baumer Group: Baumer (Switzerland/Germany) supplies industrial cameras, sensors, and vision systems for quality inspection and process control. It is a smaller but technically credible player whose machine-vision components and solutions compete in overlapping inspection applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Argos social profiles
Digital presenceArgos compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Argos financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Argos leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Argos funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Argos M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Argos
What does Argos do?
Argos Solutions engineers, designs, and manufactures automated Surface Grading Systems and Panel Repair Systems (PRS) for the wood panel and gypsum wallboard industries. The systems use multi-angle camera imaging, AI, and deep learning to detect sub-millimeter defects and perform automated routing, face-putty, and filler repair operations on wood panels at production speeds up to 150 m/min.
Is Argos a public or private company?
Argos is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Argos founded?
Argos was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Argos based?
Argos is headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Argos make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Automated Grading Systems (AGS) is the primary driver. The others are panel Repair Systems (PRS) and aftermarket Support and Service.
Who are Argos's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Keyence Corporation, Cognex Corporation, ISRA VISION (Atlas Copco), SICK AG and Omron Corporation. Direct peers are Microtec, Limab and DALOG Diagnosesysteme. Emerging players are LMI Technologies and Baumer Group.
Does Argos have an API?
No public API is recorded for Argos.
What industry is Argos in?
Argos's product category is Industrial Quality Inspection Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAEAG, Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection, with a secondary code of IMAGABAJ, Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.