SM Instrument Co.

What SM Instrument Co. does

SM Instrument Co., Ltd. is a Daejeon, South Korea-based privately held developer of acoustic and ultrasonic imaging systems founded in 2006. The company designs and manufactures MEMS-microphone-based imaging cameras — notably the BATCAM (112-sensor ultrasonic camera), SeeSV (sound camera), GreenEye (wind turbine condition monitoring system), and NOISE SCOPE — that use FPGA beamforming to visualize sound and ultrasound for industrial inspection, predictive maintenance, and NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) testing. Hardware is paired with the Doberman AI software suite, which applies deep learning to acoustic signatures for anomaly detection on production lines, electrical infrastructure, wind turbines, and rail assets. The firm employs roughly 24 people, with about 18 in R&D, and reinvests approximately 20% of sales into development; founder-CEO Kim Young-ki has personally funded a substantial share of the BATCAM platform.

The company sells hardware, software, and engineering services to global automotive OEMs (Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Maserati), Korean energy and rail organizations (KEPCO, Korea Railroad Research Institute), and domestic oil refineries. Its go-to-market is a direct industrial sales model with reference deployments in South Korea, China, Germany, and the United States. Revenue is generated primarily through capital equipment sales of acoustic cameras (typically $10K–$50K per unit), recurring or attached software licensing from the Doberman AI suite, and project-based service revenue tied to wind turbine and rail monitoring deployments. Certifications including DNV-GL (wind turbine CMS), NEP, CE, and a Red Dot Design Award support cross-border sales into regulated industrial buyers.

Name

SM Instrument Co.

Legal name

SM Instrument Co., Ltd.

Website

https://smins.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SM Instrument Co. is a South Korean developer of MEMS-based acoustic and ultrasonic imaging cameras and AI software used by automotive OEMs, energy operators, and rail agencies for industrial inspection and predictive maintenance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Acoustic Imaging & Inspection Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Active Leak Detection & Acoustic Surveying (Ground Mics, Correlators, Hydrophones) (EUANAKAA), Video Surveillance System Design & Site Assessment (HSAHACAD)

Keywords

• Ultrasonic cameras
• Acoustic imaging systems
• Sound vibration measurement
• Industrial inspection equipment
• Condition monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Daejeon

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Ultrasonic/Sound Cameras: One-time sale of portable and fixed ultrasonic cameras and sound cameras for industrial inspection and quality control applications.
2. Software Solutions - Doberman: AI-based sound and vibration automation solutions for quality control in manufacturing.
3. Wind Turbine Monitoring Systems: Condition monitoring systems and related services for wind turbine maintenance and failure prediction.
4. Professional Services: Noise and vibration testing services, technical support, and training for industrial clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SM Instrument Co. designs, develops, and manufactures portable and fixed ultrasonic cameras (BATCAM series), sound cameras (SeeSV series), AI-based sound and vibration measurement software (Doberman), and wind turbine condition monitoring systems (GreenEye). The products use MEMS microphone arrays, FPGA-based beamforming, and deep learning to detect gas leaks, electrical arcs, corona discharge, BSR/NVH noise sources, and equipment failures for industrial, automotive, power, petrochemical, and renewable energy customers.

Product overview

SM Instruments is a technology leader in sound and vibration measurement, offering a portfolio of specialized industrial products. The core offerings include the BATCAM series of ultrasonic cameras (portable BATCAM 2S/2Sx/2 and fixed BATCAM FX) for detecting gas leaks, electrical arcs, and corona discharge; SeeSV sound cameras (S206W, S205W) for real-time BSR/NVH noise source detection using FPGA-based beamforming; the Doberman AI-powered S&V automation solution for quality control; and NOISE SCOPE for vehicle noise tracking. Products use advanced MEMS microphone arrays (96-112 sensors), real-time signal processing, and deep learning algorithms. Business applications span Sound Localization & Quality testing, Remote Monitoring (wind turbines, CMS, SCADA), and S&V Test Automation for quality control in home appliances, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BATCAM: Ultrasonic camera product line for detecting gas leaks and electrical arcs. Models include BATCAM 2S, BATCAM 2Sx, BATCAM 2, BATCAM FX.
• SeeSV
• Doberman
• GreenEye
• NOISE SCOPE

Products and services

• BATCAM 2S Portable ultrasonic camera for detecting gas leaks, electrical arcs, and corona discharge in real time. Features high-sensitivity MEMS microphone array and visualizes inaudible ultrasonic signals as live images for industrial safety inspectors at power plants, refineries, and petrochemical facilities.
• BATCAM 2Sx Portable ultrasonic camera variant in the BATCAM series with enhanced specifications for industrial leak and arc detection applications.
• BATCAM 2 World's smallest and lightest portable ultrasonic camera at 237mm and 1.2kg with 112 digital MEMS microphones. Detects gas leaks, electrical arcs, and corona discharge in real time and measures across audible and ultrasonic frequency ranges for industrial inspection teams.
• BATCAM FX Fixed ultrasonic camera designed for outdoor installation in cold and rainy environments. Enables real-time, constant monitoring of gas leaks and electrical arcs in areas that are difficult for personnel to access directly, complementing the portable BATCAM line for permanent industrial surveillance.
• SeeSV-S206W Real-time sound camera implementing FPGA-based high-speed beamforming technology with 96 digital MEMS microphones in a helical design. Detects short-lived noise sources and visualizes NVH and BSR (Buzz, Squeak, Rattle) noise sources for automotive NVH engineers and industrial quality control teams.
• SeeSV-S205W Sound camera variant in the SeeSV line for noise source detection and NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) analysis in vehicles and industrial applications.
• Doberman Sound & Vibration Measurement AI Solution using deep learning with three modules: Explorer converts sound data to images, Trainer builds diagnosis algorithms, and Detective determines defective products. Automates S&V testing and reduces initial preparation time and labor for manufacturing quality control teams.
• NOISE SCOPE Vehicle noise tracking device for recording and analyzing BSR (Buzz, Squeak, Rattle) and NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) noises generated in vehicles, tracking and quantifying noise sources for automotive engineers.
• GreenEye3.0 Wind Turbine CMS Wind turbine condition monitoring system integrating vibration, operation data, and tower load analysis with machine learning for failure prediction. DNV-GL type certified and developed jointly with KEPCO Power Research Institute and Korea Institute of Machinery. Reduces maintenance costs for offshore wind farms.

Quantifiable outcome

• BATCAM 2.0 can detect gas leaks as fine as 40cc/min
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Korea Railroad Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint development of comprehensive monitoring system for train noise and related applications. Collaboration leveraging SM Instruments' sound and vibration measurement expertise with KRRI's rail infrastructure research capabilities.
• KEPCO Power Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Joint development of wind turbine condition monitoring diagnostic system with KEPCO and Korea Institute of Machinery. System received DNV-GL international certification. Successfully localized major components and reduced unit prices by more than 50% compared to overseas products.
• Korea Institute of MachinerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Trilateral partnership with KEPCO and Korea Institute of Machinery for wind turbine CMS development. Institute provided mechanical engineering expertise for vibration analysis and condition monitoring algorithms.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Emerson (NI / Roxar): Through National Instruments and other divisions, Emerson provides test, measurement, and monitoring platforms used in industrial and energy applications. Comparable to SM Instruments from a measurement-instrumentation standpoint, but typically operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Fluke Corporation: Major industrial test and measurement brand with portfolios covering electrical, thermal, and vibration diagnostics. While not a direct acoustic-camera specialist, Fluke competes in overlapping industrial maintenance and electrical inspection workflows and benefits from a much larger global sales channel.
• Siemens Digital Industries: Industrial automation and digital industries giant offering condition monitoring, plant diagnostics, and digital-twin solutions. Overlaps with SM Instruments' industrial safety/inspection and wind turbine monitoring use cases, but competes as part of a far broader industrial-software portfolio.
• SKF: Swedish industrial group with a substantial condition monitoring and rotating-equipment services business (SKF Enlight, wireless vibration sensors). Adjacent to SM Instruments' industrial safety/diagnostic market, especially GreenEye wind turbine CMS, though distributed via services revenue.

Emerging players

• MoviTherm: US firm offering acoustic imaging and thermography solutions for industrial inspection (e.g., industrial acoustic cameras). Competes with BATCAM in leak detection and partial discharge, often through system-integrator and distributor channels.

Direct peers

• Polytec: Germany-based maker of laser vibrometry and acoustic measurement solutions for NVH and structural analysis. Comparable to SM Instruments in terms of acoustic/vibration measurement philosophy, with stronger presence in automotive R&D and lab-grade QA.
• UE Systems: US-based manufacturer of ultrasonic inspection instruments for leak detection, electrical fault detection, and condition monitoring. Strong overlap with BATCAM's gas leak and electrical arc value proposition, particularly for predictive maintenance programs in industrial facilities.
• Teledyne FLIR: Through FLIR and acquired lines (e.g., Sonik, formerly ITT's acoustic imaging), Teledyne FLIR sells handheld acoustic imaging cameras for gas leaks and partial discharge. Direct competitor to BATCAM in the portable ultrasonic imaging category, with significantly larger scale and distribution.
• Brüel & Kjær (HBK): Global leader in sound and vibration measurement instruments, including acoustic cameras, NVH analyzers, and pulse-platform systems. Directly comparable to SM Instruments' SeeSV sound cameras and NOISE SCOPE automotive use cases, but with a much broader portfolio and global service network.
• SDT International: Belgian manufacturer of ultrasonic testing equipment including leak detectors and acoustic imaging devices (SDT SoundSee, SDT ML-1). Targets the same industrial predictive-maintenance and gas-leak applications as SM Instruments' BATCAM, with overlap in oil & gas, power, and compressed-air inspection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7bzNYdcax0e8ofK1N19VEA/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sm-instruments-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/sminstruments/?igsh=MW54aXM4Zzk4Y3pydQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMI.Korea

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 SM Instrument Co.