LMI TECHNOLOGIES – FocalSpec Oy, a Finnish company based in Oulu, specializes in optical metrology solutions. Since 2019, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of TKH Group NV through LMI Technologies. This integration positioned FocalSpec as the global center for Line Confocal Imaging (LCI) technology within LMI Technologies. FocalSpec’s solutions are designed for high-precision, non-contact dimensional and surface inspections, catering to various industries that require accurate 3D measurements for quality control and manufacturing optimization.
Battery Technology
LMI TECHNOLOGIES – FocalSpec’s patented Line Confocal Imaging (LCI) technology is central to its offerings, particularly for the battery industry. LCI employs a broadband light spectrum with specialized optics to achieve non-contact, high-speed, and precise measurements at the micron level. This technology can simultaneously capture 3D surface topography, 2D intensity images, and subsurface tomographic data at high data rates, up to 27 million data points per second. This speed and resolution facilitate real-time inspection of complex materials, including transparent, curved, multi-layered, and highly reflective structures.
LCI excels in detecting defects such as delamination, scratches, dust particles, air gaps, burrs, and roughness, even beneath transparent coatings or within layered assemblies. In battery manufacturing, LCI sensors are crucial for:
- Electrode Manufacturing: Providing real-time, non-contact inspection on production lines to detect microscopic imperfections like thickness variations, burrs, and surface roughness, which are essential for battery cell performance and safety.
- Cell Assembly and Packaging: Inspecting bare materials and assembled cells, modules, or packs to identify defects such as improper layer stacking or contamination.
- Inspection of Coatings and Sealed Assemblies: Measuring transparent and multilayered coatings common in battery modules and electronics, enabling the detection of subsurface issues not visible through conventional methods.
The ability to identify submicron-scale defects swiftly and accurately helps prevent costly failures, enhances battery safety, and improves manufacturing efficiency.
Recent Projects
In 2025 the company demonstrated the use of LMI’s 3D smart sensors, including FocalSpec technology, for quality control in EV battery production. This highlights their ability to inspect transparent, reflective, and multilayered battery components, which are often challenging for other vision systems.
Investors
FocalSpec Oy has been wholly owned by TKH Group NV since 2019, through its subsidiary LMI Technologies.
Business Details
Location: Oulu, Finland
Website: https://www.lmi3d.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2444179
