Automated Imaging Association Membership Reaches Record High!

September 26, 2005 Ann Arbor, Michigan -- The Automated Imaging Association (AIA) announced that membership is at a record high of 240 companies from 25 different nations, making AIA the world’s largest global machine vision trade group.

‘‘It’s quite gratifying to see the growth of our industry and trade association, from a handful of companies with minimal sales in the early 1980s to a multi-billion dollar global marketplace filled with hundreds of successful companies,’‘ said Jeffrey A. Burnstein, Executive Director of AIA.

Burnstein said that AIA plays a key role in stimulating the global marketplace by promoting machine vision in all corners of the world.  Among AIA’s leading activities are trade shows and conferences in North America, networking events in Europe and Asia, and Machine Vision Online (www.machinevisiononline.org), which reaches people interested in vision across the globe. The AIA is committed to furthering its efforts to promote machine vision globally with upcoming plans for new programs in Asia and Europe and future plans in South America and beyond.

Founded in 1984, AIA was organized specifically to promote use of image capture and analysis technology.  Traditionally, AIA has focused its efforts on factory automation applications of machine vision.  However, as the technology has migrated to applications such as medical imaging, biometrics, security, life sciences, and intelligent transportation, AIA is sponsoring more activities to help its members reach these marketplaces.

In late November of 2005, AIA will sponsor a booth at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) show which attracts some 60,000 people, many of whom have an interest in medical imaging applications of machine vision.

In March 2006 AIA will host a half-day workshop on Machine Vision for Life Sciences Applications at PITTCON in Orlando. 

‘‘These efforts allow us to educate companies who may have heard about machine vision but aren’t fully aware of the benefits vision can bring to their non-manufacturing applications,’‘ Burnstein said.

At the same time, AIA continues its efforts to expand the market for vision in factory automation applications.  In Spring 2006, AIA will sponsor a new workshop on Machine Vision for Automotive Applications.  AIA’s leading trade show, The Vision Show East, will return to Boston, May 9-11, 2006, co-located with Nanotech 2006.

AIA also is working hard on standards development to benefit vision users, with updates to its Camera Link® standard due out soon, along with a first draft standard for GigE™ Vision.

Another new initiative in 2006 will be a completely new machine vision market study, with more emphasis than ever before on the various component markets and product-level detail.

‘‘Our efforts in education, standards, market expansion, networking opportunities, and free resources for anyone interested in vision are carried out by a dedicated staff who are committed to the AIA members,’‘ said Burnstein.  ‘‘It is very exciting to see these efforts rewarded by the loyalty and support of the machine vision industry, as evidenced by our new membership record.’‘

For more information about AIA and its key activities, visit www.machinevisiononline.org or call AIA Headquarters at 734/994-6088.

Contact: 
Dana Whalls
Marketing & PR Manager