- The new software platform ZEISS Blockwise enables highly automated, complex measurement and inspection tasks
- MVTec HALCON forms the foundation of the underlying image processing
MVTec Software GmbH, a leading global manufacturer of software for machine vision, and ZEISS have announced a strategic collaboration. As part of this partnership, ZEISS is integrating the machine vision software MVTec HALCON as the foundation for image processing in ZEISS Blockwise, the new software platform for automated microscopy. The platform was released on April 30, 2026. Designed as a toolbox, Blockwise simplifies complex measurement and analysis tasks in electron microscopy. Customers, particularly those in the semiconductor industry, will benefit from the collaboration between ZEISS and MVTec through a powerful, future-proof solution for demanding inspection and analysis tasks that can also be performed in a highly autonomous manner.
Powerful machine vision from MVTec as a building block for ZEISS Blockwise
Particularly in the semiconductor industry, stable and reproducible processes, high precision, and the reliable processing of large volumes of data are crucial. The integration of HALCON into Blockwise provides a strong technological foundation. The machine vision software is ideally suited to such environments because it combines a broad methodological range with industrial maturity. Companies can use both rule-based approaches and deep learning methods within a single environment. This makes it easier to address different requirements within one system and to further develop image processing solutions in the long term. Users benefit from greater flexibility in implementation, increased development efficiency, and a reliable foundation for productive use.
A key strength of ZEISS Blockwise is its ability to seamlessly integrate image acquisition into the workflow of microscopes, enabling Blockwise to define the next steps directly based on captured data. This fully integrated approach ensures that image processing becomes a central part of the workflow, driving efficiency and precision. Additionally, ZEISS Blockwise offers a low entry barrier, making it accessible for users with varying levels of expertise. This combination of HALCON integration, together with flexibility, and ease of use ensures that ZEISS Blockwise provides a reliable and innovative solution for industrial value creation processes.
AI technologies in MVTec HALCON enhance inspection tasks
ZEISS relies on MVTec HALCON, a flexible and powerful image processing software solution. As a standard software package, HALCON includes more than 2,100 operators, enabling the implementation of nearly all image processing applications. The software combines powerful technologies such as rule-based methods and deep learning-based approaches. This combination is essential wherever image processing tasks must be solved not only quickly and robustly, but also flexibly and at scale. “MVTec HALCON has already proven itself in many applications in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries. We are pleased that ZEISS has chosen HALCON as the image processing foundation for its groundbreaking Blockwise software platform. The two software products are an excellent match because they are both designed as comprehensive toolboxes. This enables users to handle a broad range of demanding measurement and inspection tasks with greater ease,” explains Klaus Schrenker, Business Development Manager at MVTec.
