Critical Manufacturing, a provider of next-generation Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), announced its acquisition of Convanit, an AI specialist with a focus on image-based analytics for high-tech manufacturing
The acquisition is a step forward in the expansion of Critical Manufacturing Data Platform capabilities. Customers will be able to use visual AI for greater precision, automation, and insight.
Convanits' flagship solution, c-Alice, provides a powerful image classification engine designed for complex industrial environments. The solution enables manufacturers to build and deploy custom AI models for visual inspection without requiring specialised programming or data science skills. This results in quicker manual inspection, greater accuracy, and built-in quality assurance.
Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO of Critical Manufacturing, said: “Manufacturers face growing pressure to deliver higher quality, faster, and ensure complete traceability, yet visual data remains one of the most underused assets on the shop floor."
“By integrating Convanit’s advanced AI-Powered image analytics into our platform, we are transforming how customers convert unstructured image data into actionable, contextualised intelligence. This acquisition is a key milestone in our vision for truly data-driven, Industry 4.0 manufacturing.”
The integration of c-Alice means manufacturers using the Critical Manufacturing Data Platform can:
- Ingest, classify, and analyse image data and real-time process data simultaneously.
- Automate defect detection and raise real-time anomaly alerts across production stages.
- Combine image insights directly to MES workflows, traceability records, and quality reporting.
- Deploy scalable AI models with low latency for continuous in-line operations.
Convanit's interface supports a wide range of users, from quality engineers to process specialists, without the need for advanced coding skills. By making it accessible, it is easier to scale AI adoption across production teams, so "citizen data scientists" can take ownership of model development and refinement.
Michael Meinel, co-founder of Convanit, said: “We created c-Alice to make visual AI simple, flexible, and effective for manufacturers. Joining Critical Manufacturing brings our vision to a global stage, embedding it into one of the most powerful MES ecosystems on the market.”
