Innovativeness vital for leading players in the sector
Hexagon works purposefully to develop new technologies to enable it to maintain and further strengthen its market-leading position. The purpose of Hexagon's research and development work is to create products and services that cost-efficiently improve productivity and raise quality in its customers' operations. Hexagon's research and development activities also aim at continuously improving existing products and services and at finding new application areas.Within Hexagon, approximately 950 engineering graduates, some with doctorates, work in research and development. Fundamental development work in measurement technologies is conducted at a central research unit in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, and the results are subsequently used by the product-development units in the US, Australia, China, Singapore and most countries in Europe. In addition, Hexagon maintains close cooperation with universities and technical colleges throughout the world.
The strategic development areas within research and development into measurement technologies include software development, sensor technology, distance measurement and calibration and compensation technology.
To protect its research and development investments, Hexagon submits around 200 patent applications every year. Hexagon's patent portfolio consists of more than 1,700 active patents worldwide. Hexagon carefully monitors the sector to ensure that the Group's patents are being respected. Hexagon takes a serious view of patent infringement and adheres to the principle of legally defending the Group's rights.