Data Detection Technologies develops and manufactures equipment for counting, filling, and packaging small objects like seeds, diamonds, and pharmaceuticals. The company was founded in 2002 to address problems in bulk counting of diamonds, and developed an innovative solution using image processing to count thousands of small objects quickly and accurately. This breakthrough led the company to focus on the vegetable seed industry, where it now leads the market with products integrated into seed production lines. Data Detection is continuing research to develop universal counting solutions for other industries requiring speed and accuracy like pharmaceuticals.

1. 140 Industry Europe
Making it CountData Detection Technologies develops, manufactures and distributes equipment for counting, filling and
packaging of various objects such as seeds, diamonds and gems, electronic parts, capsules and tablets.
AT
Data Detection Technologies
nothing counts quite as much as
speed and accuracy.
The hi-tech company is a pioneer in the
technology of bulk counting, explains chief
technology officer and founding member
Yuval Lichi.
For more than 12 years the Israel-based
operation is leading the way in solutions
for advanced counting and packaging.
Following a major breakthrough resulting in
a highly accurate solution for bulk counting
as fast as weighing, its equipment is now
demanded by some of the best-known
names in the diamond, seed and pharma-
ceutical industries.
“We are a high technology company that
has brought together experts in electro-optics,
electronics, software and mechanical engi-
neering,” he explains. “We are able to design
from scratch and to offer a complete solution
because we cover all these fields in-house.
“We develop our software ourselves,
making sure all our processes are clear and
our systems are user friendly. At the same
time we offer high speed and accuracy. As a
result of our hard work we have over 1,000
customers worldwide, either through direct
sales or valued partners.
A shining example
Data Detection Technologies was formed in
2002 to develop products primarily for the
diamond industry.
“There were often problems when dealing
with diamonds in bulk, problems with over-
fill and diamonds sticking together. Counting
machines that counted the diamonds one
by one were just too slow" says Mr Lichi.
“For us to come up with a solution,
therefore, we had two choices – we could
separate them and count them one by one
or we could come up with an innovation for
counting them all together.”
The innovative solution the team came up
with is based upon rapid real-time image pro-
cessing of multiple objects as they fall. These
breakthrough technologies enabled 100 per
cent accurate and reliable bulk counting and
packaging of object as small as 0.3 mm up
to 25 mm without the need of tooling and in
rates that are close to weighing.
“This was a major breakthrough – for the
first time thousands of small objects could be
counted in bulk at very high speeds,” he adds.
Seeds of thought
Initially, Data Detection Technologies worked
with the major players in the diamond indus-
try in India but with the economic changes of
New Generation of Research Seed
counter (SEED Count R-25 PLUS)
Presenting the seed counting machines at the ISF
Congress, Bejing, China
Yuval Lichi - Chief Technology Officer, DATA

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Yuval Lichi & Sorin Nucham presenting pharma
machine at the Interpack 2014

3. 142 Industry Europe
2008 there was a slow down and the com-
pany decided to turn its attentions elsewhere.
“We began to focus on the vegetable
seed industry, which was interesting as
there were many of the same problems with
counting, especially when it came to hybrid
seeds, which were very expensive. We real-
ised it could be a very promising & exciting
market for us.”
Further investment was made in research
and development and after two years the
company had a concept that could be inte-
grated into production and packaging lines.
Going global
The equipment resulted in increased yield
and cost reduction by eliminating the over-
filled items often added when measuring by
weight or volume. It also led to configura-
tion time and delivery time reductions and
enhanced process management, as the
seed counters were developed to record all
packaging data.
“We are leading in the market since then.
We have collaborated with Wintersteiger over
the Seed Research Plus and our customers
are now based across Europe and the US,
and include all the leading operators in the
industry, such as Syngenta and Monsanto.”
Wintersteiger is a global leader in the
production of machines for agricultural field
research and has a world-wide distribu-
tion network. Data Detection Technologies’
counting machines are available through
Wintersteiger’s global network of sales
offices and agents.
Universal solutions
While existing solutions are constantly being
upgraded, research and development is
ongoing searching out other markets where
speed and accuracy in counting are essen-
tial. The pharmaceutical industry has there-
fore also been an area of intense interest.
“When counting tablets and capsules it
is obviously essential to approach 100 per
cent accuracy,” Mr Lichi points out. “This is
a field in which we expect to see significant
growth in the future.”
He continues: “We feel the next step
will be to create a solution for the universal
market, something that can count all sorts
of small parts, where quality control is also
essential. This is something that could hap-
pen soon.
“In fact, I believe that by the end of 2015
we will be bringing something very exciting
to the market – something that will offer a
breakthrough to other industries requiring
accuracy and speed in counting.”
Gil Rosenfeld - Chief Commercial Officer, DATA