The Idea That Started It All

Marc Soucy graduates from Laval University, in Quebec, Canada, in 1992 with a doctorate in electrical engineering. At this time, starting a business is not in the cards. After he publishes a pioneering technique for meshing point clouds of complex objects into polygonal models, his life partner, Esther Bouliane, encourages him to commercialize some of his innovative technologies.

1994

The Birth of a Company

Marc Soucy and Esther Bouliane cofound InnovMetric. Soon thereafter, they launch their first product, IMCompress, then considered by many to be the best polygon reduction algorithm for detailed surface triangulations. This marks the start of many innovations that would revolutionize the field of metrology.

1996

First Release of the IMEdit module

InnovMetric releases IMEdit (now PolyWorks|Modeler™), a reverse-engineering solution that enables true interoperability between digitized polygonal models and CAD/CAM applications.

1996

The Launch of InnovMetric's First Website

In 1996, having a website is considered quite innovative for most companies. The internet is in its early stages of widespread adoption, and only a small percentage of businesses have an online presence. InnovMetric quickly realizes the potential offered by the Web and its very first website is programmed in HTML by its co-founder, Esther Bouliane.

1997

A New Headquarters

Early in its history, with only three employees at the time, InnovMetric settles into a small office in Quebec City, Canada. The company still has the same address, but its headquarters have taken over almost every office of the three-story building to accommodate over 275 employees!

1997

3D Models of the Martian Surface

InnovMetric's cooperation with NASA starts in early 1997, when PolyWorks is intensively used for the Mars Pathfinder mission. NASA's specialists leverage PolyWorks to prepare 3D models of the Martian surface for NASA's website.

1999

A Master Distributor Based in Germany

InnovMetric appoints Duwe-3d AG as the exclusive distributor of PolyWorks in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Founded by Dr. Hans-Peter Duwe, Duwe-3d aims to use innovative technologies and services to increase the precision, efficiency, and quality of 3D measurements, thereby improving product quality.

2000

The Launch of the IMInspect module

InnovMetric launches the IMInspect module (now PolyWorks|Inspector™), an essential analysis tool for quality engineers. This new module includes powerful algorithms used to take and manage measurements efficiently on large point clouds - making it the very first point-cloud-based inspection tool in the industry.

2001

The First of Many Prizes

InnovMetric is awarded a first Fidéides by the jury of the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in recognition of its innovations in technology. This prestigious prize is the equivalent of an Oscar for local business owners.

2002

Sales Milestone: 1,000 Licenses Sold

InnovMetric sells its 1,000th license of PolyWorks and earns its position as the number one point-cloud-processing solution in the automotive industry, which represents more than 50% of its customer base.

2002

A Second Fidéides

InnovMetric stands out once again at the annual Fidéides awards organized by the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The jury awards the company the Export-Small and Medium Enterprises Fidéides.

2003

A Master Distributor Based in the UK

InnovMetric appoints 3D Scanners (UK) as a PolyWorks reseller in the United Kingdom. 3D Scanners is a well-known solution provider that offers excellent after-sales support to the 3D digitizing community and has a solid customer base in the automotive industry, including part manufacturers.

2003

The First Software Box Design

The PolyWorks software box makes its first appearance.

2004

The First PolyWorks User Meeting

InnovMetric successfully holds the first International PolyWorks User Meeting in Quebec City. Approximately 120 participants including major scanner manufacturers and service providers travel from Japan, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the USA, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan, México, Brazil, and other countries to discuss the multiple leading-edge applications offered by PolyWorks.

2004

The Launch of IMView

InnovMetric announces the release of IMView (now PolyWorks|Reviewer™), a free software that enables the visualization of point-cloud-based inspection projects and polygonal models obtained with PolyWorks.

2004

For the Love of Music… and Work!

Two InnovMetric employees start an in-house band to play cover songs during the annual holiday party. The IMBand is composed of musicians who masquerade during the day as account specialists, administrators, programmers, and even “big bosses”. A total of over 50 employees of the InnovMetric group have taken the stage at different points over the years and in various combinations.

2005

Expanding Boundaries

InnovMetric becomes a multinational company with the opening of its first subsidiary, PolyWorks USA, in Novi, Michigan.

2005

Scanning Space Shuttle Discovery

The crew of Discovery uses the Neptec Laser Camera System (LCD) to scan the shuttle's protective skin for damage that could imperil re-entry into the atmosphere. They perform the so-called rendezvous pitch maneuver, exposing the shuttle's underside to the space station for 2D photos. The data from the LCD is then sent to PolyWorks to perform volume measurement from which data indicating the height, width, and depth of any damages is extracted prior to authorizing the astronauts' safe return home. This is the first "Return to Flight" Space Shuttle mission following the Columbia disaster.

2006

A New Subsidiary in China

InnovMetric opens a wholly owned subsidiary office in Shanghai, China. The initial focus of this subsidiary is to provide technical assistance to InnovMetric’s distributors established in China.

2006

A Third Fidéides

InnovMetric is recognized locally for a third time by the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It receives the Export-Small and Medium Enterprises Fidéides for the second time, showcasing its expertise in worldwide deployment.

2006

Mona Lisa Mystery Solved Using 3D Scanning and PolyWorks®

The National Research Council Canada, in collaboration with the National Centre for Research and Restoration in French Museums (C2RMF), announces the completion of the most important scientific study ever done of Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of the Mona Lisa. Scientists help solve the mysteries behind the Mona Lisa using 3D scanning and the PolyWorks software suite.

2007

A Carbon Neutral Company

InnovMetric gets certified carbon neutral by Planetair in 2007 and remains so ever since. The company's contribution offsets all of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and supports projects implemented by the Nature Conservancy of Canada - Quebec Region (NCC).

2007

PolyWorks on the Racetrack

InnovMetric signs a technology sponsorship agreement with the GT1-champion Corvette Racing Team, the leading GT1 team in the American Le Mans Series.

2008

Winner at Les Mercuriades

InnovMetric's efforts are recognized across the province of Quebec with the Mercuriades award in the Export category. "This is a great achievement for our company", says Marc Soucy, co-founder and President of InnovMetric. "This award is the result of the strong commitment of our employees and the technical and human skills they bring to the company."

2009

The Opening of PolyWorks India

InnovMetric pursues its worldwide expansion and opens a third subsidiary in India to increase PolyWorks' market presence in this country.

2009

Federal Partners in Technology Transfer Award

InnovMetric and the National Research Council of Canada were awarded the 2009 Federal Partners in Technology Transfer (FPTT) award for the successful development and transfer of 3D data analysis technologies that led to the commercialization of inspection methods based on three-dimensional measurements of real objects.

2010

Making Our Mark in the Automotive Industry Worldwide

InnovMetric reaches a significant milestone in the deployment of its universal 3D metrology software platform, PolyWorks, in the automotive industry. Five major Japanese, American, and German automotive OEMs now use over 100 software licenses each. These key customers own more than 1,250 licenses globally.

2011

Measurement Sessions in the Palm of Your Hand

InnovMetric launches PolyWorks|Talisman™, an application that runs on the iPod touch®, iPhone®, and iPad® mobile computing devices. It allows operators to control PolyWorks|Inspector remotely and get critical visual or textual feedback while measuring on the shop floor.

2011

Supporting Active Lifestyle and Good Health

InnovMetric sponsors the first-ever Fun Run & Walk event at the Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC).

2012

Sales Milestone: 10,000 Licenses Sold

InnovMetric sells the 10,000th license of PolyWorks.

2012

PolyWorks Training Sessions

Following its strong growth in the Midwestern USA in recent years, InnovMetric announces that PolyWorks Classroom Training Sessions are now available at its new PolyWorks USA training center in Novi, Michigan.

2012

New Logo Rollout

InnovMetric unveils a new corporate logo that conveys its values of quality and innovation through a unique typography.

2013

The Opening of PolyWorks Japan

InnovMetric launches a new subsidiary, PolyWorks Japan. Japanese customers have been early adopters of the PolyWorks® point cloud 3D metrology software solution and have significantly contributed to its development by providing valuable input regarding their technical requirements.

2013

The Opening of PolyWorks Thailand

After three years of successful cooperation, InnovMetric and its Thai business partner, Mr. Chaiyasit Thongplio of PW Technical Support (Thailand) Co. Ltd., announce the launch of PolyWorks Thailand. This new joint venture is created to market PolyWorks to VIP accounts and pursue its mission of providing technical support and training to users.

2013

The First In-Person PolyWorks Conference

InnovMetric holds its first-ever PolyWorks Conference to mark the launch of the latest major release of its software.

2013

Up for the Run

InnovMetric employees participate for the first time in the Tour du Lac Beauport challenge, an event that lets participants enjoy the autumn colors in an enchanting setting. The hilly run is on a magnificent road surrounded by mountains. Distances include 6, 12, and 18 km, with the possibility to either run or walk.

2014

The Opening of PolyWorks México

After two years of successful cooperation, InnovMetric and Prefixa Vision Systems (a high-tech company, leader in the development of image processing applications) announce the launch of PolyWorks México. This new business unit is now in charge of expanding the market presence in México by promoting PolyWorks and related high-end technical services to VIP accounts.

2014

The Opening of PolyWorks Brasil

InnovMetric and its Brazilian business partner, Mr. Danilo Ribeiro of PWB Suporte Técnico Ltda., announce the launch of PolyWorks Brasil following four years of successful cooperation. The goal of this new joint venture is to market PolyWorks to Brazil's manufacturing industry.

2014

20 Years of Innovation

InnovMetric celebrates its 20th anniversary by releasing a real-time quality meshing technology. PolyWorks 2014 becomes the first metrology-grade laser scanning platform on the market.

2014

Pay It Forward to the Local Community

Since 2014, InnovMetric is committed to the greater Quebec City region through the Centraide Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches campaign. Centraide's mission is to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable and build inclusive communities.

2014

Sports Challenges & Fun

InnovMetric employees participate in the Pentathlon des neiges for the first time, the largest winter outdoor event in Canada, as well as the Tour de l'Île d'Orléans, an annual cycling challenge on the island.

2015

Challenging Our Team to Stay Active

InnovMetric employees participate for the first time in the Triathlon du Lac Poulin and the Défi Entreprises, the latter of which is a simple, motivating, and positive training program that mobilizes teams to achieve a common goal outside of the professional context.

2016

The Opening of PolyWorks Europa

InnovMetric launches three new European subsidiaries in France, Italy, and Spain to promote PolyWorks, its universal 3D metrology software platform, to the industrial manufacturing industry. An office in Czechia joins the group soon thereafter.

2016

The Opening of PolyWorks Benelux

InnovMetric announces the launch of PolyWorks Benelux, a joint venture created with a local business partner, Mr. Mark Luijbregts, to market PolyWorks to the region's diversified manufacturing industry.

2016

The Opening of PolyWorks Türkiye

InnovMetric announces the launch of PolyWorks Türkiye, a joint venture created with local business partners, Dr. Ayduygu Sevinç and Gökhan Odabaşı, to market PolyWorks to Türkiye's manufacturing industry, particularly in the automotive sector.

2016

The Universal 3D Metrology Software Platform

PolyWorks 2016 delivers a universal 3D metrology workflow to portable metrology and CNC CMM operators. It is a revolutionary concept that is set to change the quality control industry. From now on, only one software is required to operate all measuring tools (portable probing devices, CNC CMM, 3D scanners…), eliminating metrology silos, boosting employee mobility, and improving overall teamwork efficiency.

2016

Investing in Youth to Shape the Future

Since 2016, InnovMetric supports Laval University's engineering students by providing them with access to metrology equipment and offering them sponsorship budgets as well as PolyWorks® trainings. This involvement enables future engineers to use real-world equipment outside the classroom and helps them in their student projects.

2017

Launch of PolyWorld

Now an established worldwide company with offices in 14 countries, InnovMetric brings together its workforce with the first edition of PolyWorld. During this internal event, representatives and partners gather in beautiful Quebec City to celebrate past successes and plan their next steps.

2017

Sales Milestone: 20,000 Licenses Sold

InnovMetric sells the 20,000th license of PolyWorks.

2017

The Opening of PolyWorks Scandinavia

InnovMetric launches PolyWorks Scandinavia, a joint venture created with a long-time local business partner in Sweden, Mr. Martin Elf, to market PolyWorks to the manufacturing industry in the Scandinavian region.

2017

The First Héma-Québec Campaign

InnovMetric employees are invited to roll up their sleeves and donate blood at a blood drive organized by Héma-Québec.

2018

The Opening of PolyWorks South Africa

PolyWorks South Africa, a new joint venture, is created with business partner Mr. George Sansoni to market PolyWorks to VIP accounts and offer high-end services to South African customers, including technical support, training, metrology process consulting, and software customization.

2018

The Launch of the PolyWorks Collaborative Suite

InnovMetric launches the PolyWorks Collaborative Suite, which initially consists of two digital collaboration products: PolyWorks|DataLoop™ and PolyWorks|PMI+Loop™. This new software solution provides a complete and efficient digital data storage solution to manage all 3D measurement data. It also promises to significantly increase product-development efficiency by digitally interconnecting Quality Control and Product Engineering teams, and providing them with real-time access to all 3D measurement data.

2019

The Launch of PolyWorks|ReportLoop

InnovMetric unveils the PolyWorks|ReportLoop™ for Excel solution, a product that digitally interconnects the PolyWorks Metrology Suite and Microsoft Excel to inject smart 3D inspection data within customers corporate inspection reports.

2019

The Most User-Friendly CMM Sequencing Workflow

InnovMetric celebrates its 25th anniversary by releasing the most user-friendly CNC CMM software solution on the market.

2019

Record Attendance at PolyWorks Conference USA

More than 500 people gather at PolyWorks Conference USA 2019 in Novi, Michigan, to witness the unveiling of the latest major release of PolyWorks.

2020

Sales Milestone| 30,000 Licenses Sold

InnovMetric sells the 30,000th license of PolyWorks.

2020

PolyWorks|Inspector™ Turns 20

The InnovMetric team celebrates 20 years of success for PolyWorks|Inspector at its headquarters.

2020

The First PolyWorks Conference Live

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, InnovMetric decides to refrain from holding large group events. Its annual gathering is adapted to a virtual format, which proves to be a huge success and is still appreciated by our worldwide customers and business partners today.

2020

The Launch of the PolyWorks|Inspector Gauging Package

Thanks to the PolyWorks|Inspector Gauging Package, manufacturers and metrology specialists can now collect and manage digital gauge measurements within their PolyWorks® digital ecosystem.

2021

The Launch of PolyWorks|AR™

Always eager to put new technologies to use, InnovMetric releases PolyWorks 2021, which includes a mixed reality solution that enhances 3D metrology perception using the Microsoft HoloLens smart glasses.

2021

The Launch of PolyWorks|DataLoop™ PLM Connectors

PolyWorks|DataLoop PLM Connectors interconnect product lifecycle management and 3D measurement digital ecosystems, allowing diverse teams to easily access and share product definition and 3D measurement data.

2022

The Opening of PolyWorks Polska

InnovMetric and its business partner, Mr. Pawel Kosiarz, proudly announce the launch of PolyWorks Polska to expand the sales of the PolyWorks® Smart 3D Metrology Digital Ecosystem in Poland and to provide complete technical services to customers.

2022

Formula 1 Racing Scrutinized with PolyWorks

Every millimeter counts when trying to improve the performance of a single-seater Formula 1 car. To level the playing field between the teams, the Fédération internationale de l'automobile (FIA) turns to Quebec know-how. Since the start of the racing season, 3D metrology software designed by InnovMetric is used to scrutinize the cars.

2023

Sales Milestone| 40,000 Licenses Sold

InnovMetric sells the 40,000th license of PolyWorks.

2023

A Business Partner Recognizes PolyWorks|DataLoop as Part of Its Success

Manufacturing engineers at GEA make better data-driven decisions with fast and easy access to CAD and 3D measurement data. Breaking down barriers and silos and interconnecting everyone who can benefit from digital 3D measurement data is the promise of PolyWorks|DataLoop.

2023

Triumph at Les Fidéides

InnovMetric receives three prizes during the Fidéides awards—High Technology, Exportation, and Business of the year.

2023

Summa Prize from Laval University

Marc Soucy is awarded the Summa prize by Laval University's Faculty of Science and Engineering to highlight his successful career.

2024

First Financial Partner

While celebrating its 30th anniversary in business, InnovMetric starts a new chapter in its history by welcoming its very first financial partner. The Fonds de solidarité FTQ joins the company with a 45 million dollar investment to support its long-term growth perspective.