HiperScan

HiperScan GmbH operates as a specialized developer of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy solutions, stemming from its origins as a 2006 spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) in Dresden, Germany. The company was founded to commercialize the scanning grating spectrometer (SGS) technology developed at the institute, which significantly lowers the investment costs associated with NIR analytics, making the technology accessible to smaller enterprises. A major corporate milestone was the acquisition by Fagron, a global pharmaceutical compounding company, in April 2022, a move intended to fuel international expansion. Michael Thoma has served as Managing Director since 2015.

The company's core business revolves around providing compact and cost-effective NIR analysis systems for rapid substance identification and qualification. Its primary market is the pharmaceutical sector, specifically pharmacies, where its flagship product, Apo-Ident, is used for the mandatory identification of raw materials for compounding. HiperScan has established itself as the market leader in this segment in Germany, with its systems used in over 6,000 pharmacies. The business model involves the sale of these spectrometer devices coupled with access to a comprehensive, validated substance database, which is regularly updated. Beyond pharmacies, the company also serves the food, agriculture, chemical, and recycling industries.

HiperScan's main product, the Apo-Ident analysis system, is a NIR spectrometer designed for the specific needs of pharmacy laboratories. It enables users to verify the identity of compounding substances within seconds by comparing a sample's spectral data against a proprietary reference database containing over 1,100 raw materials, including powders, liquids, and ointments. This non-contact testing method is fast and avoids cross-contamination, streamlining workflow in a pharmacy's incoming goods department. The company also offers the Finder SD, a more versatile and robust system with an IP65 certified housing, designed for broader industrial use in both laboratory and production environments for quantifying ingredients like fat and protein or identifying materials in raw goods inspections.

Keywords: near-infrared spectroscopy, raw material identification, pharmaceutical compounding, substance analysis, scanning grating technology, MEMS, food analysis, chemometrics, laboratory equipment, process control