Posted: November 30, 2009

(Nanowerk News) Digital Surf, the solutions provider for micro and nano-surface metrology, was incorporated on 14 November 1989 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Digital Surf has a history of continuous innovation in surface metrology. Its first software for 2D surface analysis was released in 1990, quickly followed by the release of 3D software in 1991. In 1993 the company signed its first OEM contract with a major surface metrology instrument manufacturer to integrate both its analysis software and its controller. Today Digital Surf is an established B2B partner for many leading instrument manufacturers whose names read like a Who’s Who of surface metrology. Their instruments are powered by the company’s flagship Mountains Technology® software platform for surface analysis, in some instances seconded by Volcanyon Technology® for controlling multiple axes and sensors, including the company’s high resolution Nobis chromatic confocal distance gauges.

Analyze this! Profilometers, optical microscopes and scanning probe microscopes from many of the world’s leading instrument manufacturers are powered by Mountains Technology®, Digital Surf’s surface analysis software platform.

Originally running on an Apple Macintosh, the company’s surface analysis software platform was migrated to Microsoft Windows 95 in 1996 and given its present name, Mountains Technology®. Today it runs under the latest versions of Windows and exploits 64-bit processing power to analyze today’s increasing large measurement data files quickly as well as accurately. Compatible with 2D/3D surface profilometers, optical microscopes and scanning probe microscopes, Mountains Technology® is used by laboratories and manufacturers worldwide to research new advanced materials and to assure their functional performance and quality. Its applications span many sectors including aerospace, automotive, cosmetics, electronics (MEMS, PCB), energy, medical, metallurgy, nanotechnology, plastics, printing and semiconductor sectors and many others. Consistently the first to implement new applications, for example the ISO 25178 3D parameters, true sub-surface (region of interest) analysis and 4D analysis of surface evolution, Mountains Technology® has become an industry standard.

“Digital Surf has a unique multi-disciplinary team that masters all of the links in the surface metrology chain from measurement, through data acquisition and control, to analysis,” stated Christophe Mignot, CEO and co-founder. “Our team includes technical specialists in metrology, software engineering, electronics, optics, and technical documentation and localization. Our commitment to delivering solutions that conform to the latest standards and incorporate the latest methods is reflected in our participation on ISO standards committees and our Mount Shasta technical cooperation programme with internationally reputed laboratories. We are dedicated to continuous innovation in order to meet both the present and the future needs of our partners. Thanks are due both to our partners and to our team for our successes in the past twenty years.”

Digital Surf, founded in 1989, is a leading provider of solutions for surface metrology. The company supplies imaging and analysis software for use with surface metrology instruments based on its Mountains® technology, modular, expandable control systems for driving multi-gauge, multi-axis profilometers based on its Volcanyon® technology, which includes high precision Nobis® confocal chromatic optical distance gauges. These technologies are integrated by instrument manufacturers and used by research laboratories and industrial facilities worldwide.