Xavis’ X-ray machine

Profile • Name: Xavis (X-ray automatic inspection system) • Founder and CEO: Kim Hyeong-cheol • Company age: 10 years • Employees: 60 • Profits: 10.3 billion won or about $9 million in 2011 • Major clients: Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Foxconn • Funder: 2 billion won (about $1.8 million) from Softbank, a venture capital in 2008

In a warehouse-like office room, auto parts, batteries for cellphones and laptops as well as pantries full of canned- and packaged foods lie around. Then, there are large X-ray machines in different sizes.

This is what Xavis specializes in. As its name stands for X-ray “automatic visual inspection system,” the machines catch defects in products from packaged goods to auto and electronics components.

“Sometimes, unimaginable foreign objects come out of food, ranging from bones and fishing bait to nuts and bolts to nails and earrings,” said Kim Hyeong-cheol, a founder and CEO of Xavis, in his office in Gyeonggi Province.

On average, the machine spots about 10 defects out of 30,000 tested items.

Kim, a former Samsung Electronics worker, who made similar inspection machines, started his own company in 2002 with another partner. Over the past 10 years, Xavis has grown to become a company with 10.3 billion won in revenue, after making 100 million won in its first year.

Although Japanese makers such as Toshiba, and European brands already sell similar products, electronics giants Samsung and LG as well as Foxconn, a Chinese supplier for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, selected Xavis over its rivals. Kim said its strength lies in the speed of the machines and the customized after-care services.

Xavis machines works at a speed of 180 ppm, or inspecting 180 products in a minute. “It’s the world’s fastest,” he added.
As approved by the U.S. FDA and the European CE, the Xavis’ X-ray catches a minute crack or an uneven welding of an IC chip used in cellphone batteries, which can lead to a fire, which still happens today, Kim said.