HGH Infrared Systems was founded in 1982, by experts in infrared technology in France: Rene Houis, Gilbert Gaussorgues, and Francois Hubert. Before creating HGH, F. Hubert and R. Houis were working for AGA Infrared Systems, pioneer in the development of infrared cameras for industrial inspection. G. Gaussorgues was the director of the French Navy optronics laboratory and was working as a consultant for AGA.
Initially, HGH’s main business segments were:
In 2001, the founders sold the company to the HGH’s sales director, Thierry Campos. Thierry Campos then changed the strategy of the company, by focusing resources and efforts on technological innovation toward a specific range of advanced products readily available off the shelf. HGH’s activity was then re-organized around three main market segments:
In addition, since the early 2000s, HGH has accelerated its international presence, with the opening of subsidiaries and sales offices outside France, and representatives in 50 countries:
CREATION OF ELECTRO-OPTICAL INDUSTRIES
Electro Optical Industries is a global provider of infrared solutions. EOI was founded by Arthur J. Cussen and incorporated in 1964, in Goleta, Santa Barbara, USA.
Today, EOI is part of the HGH Group, and is known for providing state-of-the-art equipment for both government and commercial applications.
CREATION OF HGH INFRARED SYSTEMS
The story of HGH Infrared Systems, expert in infrared & electro-optics, began in France in 1982, when two pioneers of infrared technology met. René Houis was at this time director of the French subsidiary of an industrial thermography camera manufacturer, and Gilbert Gaussorgues was head of the French Navy optronics laboratory. When they decided to create HGH Infrared Systems, the company designed customized electro-optics equipment according to specific requirements.
THIERRY CAMPOS ACQUIRED HGH
HGH Infrared Systems is acquired in 2001 by Thierry Campos, sales director at HGH since 1988.
MOVE TO IGNY, PARIS-SACLAY
HGH moves to Igny, near Paris, in the heart of the Paris-Saclay cluster.
OPENING OF CHINA OFFICE IN BEIJING
To develop its sales on the Chinese market, HGH Infrared Systems opens its first office in China, in Beijing.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPYNEL INFRARED PANORAMIC CAMERA
With skills acquired over decades, HGH developed a new range of products: Spynel, a 24/7 wide area surveillance system, with automatic intrusion detection and tracking over 360°. Spynel protects several critical infrastructure around the world, and won numerous international awards.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPYNEL'S CYCLOPE SOFTWARE FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND TRACKING
CYCLOPE is an advanced image processing software analysing panoramic images captured by the SPYNEL Wide Area Surveillance sensors in real-time.
OPENING OF US EAST COAST SUBSIDIARY
HGH Infrared Systems opens its first subsidiary, in the US East Coast, in Boston.
1ST HISTORICAL CONTRACT WITH US ARMY
HGH Infrared Systems signs its first historical contract with the US Army, for the sale of dozens of SPYNEL Panoramic IR Camera.
OPENING OF INDIA OFFICE IN BENGALORE
HGH Infrared Systems pursues its international development and opens an office in India.
OPENING OF THE 2ND HGH SUBSIDIARY IN SINGAPORE
HGH Infrared Systems is strenghtening its presence in Asia, with the opening of a new subsidiary in Singapore, giving to the company a gateway to the Southeast Asian market.
ACQUISITION OF ELECTRO OPTICAL INDUSTRIES
In 2016, HGH Infrared Systems announced the acquisition of Electro Optical Industries (EOI), American experts in Test & Measurement based in California (USA).
CARLYLE GROUP BECOMES MAJOR STAKE HOLDER OF HGH
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) becomes a major stake holder of HGH. This partnership with Carlyle is intented to accelerate HGH’s growth and development in new markets.
HGH EXPANDS ITS BRAND NAME WORLDWIDE
The HGH Group starts its brand harmonization worldwide, to better reflect its position as a global leader in the optronics market.
ELECTRO-OPTICAL INDUSTRIES BECOMES "HGH USA"
At the dawn of its 40th anniversary, the HGH Group continues its brand unification in its American subsidiary
VINCENT LEBOUCHER BECOMES PRESIDENT OF HGH GROUP
Vincent Leboucher graduated from the Institut d’Optique Graduate School in 2002 and joined HGH in 2003 as an electro-optics engineer. His rapid evolution within the company allowed him to quickly take on the position of Head of R&D and to acquire a very sharp knowledge of HGH technology. His creativity and management agility led him to the position of Deputy General Manager in 2018, and President of HGH Group in 2021.
HGH is a electro-optical devices global provider. The company provides wide area surveillance, industrial thermography and electro-optical test solutions.
