40 YEARS

Of Electro-Optical Innovation

Let's celebrate 40 years of
Innovation and passion

Pioneers in electro-optical technologies since 1982

HGH Group is celebrating a unique milestone this year, marking their 40th anniversary with renewed commitment to electro-optical innovation. A new chapter begins for this pioneer in infrared technology which has established itself on the international scene as a reference in terms of electro-optical innovation. Looking to the future, HGH is seizing the opportunity of this celebration to announce plans to remain a leader in optronics innovation, reinvent a strong visual identity and further expand its activities and partnerships worldwide. To the next 40 years!

Key sectors of activity put their trust in HGH Innovations:

Homeland Security

40 years of creating world-class electro-optical solutions:

Spynel® 360° Wide Area Surveillance solution is a world-renowned sensor for the detection, tracking and identification of any type of threat with the integrated Cyclope  software. 

DCN1000 Blackbodies  are a reference in many international laboratories for the characterization and performance validation of a very wide range of IR sensors.

Kilnscan & Pyroscan provide exact thermal measurements in rotary kilns and furnaces to improve production in quality and in quantity, while reducing downtime and energy consumption.

Facing the Covid-19 pandemic, HGH was the first and only European company to develop a Blackbody technology to answer IR thermography camera manufacturers’ increasing needs. 

BUILDING A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS INNOVATION SINCE 1982

HGH’s strength lies in its thirst for continuous innovation by bringing to the market high-end and disruptive optronics technologies and services. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our committed collaborators, our customers, for their loyalty and their precious collaboration in the development of new products as well as our large network of strategic partners. Going forward, HGH will remain committed to contributing to the progress of electro-optics technologies for Defense, Security, Science and Industry needs. To the next 40 years!

Vincent-Leboucher-about-us

Testimonials from our employees

HGH MILESTONES

1982-2002

Infrared technology pioneers make their mark with industrial scanners, blackbodies and radiometric & spectroradiometric sensors

1982

Creation of HGH Infrared Systems

1986

ATL100:

First IR scanner, for soldering applications

RCN300 Blackbody

First HGH Blackbody!

1987

RCN900 Blackbody

1988

ATL 020

First rotary kiln scanner & first big commercial success

1991

DCN100 Blackbody

1992

COPI & MIMOSA

Universal test benches for military applications

SPRS 01

Sensor for measuring the infrared spectral radiation of sources

1993

HADES

Forerunner of Coolscan

1997

VULCAIN

Forerunner of Pyroscan

2001

Thierry Campos acquires HGH

Innovation first!

2002-2022

Diversifying innovations and the beginning of a spectacular internationalization

2002

Kilnscan 21

Succeeds to ATL 020

2003

BIRD

HGH overcomes the driving of IRFPA with BIRD Test bench

2004

OPENING OF CHINA OFFICE IN BEIJING

2005

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPYNEL INFRARED PANORAMIC CAMERA

Called Vigiscan at that time!

DCN 1000 Blackbody

Suceeds to DCN 100

2007

DEVELOPMENT OF the CYCLOPE SOFTWARE FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND TRACKING

Kilnscan 23

Succeeds to Kilnscan 21

2008

OPENING OF US EAST COAST SUBSIDIARY

2010

1ST HISTORICAL CONTRACT WITH US ARMY

2011

OPENING OF INDIA OFFICE IN BENGALORE

2012

OPENING OF THE 2ND HGH SUBSIDIARY IN SINGAPORE

2016

ACQUISITION OF ELECTRO OPTICAL INDUSTRIES

2018

CARLYLE GROUP BECOMES MAJOR STAKE HOLDER OF HGH

2019

HGH EXPANDS ITS BRAND NAME WORLDWIDE

2021

ELECTRO-OPTICAL INDUSTRIES BECOMES "HGH USA"

2021

VINCENT LEBOUCHER BECOMES PRESIDENT OF HGH GROUP

More about Infrared Radiation:

Infrared (IR) radiation was discovered in 1800 by the British astronomer Sir William Herschel. It is a form of electromagnetic radiation, like visible light, but whose wavelengths are longer than visible light wavelengths, making them invisible to the human eye. Infrared detectors allow you to “see” in the dark by converting objects’ heat into an electronic signal which is then used to generate an image. The thermal or heat signature of an object is the amount of energy it emits. When two entities are placed next to each other, their thermal signatures can differ.

What about the Infrared Spectrum? There are three main sections in the infrared spectrum. Depending on the application, the exact boundaries between these spectral bands may differ slightly. The spectral region used in infrared thermography is normally between 0.9 and 16 μm, with the most common ranges being 3 to 5 μm and 8 to 14 μm.

NIR = near infrared 0.8 – 1µm

SWIR = short wave infrared 1 – 2.7 µm 

MWIR = medium wave infrared 3-5 µm 

LWIR =  long wave infrared 8-16µm

Infrared images captured by CYCLOPE Software

1964

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.

1982

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 HGH CEO

2001

THIERRY CAMPOS ACQUIRED HGH

HGH Infrared Systems is acquired in 2001 by Thierry Campos, sales director at HGH since 1988.

2004

MOVE TO IGNY, PARIS-SACLAY

HGH moves to Igny, near Paris, in the heart of the Paris-Saclay cluster.

HGH Headquarters building in Paris Saclay, France

2004

OPENING OF CHINA OFFICE IN BEIJING

2005

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.

Spynel C

2007

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.

2008

OPENING OF US EAST COAST SUBSIDIARY

HGH Infrared Systems opens its first subsidiary, in the US East Coast, in Boston.

2010

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.

US Military signs with HGH
world map with pin on bangalore

2011

OPENING OF INDIA OFFICE IN BENGALORE

HGH Infrared Systems pursues its international development and opens an office in India.

2012

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.

HGH_indian_OFFICE_Bangalore
Electro Optical Industries office building in Goleta, CA

2016

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).

2018

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.

Carlyle Group logo

2019

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.

2021

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.