Our roots

YXLON combines the dynamics and innovativeness of a young enterprise with a wealth of tradition and years of experience in the field of industrial X-ray technology.

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1895 - 1927 The beginnings of X-ray technology

On November 8th, 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovers the rays he called “X-rays”. Later on the rays are renamed in German to “Röntgenstrahlen” in honor of him, though in English the original designation lasts to this day.

Based on Röntgen’s discovery, Carl Heinrich Florenz Müller, a native Thuringian glass-blower and factory owner, develops the first X-ray tube in Hamburg in 1896.

On April 17th, 1927, Philips takes over the company C.H.F. Müller, also known as “Röntgenmüller”, and clusters the development and production of X-ray tubes in Hamburg.

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1954 - 1996 Milestones in X-ray technology

1955 Founded in Denmark in 1954, the firm Andrex S.A. develops the first portable X-ray system. The first mobile device follows in 1970.

1973 The Philips electronics group develops the first metal-ceramic X-ray source with 160 kV.

1980 Andrex presents the first open microfocus system.

1990 Philips develops the first 450 kV source.

1992 Andrex brings the first neural network for automatic defect recognition (ADR) onto the market.

1995 Dr. Joseph Kosanetzky, the former head of development at Philips Industrial X-Ray and managing director at YXLON until 30 April 2012, receives the “Röntgenplakette” (‘Röntgen Plaque’) from the city of Remscheid for “fundamental practical work toward the usage of backscattered X-rays stemming from the Compton effect to generate tomograms, and for further development of the procedure in the direction of industrial series production.”

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1997 - 1998 YXLON - Tradition and a new start

In 1997 Philips Industrial X-Ray GmbH launches the universal radiation-shielded Y.MU2000 X-ray cabinet and the Y.MU231 wheel system on the market - two of the most successful X-ray systems worldwide to this day.

In the spring of 1998 YXLON International X-Ray GmbH is founded as a result of a management buy-out and the merger of Philips Industrial X-Ray GmbH and Andrex S.A. At the end of that same year, YXLON leaves the grounds on Röntgenstrasse and moves into the newly constructed factory complex in Hamburg-Langenhorn.

Soon after, YXLON commences with the advanced development and production of X-ray systems for tire inspection by taking over LumenX in Akron, Ohio in the USA.

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1999 - 2003 Growth into new markets

On December 1^st, 1999, YXLON takes over Philips activities in the field of industrial X-raying in Japan. The firm YXLON International KK is founded in Tokyo.

YXLON strengthens its position in the Asian region further with the founding of two sales offices in China in 2002 and 2003.

At an early stage YXLON had already identified the rising demand for CT solutions in many industrial sectors. By taking over HAPEG Hattinger Prüf- und Entwicklungs-GmbH, a specialist for industrial computed tomography, in 2003, YXLON picks up on this development and enlarges its product portfolio by adding CT systems for the inspection and measurement of nearly all inspection objects.

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2004 - 2008 Strong partners

Since January 2007 YXLON has belonged to COMET Holding AG (Switzerland).
COMET Holding AG

The COMET FeinFocus division is integrated into YXLON business as a product line in the course of the takeover. This enables YXLON to cover the strong demand for X-ray systems in the microfocus sector as well: for example, the way they are used in the electronics industry.

In 2008 YXLON International X-Ray GmbH and FeinFocus GmbH are merged to form YXLON International GmbH.

That same year YXLON presents a new Variofocus X-ray system with a new focal-spot technology that offers an extraordinarily small focal spot with a variable power output. This seals the gap between microfocus and conventional X-ray tubes in digital radiography and computed tomography.

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2009 - 2010 Consolidation and constant innovation

In 2009 YXLON concentrates its standard system business at its Hamburg location and closes the branch in Garbsen. A new production hall is inaugurated in Hamburg.

With Y.HDR-Inspect, YXLON presents its new digital imaging procedure for visual X-ray inspection. “Highly dynamic radioscopy” - this high level of dynamics stands for both high speed with the possibility for live image inspection and for a high contrast resolution (16 Bit) - inspection items are depicted “as if made of glass.”

With its universal Y.Multiplex X-ray system and the functionality provided by Y.CT-Inspect, since 2010 YXLON has been offering a complete integration of computed tomography into conventional radiographic inspection.