Introduction

This case study features a Hungarian startup founded in 2007 in Debrecen. The company specializes in developing metrology software and hardware tailored to the photovoltaic and semiconductor industries. Over time, it has continuously evolved its offerings to meet the changing demands of these high-tech sectors, demonstrating adaptability and technical depth in a competitive global market.

The Story

The company began its journey by producing infrared silicon block quality inspection devices, essential for verifying the integrity of silicon blocks used in photovoltaic applications. As its capabilities grew, the company expanded into high-power laser excitation photoluminescence measurements—an advancement that enabled more accurate projections of solar cell efficiency based on inspected materials.

In 2018, the company broadened its focus by developing high-definition silicon wafer detection devices for the semiconductor industry. This marked a strategic shift, establishing the company as a notable supplier in a new high-tech domain. Today, research continues into next-generation examination technologies for silicon wafer inspection, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation in a competitive field.

The R&D software development team played a central role in this evolution, crafting mathematical algorithms for image processing, noise reduction, and artifact identification and removal. Technologies used included:

• C++11, Qt, and Visual Studio for the photovoltaic measurement family line

• .NET and WinForms for the semiconductor family line

• Embedded C and Python for embedded controllers

As a startup, the company operated with flexible development practices—closest to agile in spirit, though without the formal ceremonies typically associated with Scrum.

The Challenge 

• The development team encountered several challenges throughout the project:

• Complex software-hardware environment: Navigating a highly intricate system landscape required constant adaptation to rapidly evolving requirements from the product development team.

• Broad technical scope: The team was responsible for everything from high-level user interfaces to low-level hardware control, demanding versatility and a readiness to learn and apply new technologies.

• Remote diagnostics under pressure: Supporting devices installed in distant locations such as China and Taiwan involved remote analysis and troubleshooting across thousands of kilometers, often under tight time constraints.

These challenges highlighted the team's resilience and ability to operate across diverse technical domains while maintaining responsiveness in a global deployment context

The Results

Despite these challenges, the company successfully transitioned from serving primarily the photovoltaic industry to becoming a key player in the semiconductor sector. The shift from C++ to .NET marked a turning point, allowing the team to accelerate software development using more modern tools and frameworks.

This evolution has reinforced the company’s position as a versatile and forward-looking provider, capable of meeting the complex and demanding requirements of both industries.