VITRONIC’s tolling solutions built on 40 years of innovation for sustainable toll operations.
Tollchecker TC5 is the latest generation of automated tolling system developed by VITRONIC. It is not only incredibly accurate, delivering a recognition rate of over 99%, but also more environmentally friendly than any previous solution.
But such advanced technology does not suddenly appear on the market without many months of development, not to mention years of experience to build upon – which VITRONIC certainly has, as it is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Established in 1984 a living room in Wiesbaden, Germany, the machine vision company has grown to its position now as a global player, with over 1,400 employees operating in 80 different countries.
Toll systems have been key part of VITRONIC’s offering since the early 2000s, when the TC1 and TC2 systems were developed. These early solutions were revolutionary offering intelligent service approaches that were ahead of their time.
In the early 2000s, free-flow tolling required multiple gantries and thereby, plenty of hardware. Back then, VITRONIC was the first company to take a step towards reduced hardware by compromising the technology to only one gantry.”
More accurate generations of Tollchecker followed, with the latest iteration, the TC5, first deployed in Poland and representing the pinnacle of the company's innovation. Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) enable it to accurately identify and classify up to 15 vehicle classes, surpassing its predecessors and many competitors.
The TC5 also embodies VITRONIC’s commitment to sustainability. It has a modular design, which combined with long component life cycles, helps to reduce the need for spare parts and make repairs easier. It also has a significant reduction in power consumption compared to predecessors.
But the sustainability of the solution is even more fundamental. "In the past, electronic toll stations have been quite heavy with lots of sensors," says Peter Ummenhofer, Head of products and solutions at VITRONIC. "Thanks to AI, vehicles can be detected and classified using just cameras today. This allows for a reduction in the amount of equipment, which consequently shrinks the infrastructure like steel gantries and reduces power consumption – helping to further reduce CO2.”
VITRONIC also has extensive experience in local sourcing and supplier management, which also helps to ensure technology meets the requirements of specific regions and contributes further to the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its operations. Meanwhile, remote monitoring and sensor configuration capabilities, coupled with plug-and-play functions, allow for flexible adjustments to meet specific needs.
In the future VITRONIC is looking to further reduce the carbon footprint of its systems by continuing to minimize the use of materials and energy consumption, promoting renewable energy sources and enhancing the sustainability of operations through smaller service teams and the electrification of their vehicles.
VITRONIC is the world's leading innovation driver for machine vision, enabling its customers to master the challenges of tomorrow.
The global group of companies develops forward-looking solutions in the form of specialized products and software for image-based quality inspection, identification and process optimization, which find application in the growth sectors of automation and traffic engineering.
VITRONIC solutions make an important contribution to helping shape a safe and sustainable world. The existing limits of what is economically feasible are constantly being questioned in order to achieve the highest quality and productivity, for example in the production of automotive and pharmaceutical companies. Worldwide, Auto-ID solutions in logistics centers and at cargo airports, take over the reliable and efficient recording of shipments and thus ensure a transparent flow of goods.
In the transport sector, VITRONIC offers leading technology for increased safety on the roads, for optimizing traffic flow and for recording road usage.
Open and honest dealings with our customers form the foundation for jointly exploiting technological and process potential to the full. Joint success forms the basis of long-term cooperation with companies such as B. Braun, BMW, Daimler, DHL, UPS, Fresenius and Sanofi as well as with public clients.
Since its foundation in 1984, VITRONIC has been growing continuously for 40 years. The current annual turnover (2023) is above 240 million EUR and the company is currently represented on five continents in over 80 countries with approximately 1,400 employees. Since 2024 the company is part of ITIS Holding, leveraging the strengths of both entities, creating a strong end-to-end ITS and automation provider.
Development and production of VITRONIC systems are located at the company headquarters in Wiesbaden. VITRONIC subsidiaries span across all continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Additionally, a global network of sales and service partners ensures localized support for international customers.