From Rainbow to Data: How the Oxxius Laser Enables Imasolia to Turn Light into Industrial Decisions

Measuring an industrial spray in real time, without sampling, directly within the process: that is the challenge Imasolia met with its non-contact optical particle sizer, the Droptis, integrating an Oxxius laser and awarded the Aktantis Innovation Prize 2026.

A Measurement Need Still Largely Unaddressed in Spray Processes

In many industrial sectors, spray processes remain difficult to characterize under real operating conditions. Without adequate tools, teams rely on numerical simulation and empirical assumptions — an approach that quickly reaches its limits when fine process optimization or fault analysis is required.

Imasolia, a French company specializing in optical metrology for industrial processes, took on this challenge with the Droptis. Its defining feature: measuring where no one else measures, in direct contact with the process, without sampling or laboratory transfer, in harsh environments (humidity, heat, confined spaces) where conventional solutions fall short.

Its operating principle is based on “rainbow” measurement: a laser beam illuminates a cloud of droplets or suspended particles and generates diffraction patterns captured by a camera. These are then mathematically analyzed to extract key data on particles ranging from 1 µm to 1 mm: particle size distribution, temperature, refractive index, and nanoparticle concentration.

At the heart of this optical architecture: an Oxxius laser.

Finding the Right Laser Source: A Critical Choice

The “rainbow” technique relies entirely on the quality of the light beam.

The specifications Imasolia defined for this critical laser component were therefore very precise:

• A coherence length suited to the rainbow technique (< 1 m)
• A compact form factor for seamless mechanical integration into the Droptis housing
• A fiber-coupled output, delivered ready to use
• Compatibility with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) for pulse control
• Continuous or pulsed operation, depending on the measurement configuration

Why an Oxxius laser?

Several factors led to choosing Oxxius:

• Technically, the laser meets all specifications: factory-delivered fiber-coupled output, high-quality integrated AOM from a recognized French manufacturer, documented beam quality, and clear, detailed test reports.
• Commercially, Oxxius provided a laser on loan for 6 months, allowing the team to validate the solution under real conditions before any purchase commitment.
• The technical support team responded efficiently and promptly to questions raised during AOM integration.

Imasolia integrates an Oxxius L1C+ 532 nm AOM single-mode laser into the Droptis to illuminate clouds of suspended droplets and characterize industrial sprays in real time and in situ.

Integrating the Oxxius L1C+ Single-Mode Laser into the Droptis

The single-mode Oxxius laser L1C+ is synchronized with the Droptis camera through Imasolia’s proprietary software. Control covers all operational parameters: pulse or continuous mode management, emission control, connection monitoring at startup, and laser safety interlock management. The AOM is also controlled directly from the software.

The factory-delivered fiber-coupled output simplified mechanical integration into the compact Droptis housing, designed for direct deployment on industrial sites.

Results: Measurements Once Thought Impossible

The Droptis equipped with the Oxxius laser measures in real time and in situ, with ±2% accuracy, physical quantities previously inaccessible in industrial processes: droplet and particle size distribution, spray temperature, refractive index to identify material composition (water, alcohol, oil, complex suspensions), and relative nanoparticle concentration.

These data enable manufacturers to verify and correct their simulation assumptions, continuously optimize their processes, and reduce production losses. According to Imasolia, the data collected by the Droptis can support productivity gains of around 30% in a spray process.

Acquisition can reach 60 Hz, with real-time processing of approximately 1 to 5 Hz depending on the configuration — where previously, manufacturers had no measured data at all.

These performances earned the Droptis the Aktantis Innovation Prize 2026, a distinction that validates the entire technology stack, laser included.

A Technology with Broad Reach

Imasolia is currently in the qualification phase with industrial R&D partners. The Droptis finds applications across a wide range of sectors:

• Food & Beverage: production of freeze-dried powders (milk powder, etc.) in spray dryers
• Petrochemicals / Ceramics: drying of colloidal suspensions for powder production
• Automotive: optimization of paint spray guns on robotic production lines
• Agriculture: characterization of pesticide spraying to reduce drift and optimize application
• Aerospace: study of icing phenomena in wind tunnels
• Pharmaceuticals / Specialty Chemicals: spray process control under strict regulatory standards

Whatever the application, the Droptis delivers measured data where only simulation existed before.

Testing the Droptis at a paint spray gun manufacturer for robotic automotive production lines. The Oxxius laser beam is visible at the heart of the spray.