Arkite

TLDR

Arkite is a Genk-based augmented reality operator guidance platform for manufacturing, helping factories reduce assembly errors and cut training time on complex production lines.

Overview

Founded in 2015 by Johan Smeyers and Ives De Saeger in Genk, Limburg, Arkite develops what it calls the Human Interface Mate (HIM), a hardware-software system that projects step-by-step visual guidance and real-time feedback directly onto workstations. The system uses computer vision to verify that each assembly step is performed correctly before allowing an operator to proceed, reducing defect rates without slowing production throughput.

Arkite has raised $8.56M across two rounds, with its most recent seed round closing in June 2019. The company is active in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany, serving automotive, telecom, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Its system directly addresses the combination of high product variety, frequent changeovers, and skilled labor scarcity that characterizes modern discrete manufacturing environments.

The operator guidance category has grown as manufacturers seek to reduce dependence on individual operator expertise and paper-based work instructions, both of which create fragility in production systems.

Key People

• Johan Smeyers - Co-founder, CEO
• Ives De Saeger - Co-founder

Funding History

• Seed round 1: EUR 1.6M (October 2017)
• Seed round 2: approx. $1.7M (June 2019)
• Total: $8.56M