The HandySCAN 3D by Creaform: Two Decades of 3D Scanning Leadership

Read the original article by Creaform here.

Twenty years ago, Creaform reimagined 3D scanning by launching the world's first portable laser 3D scanner—pioneering the handheld self-positioning 3D scanner class. With the introduction of the HandySCAN 3D in 2005, Creaform didn't just bring new capabilities to market—it revolutionized 3D metrology. Since then, we've been at the forefront of the parade, continuously leading the way, pushing boundaries, and setting standards that competitors rush to replicate.

Reinventing the Future of Industrial Metrology since 2005

2005: The Handheld Revolution Begins

Creaform disrupted the market with the introduction of the HandySCAN 3D —a revolutionary handheld laser scanner that eliminated the need for fixed setups and external tracking systems. It enabled accurate 3D scanning directly on the shop floor, even in unstable environments—marking a significant shift from traditional, stationary coordinate measuring machines (CMMs).

2010: Probing Without Constraints

Five years later, Creaform expanded its metrology portfolio with the HandyPROBE—a portable probing system that broke free from the constraints of traditional articulated arms. Unlike conventional systems, it used optical tracking to enable dynamic referencing, allowing users to take highly accurate measurements directly on the shop floor, even in the presence of vibrations or part movement.

2010: True Shop-Floor Accuracy

The same year, Creaform released the MetraSCAN 3D—a groundbreaking optical CMM scanner designed specifically for scanning large and complex parts with high accuracy directly in shop floor conditions. Paired with the HandyPROBE and using dynamic referencing, it offered fast, accurate, and versatile 3D scanning completely immune to part or environmental movement.

2014: Making 3D Scanning Universally Accessible

In 2014, Creaform unveiled the Go!SCAN 20 & Go!SCAN 50—bringing fast, user-friendly, white-light 3D scanning to a broader range of users, including non-experts. These scanners, operational in under two minutes, also introduced the first hybrid positioning system, combining geometry, targets, and texture tracking. This innovation enabled target-free scanning, further simplifying the user experience.

2014: Raising the Standard for Speed and 3D Scanning Experience

Still in 2014, Creaform launched the HandySCAN 700—a new generation of its flagship handheld 3D scanner that set a new benchmark for accuracy, resolution, and scanning speed. With dramatically faster measurement speed—up to five times quicker than its predecessor—it enabled rapid data acquisition. This leap in speed paved the way for large-scale deployment in quality control applications, delivering reliable metrology-grade accuracy in a highly portable and user-friendly device.

2016: Scanning Shiny and Black Parts—Without Powder

Two years later, Creaform followed with the MetraSCAN 750, enhancing its optical CMM 3D scanner lineup with faster data acquisition and greater adaptability to complex surface finishes. It was the first system capable of scanning parts without any surface preparation or powder application. Not forgetting speed, the performance gains introduced with the HandySCAN 700 were carried over, allowing the MetraSCAN 750 to significantly reduce inspection time while maintaining high accuracy, even on shiny or black parts.

2018: Inspection at the Speed of Automation

With automation on the rise, Creaform responded in 2018 by releasing the CUBE-R—a turnkey, fully automated 3D scanning solution powered by the MetraSCAN 3D-R and integrated into an industrial measuring cell. It combined high-speed, non-contact inspection with complete automation, enabling rapid, repeatable measurements without operator intervention.

2019: Certified Accuracy Anywhere

Creaform took another leap forward with the HandySCAN 3D|BLACK Series—a next-generation handheld 3D scanner certified to ISO 17025 and compliant with VDI/VDE 2634 Part 3 standards. These certifications reflect Creaform's metrological rigor and unwavering commitment to quality, making the BLACK series a trusted solution for high-end inspection applications. The launch also marked a major improvement in accuracy and speed, introducing for the first time an accredited accuracy of 25 microns (MPE) and incorporating blue laser technology—enabling faster data acquisition and setting a new benchmark in portable 3D scanning performance.

2019: Fast, Intuitive, Colorful 3D Scans

The momentum continued in 2019 with the launch of the Go!SCAN SPARK—a modernized white-light 3D scanner that combined speed, simplicity, and scan quality. Featuring intelligent surface tracking and real-time mesh generation, it allowed users to capture detailed and full-color high-quality 3D scan data effortlessly—even with little scanning experience.

2020: High-End Metrology to the Shop Floor

Continuing to innovate in 2020, Creaform introduced the BLACK models of the MetraSCAN 3D—a high-performance, portable CMM designed for demanding quality control applications in shop floor environments. ISO 17025–certified, it delivers metrology-grade accuracy even on complex, shiny, or reflective surfaces and despite shop floor vibrations, part movement, or environmental instabilities.

2021: High-Definition Scanning for Sheet Metal Inspection

In 2021, Creaform released the MetraSCAN-R BLACK+|Elite HD, a high-definition automated 3D scanner specifically optimized for sheet metal inspection. Designed for integration into robotic quality control cells, it delivered enhanced resolution and edge definition, making it ideal for detecting fine features and subtle deformations on stamped metal parts. This specialized solution addressed the unique challenges of sheet metal inspection.

2023: High Accuracy on Large Parts

More recently, Creaform made headlines with the HandySCAN 3D|MAX Series—a portable metrology-grade 3D scanner designed for large parts. Featuring an extended scanning area and multiple scanning modes that balance speed and resolution, the MAX Series is ideal for industries where moving parts to a metrology lab is impractical.

2025 and Beyond: A New and Smarter Era of 3D Portable Metrology

In 2025, Creaform enters a new era of portable 3D metrology with the launch of Creaform.OS and the Creaform Metrology Suite—an integrated ecosystem that seamlessly connects 3D scanners, software, and workflows. This platform reimagines the user experience and lays the groundwork for smarter, more efficient 3D metrology. Later this year, Creaform is poised to raise the bar once again with the launch of the HandySCAN 3D|PRO Series and HandySCAN 3D|EVO Series, which promise another significant leap in ergonomics and versatility in handheld 3D scanning.

Problem Solver and Value Creator

In engineering, products typically fall into two categories: must-haves and nice-to-haves. At Creaform, we focus exclusively on the must-haves—the innovations that address and solve our customers' most complex challenges. While others may follow trends or focus on catching up, we dedicate our efforts to developing solutions that deliver real, measurable value.

There is lasting value in buying from the company that imagined and developed the original innovation. These are the engineering teams that immersed themselves in the market's needs—those who listened, understood the problems, and responded with purpose-built solutions. Instead of waiting to see what others would do and imitating it, they led the way by anticipating industry needs and acting first.

Often Copied, Never Equaled

Since the introduction of the HandySCAN 3D in 2005, Creaform has driven the evolution of portable 3D metrology with powerful, reliable, and evolutive 3D scanning solutions that have redefined industry standards for accuracy, portability, and speed. And we will continue to innovate—because innovation isn't just something we do; it's who we are.

We've always been ahead of the curve, and we're not stopping. Time and again, our innovations have set the standard—so much so that others have tried, and are still trying, to follow in our footsteps. But while our solutions are often copied, they’re never equaled. Because true innovation can’t be replicated. We will keep shaping the future of portable 3D metrology—setting the pace, constantly raising the bar, and showing other players where the future is headed.

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Article written by Creaform

Published 09/27/2025