History of Camo Analytics AS and Acquisition by AspenTech

Camo Analytics AS was a Norwegian company founded in 1984 that specialized in industrial analytics. Its core product was a software suite known as The Unscrambler, which was used for multivariate data analysis to improve product quality and production efficiency. The company applied its technology across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, and food and beverage, where quality control and compliance are critical.

Acquisition by Aspen Technology

On November 17, 2020, Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech) acquired Camo Analytics AS. The acquisition was intended to expand AspenTech's portfolio of industrial software solutions. The integration of Camo Analytics' technology was designed to enhance AspenTech's offerings with new capabilities, specifically Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) solutions. These tools are used to help companies manage compliance, reduce waste, and improve processes. The financial terms of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed.

Overview of Key Products

The Unscrambler® X

The Unscrambler® X was an industry-leading tool for modeling, prediction, and optimization. An older version of the product, version 10.4, was noted for having "set the standard in multivariate analysis (MVA) and design of experiments software for 30 years". It was utilized by thousands of data analysts, researchers, and engineers to analyze large and complex datasets. Key features of the software included:

• Analytics: The tool was built with a range of multivariate methods, including exploratory data analysis, regression, and classification. The software also supported machine learning with Python.
• Design of Experiments (DoE): A notable feature of version 10.4 was the inclusion of Design-Expert® software from Stat-Ease®, which provided advanced experimental designs. This integration allowed users to screen for key factors, identify ideal process settings, and develop optimal product formulations.
• Data Handling: The tool allowed for easy drag-and-drop data import from formats like Excel, as well as data from a wide range of analytical instruments.
• Compliance: The software was compliant with 21 CFR Part 11 (Electronic Records) and included features such as compliance mode, digital signatures, and audit trails.
• Functionality: The tool offered a 64-bit version for faster processing of large datasets and featured an intuitive, project-based workflow. The Unscrambler models could be run via another product, Process Pulse, for real-time process monitoring and control.

Quali-Sense

Camo Analytics also developed specialized software, such as Quali-Sense, a tool for the food and beverage industry. Quali-Sense was designed to evaluate and qualify sensory panels, which are groups of human assessors used to rate product attributes. The software's benefits included the ability to identify inconsistent assessors, locate those who may have misunderstood the rating scale, and highlight areas for retraining. Data from Quali-Sense was intended to be used for more in-depth analysis within The Unscrambler, creating a workflow to turn sensory data into actionable information.