Hexagon Gains X-Ray Vision with US$1.45bn Waygate Deal

For US$1.45bn, Hexagon will acquire Waygate Technologies to change how manufacturers look at their products, literally.

Hexagon, a company that specialises in measurement technologies, is buying the firm from Baker Hughes to bridge a major gap in the manufacturing process. While Hexagon is well known for measuring the external surfaces of components with extreme accuracy, Waygate brings “X-ray vision”  to the table.

Seeing through the steel

Waygate Technologies works in non-destructive testing (NDT). 

Using advanced computed tomography and radiography, Waygate’s tech lets companies look inside solid objects – such as jet engine blades or electric vehicle batteries – to find small defects without breaking them open.

Once the inspection data is available, it is then fed into AI-driven analytics. The result is the creation of highly detailed, virtual replicas known as digital twins of the physical assets. 

Instead of using one company to check if a part’s dimensions are correct and another to check if the internal structure is sound, Hexagon will now offer a unified workflow to its customers.

“This acquisition is a natural and exciting evolution of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s strategy,” says Anders Svensson, President and CEO of Hexagon. 

“By combining Waygate’s NDT expertise with Hexagon’s precision measurement portfolio, software capabilities and global infrastructure, we will create a uniquely integrated offering that helps our customers achieve higher quality, greater efficiency and improved confidence across the full product lifecycle.”

Beyond the factory floor

One of the most significant changes for customers is Hexagon’s entry into the maintenance, repair and operations market. 

Through Waygate’s remote visual inspection (RVI) tools, which are high-tech cameras on flexible cables, technicians can inspect the inside of an aircraft turbine while it’s still attached to the wing.

This shifts Hexagon’s role from just helping customers build products to helping them maintain them safely over decades. Because this work is required by law and based on how much a plane flies rather than how many new planes are being sold, it provides a more stable, recurring service for the industry.

A focus on growth and stability

Hexagon has identified Waygate's radiography and RVI units as “growth” and “profitability” assets. 

Anders adds: “We also see a significant opportunity to create value by applying Hexagon’s operating model, which is built on driving closeness to customers via accountability and strong performance management, to Waygate’s businesses and driving meaningful margin improvement over the medium term.”

However, not every part of the deal is a permanent fixture. 

Hexagon has labelled the Ultrasonic Testing and Imaging Solutions divisions as “Stability” assets, noting it will explore “all strategic options” to improve its performance.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

For the 1,500 employees at Waygate and the thousands of manufacturers using Hexagon tools, the goal is a future where quality control isn’t a separate step at the end of a line, but a continuous, transparent look at every part, inside and out.