Hanwha Vision
A Hanwha Group security technology company specializing in video surveillance, cameras, video management, and intelligent analytics.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Hanwha Vision is a South Korean video-surveillance and security technology company owned by Hanwha Group. Its business centers on network and analog cameras, digital and network video recorders, video-management software, optical technologies, and analytics-enabled security systems for commercial, industrial, public-sector, transportation, retail, and other vertical markets. The company is best known internationally through the Wisenet product brand and developed from a much broader industrial enterprise originally established within Samsung. The business began in 1977 as Samsung Precision. It initially developed precision-instrument capabilities and expanded into cameras, aerospace systems, engines, helicopters, artillery, semiconductor equipment, and other industrial technologies. A precision instrument laboratory was established in 1978, camera production began in 1979, and the company entered aircraft-engine manufacturing in technical cooperation with General Electric in 1980. It also began producing 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery in 1984. The business was renamed Samsung Aerospace in 1987 and later Samsung Techwin in 2000. During the Samsung era, the company acquired or developed capabilities in photographic equipment, semiconductor machinery, aerospace, defense, and security. It acquired German camera maker Rollei and Japanese semiconductor-equipment manufacturer Union Optics, developed the SB427 helicopter with Bell, introduced Samsung-branded digital cameras, and participated in Korean aerospace and fighter-aircraft production. Several of its non-security activities were subsequently separated or transferred to other entities, including Korea Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Defense, Hanwha Precision Machinery, and Samsung Electronics. The surveillance business became increasingly significant in the 2000s. Samsung Techwin entered European and North American closed-circuit television markets directly in 2008 with day/night cameras and digital video recorders. In 2009 it expanded its portfolio with IP cameras and network video recorders. Samsung Electronics and Samsung Techwin also announced the transfer of Samsung Electronics' CCTV camera operation into Samsung Techwin, consolidating related activities while preserving the Samsung Techwin corporate identity. Samsung Electronics announced in December 2014 that it would sell its holding in Samsung Techwin to Hanwha Group. Hanwha completed the acquisition on June 29, 2015, after which the company was renamed Hanwha Techwin. Its SMT pick-and-place machinery business was spun off as Hanwha Precision Machinery in 2017, reflecting Hanwha's separation of the security operation from other industrial activities. Defense and aerospace activities were likewise organized within dedicated Hanwha businesses rather than remaining part of the security company. Under Hanwha ownership, the company continued developing IP surveillance, network video, intelligent analytics, and vertical-market solutions. Its Wisenet portfolio includes cameras and associated software for applications such as people and vehicle detection, license-plate recognition, object classification, and other video-analytics functions. In 2020, the company introduced a mobile application for system integrators intended to simplify device installation verification and generate bills of materials. In 2021, it announced new P Series AI camera models with analytics designed to detect and classify people, vehicles, license plates, and faces, among other attributes. Hanwha Techwin adopted the Hanwha Vision name on March 1, 2023. The renaming positioned the company around a wider vision-and-security technology proposition rather than its former Samsung-derived identity. Today, Hanwha Vision's core role is as a global provider of video surveillance products and integrated security technologies. Its historical aerospace, defense, camera, and machinery activities are important to the company's develop…
History
Hanwha Vision traces its origins to Samsung Precision, established in 1977. The company built a broad industrial base during the following decades. It created a precision instrument laboratory in 1978 and began manufacturing cameras in 1979. In 1980, through technical cooperation with General Electric, it entered jet-engine manufacturing for Korean aircraft. Production of 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery followed in 1984. The company became Samsung Aerospace in 1987 and expanded into helicopters, photographic equipment, and semiconductor machinery. It acquired Rollei, a German camera manufacturer, and Union Optics, a Japanese semiconductor-equipment maker. In 1996 it developed the SB427 helicopter with Bell, and in 1997 it introduced Samsung Kenox digital cameras. That year it also produced Korea's first KF-16 fighter aircraft. The aircraft business was transferred to Korea Aerospace Industries in 1999, and the company adopted the Samsung Techwin name in 2000. Samsung Techwin continued to operate across several industrial fields while building its security business. It exported K-9 self-propelled artillery to Turkey, reached first place in South Korea's digital-camera market in 2005, and began technical cooperation with Pentax. Its surveillance operation entered European and North American CCTV markets directly in 2008, offering true day/night cameras and DVRs. In 2009 it introduced IP cameras and network video recorders. Samsung Electronics and Samsung Techwin announced in 2009 that Samsung Electronics' CCTV camera operation would be consolidated within Samsung Techwin. The move combined related capabilities, although the businesses had previously maintained partly distinct product lines, technologies, and distribution channels. In 2014, Samsung Techwin presented an IP-camera portfolio aimed at vertical markets at the SICUR security exhibition. Samsung Electronics announced the sale of its holding in Samsung Techwin to Hanwha Group in December 2014. Hanwha completed the acquisition on June 29, 2015, and renamed the company Hanwha Techwin. The ownership change was followed by a restructuring of the former conglomerate-style business. The SMT machinery operation was separated as Hanwha Precision Machinery in 2017. Aerospace and defense activities were also transferred or organized under dedicated Hanwha companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Defense, and Hanwha Land Systems. The continuing company concentrated on professional surveillance and security. It exhibited maritime security solutions at the Korea International Boat Show in 2018 and launched a mobile tool for system integrators in 2020. In 2021 it announced five P Series AI cameras offering object detection and classification capabilities, including functions related to people, vehicles, license plates, and faces. On March 1, 2023, Hanwha Techwin was renamed Hanwha Vision. The current company therefore represents the security and video-surveillance lineage of a former Samsung industrial business, while many of its historical aerospace, defense, machinery, and consumer-camera operations have been separated from the present organization.
- 2023
Hanwha Vision name adopted
[1]Hanwha Techwin changes its name to Hanwha Vision on March 1.
- 2017
SMT business spun off
[1]The surface-mount technology machinery business is separated into Hanwha Precision Machinery.
- 2015
Hanwha takeover completed
[1]Hanwha completes the acquisition of Samsung Techwin and renames it Hanwha Techwin.
- 2009
IP surveillance portfolio expanded
[1]The company introduces a new series of IP cameras and network video recorders.
- 2008
Direct entry into Western CCTV markets
[1]Samsung Techwin directly enters European and North American CCTV markets with cameras and digital video recorders.
- 2000
Renamed Samsung Techwin
[1]Following the transfer of its aircraft business, the company adopts the Samsung Techwin name.
- 1997
Samsung Kenox digital cameras introduced
[1]The company begins selling digital cameras under the Samsung Kenox brand.
- 1996
SB427 helicopter developed with Bell
[1]The company develops the SB427 helicopter in cooperation with Bell.
- 1987
Renamed Samsung Aerospace
[1]The business adopts the Samsung Aerospace name as it expands its aerospace and helicopter activities.
- 1984
Self-propelled artillery production begins
[1]The company begins producing 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery.
Products and positioning
A mid-market to premium provider of professional video-surveillance equipment, intelligent video analytics, and integrated security solutions.
Video surveillance cameras
Wisenet cameras
Wisenet is the principal camera family associated with Hanwha Vision. It covers network and other professional surveillance formats for commercial, industrial, public, transportation, retail, and specialized applications. The portfolio is associated with image capture, recording integration, optical functions, and increasingly embedded analytics.
Video-management software
Wisenet WAVE
Wisenet WAVE is a video-management platform used to organize and operate surveillance-camera systems. It is positioned as a software layer for viewing, managing, and integrating video from compatible security devices, supporting the company's broader move from standalone cameras toward complete surveillance solutions.
Artificial-intelligence surveillance cameras · 2021
P Series AI cameras
The P Series AI cameras announced in 2021 incorporate video-analytics capabilities intended to detect and classify objects in surveillance footage. Described functions include recognition of people, vehicles, license plates, and faces, along with classification attributes such as age groups, gender, and color.
Video recording equipment · 2009
Network video recorders
Hanwha Vision's network video recorders form part of its IP-surveillance infrastructure. They are designed to record and manage video streams from network cameras and to operate alongside the company's camera and video-management offerings.
Video recording equipment · 2008
Digital video recorders
Digital video recorders were among the company's earlier CCTV offerings, particularly during its expansion into European and North American surveillance markets. They represent the recording side of the company's transition from traditional CCTV systems toward networked and software-supported security environments.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Korea International Boat Show maritime-security exhibition
South Korea · Marine leisure
Hanwha Techwin participated in the Korea International Boat Show in Goyang and presented surveillance and safety solutions for marine and boating environments. The appearance extended the company's security proposition into a specialized vertical outside conventional commercial CCTV.
Outcome. The company used the exhibition to demonstrate maritime-security applications and its interest in vertical-market solutions.
Brand decisions
2023
Corporate name changed to Hanwha VisionStrategyBackground
After the acquisition and the separation of several legacy industrial businesses, the company sought a name aligned with its security, imaging, and vision-technology focus.
Action taken
Hanwha Techwin changed its name to Hanwha Vision on March 1, 2023.
Aftermath
The new identity replaced the Samsung-derived and intermediate Hanwha Techwin names in the company's current market positioning.
2021
P Series AI camera expansionProduct launchBackground
The company was expanding from conventional video capture toward embedded analytics and intelligent surveillance.
Action taken
Hanwha Techwin announced five P Series AI camera models with object-detection and classification features.
Aftermath
The announcement reinforced the company's focus on analytics-enabled cameras and vertical security applications.
2017
Separation of SMT machinery operationsStrategyBackground
The post-acquisition organization separated the company's security activities from other industrial businesses.
Action taken
Hanwha Techwin spun off its SMT pick-and-place machinery business as Hanwha Precision Machinery.
Aftermath
The restructuring helped define the continuing company more narrowly around security and video-surveillance activities.
2014
Hanwha Group acquisition announcedM&ABackground
Samsung Electronics announced that it would sell its holding in Samsung Techwin to Hanwha Group as part of a broader ownership transition.
Action taken
The parties initiated the transfer of Samsung Techwin's ownership to Hanwha.
Aftermath
Hanwha completed the takeover in 2015 and renamed the company Hanwha Techwin. Several non-security businesses were subsequently separated into dedicated Hanwha or other entities.
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