The challenges at CTB Trattamenti Termici S.r.l.

CTB Trattamenti Termici is a family-run company for industrial heat treatment, based near Modena — in the heart of the Italian “Motor and Hydraulic Valley”, with 110 employees and a turnover of 18 million euros. Since 1981, CTB has specialized in thermal and thermochemical treatments for safety-critical components in small format. Two in-house metallographic laboratories analyze over 60 samples every day — a highly precise job where every detail counts.

But as throughput increased, it became clear:

• Manual analyses are prone to error - especially if the operator's experience or daily form fluctuates.
• Processes were time-consuming - each analysis cost valuable minutes.
• An objective, reproducible assessment became a challenge.

CTB knew that in order to remain competitive in the future, it had to take a step towards automation.

The solution

In 2024, CTB decided to collaborate with MiViA - the AI-based software for microstructure analysis.

After a joint development project with a customized module, MiViA went live in the laboratory. The software was seamlessly integrated into the workflow:

• Samples are prepared and microscoped as usual.
• Instead of subjective evaluation by humans, MiViA now takes over: fully automatic, reproducible, within seconds.
• The AI reliably recognizes structures, compares them with reference images and delivers objective results, regardless of the operator.

CTB initially tested MiViA with a 6-month license - and extended its use thanks to the clear benefits.

A step in the right direction

MiViA is more than just a tool - it is a step towards the future. For us, this means fewer deviations, more reliability and fast processes.

Mr. Massimo Pivetti – Plant Manager

The result

Since the introduction of MiViA, the processes in CTB's laboratories have changed noticeably:

• Speed: What used to take minutes is now done in seconds.
• Objectivity: Results are stable and independent of the operator.
• Reliability: The software is available 24/7, no more manual image editing required.
• Future security: MiViA is an investment in CTB's long-term competitiveness.

If you are struggling with similar challenges in your lab - slow evaluations, varying operator results or increasing analysis pressure - now is the time to switch to AI-powered analysis.