10 Questions to Karen Li, General Manager IXM China

Karen started working for Comet X-ray 14 years ago and a lot has happened in the industrial X-ray business since then. We asked Karen what has changed and what she thinks is in store for the industrial X-ray industry.

What was your first position at Comet, and how did you get to your current job?

I joined Comet as a Sales Manager in 2007. Over the years, Comet X-ray has been great at supporting me by providing access to training and development programs; one of these was a management course held in Geneva. Since then, I have been promoted to my current role as Comet X-ray's Regional General Manager.

How do you experience working at Comet?

At Comet, everyone's ideas and contributions are seen and recognized. You can count on growing together as a team in an open and trusting atmosphere.

What has been the highlight of your career at Comet X-ray this far?

It's hard to choose. I'd say being part of our experienced, professional, and passionate team and witnessing all we have accomplished over the past 10 years. The sales revenue of Comet X-ray in China is booming and now Comet X-ray is considered to be the best manufacturer of X-ray modules and a reliable service provider across the industry.

What is your advice to young professionals starting out in the job market?

I'd say to find a company and a network that enables you to grow. And you have to stay hungry and passionate about learning new things, always.

As the general manager, what are you looking forward to the most?

I want to see the Comet X-ray team in Asia grow even stronger. We want Comet X-ray to have the highest brand recognition in industrial X-ray and be the preferred choice in the Asian market.

How and why did you get into the Industrial X-ray business?

During my job interview, the head of Comet X-ray China introduced me to Comet's vision and he talked about the potential of the industrial X-ray market in Asia. He inspired me to pursue a career in the industrial X-ray business. 14 years later, I am still convinced Comet X-ray was the right choice for me.

What has been the most significant change in the industrial X-ray industry over the past years?

I would think; digitalization. Digitalization affects all markets, especially industrial X-ray. Before the digital era, you could only use film for imaging; now, inline 3D, computed tomography, and artificial intelligence are requirements to create images. Technologies facilitating this, like ours, are highly sought after.

We welcome the ever-growing need for faster inspection times, better resolution, and software with "auto-identification".

What sets Comet apart from other X-ray suppliers?

We provide quality products and service and we aim to build trustful partnerships. If our customers have complications or questions, they know our local and global teams will assist them quickly. We have long and trusted partnerships with all of our customers.

How are you experiencing the accelerating growth of the Asian market?

Before the change from film to digital imaging solutions, non-destructive testing was not common in China. Now, with digital radiography, computed tomography, and other new technologies, non-destructive testing is a stable and ever-growing market.

In the security market, glass tubes used to be the norm, but increased stability and imaging performance were desperately needed. As the leading manufacturer of metal-ceramic inserts, we knew Comet X-ray’s products could deliver. Through tireless communication-efforts and dialog with our customers, metal-ceramic inserts and their substantial benefits have become the new norm in the industry.

What do you expect from the future of the Industrial X-ray market/sales?

Accelerated growth in the electronics, semiconductors, and batteries markets. These are fast-growing markets, especially in China. As a company, we understand the applications and how they are changing. We are preparing for the future by combining our application knowledge and product ingenuity to develop new products matching our customers' needs.