Ensure product quality, process stability, and traceability – automate quality inspection, presence detection, OCR, and code reading directly in the production process. Freely programmable or available as a ready-to-use solution.
Machine Vision for Factory Automation
Typical Challenges in Factory Automation
01
Reliable Process Automation
Machines and robots must reliably identify components, products, and process conditions. Variations make stable automation more challenging.
02
Managing Product Variants
Different product variants, smaller batch sizes, and frequent changeovers require flexible machine vision systems.
03
Ensuring Quality and Process Reliability
Defective parts, assembly errors, and missing components must be detected early to prevent scrap and machine downtime.
04
Ensuring Real-Time Performance and Integration
Machine vision systems must deliver results within milliseconds and integrate seamlessly into automation environments.
Our Approaches
Two Paths to the Right Vision Solution
Depending on your integration requirements and project timeline, IMAGO offers two distinct approaches for factory automation applications.
Open Plattform
Flexible Vision Platform
For OEMs (machine and equipment manufacturers) that require full control over application logic, system integration, and scalability.
- Freely programmable with the IMAGO ViewIT software framework, C++, Python, and HALCON – no black box, full control
- Multiple inspection tasks on a single device – for example quality inspection, presence detection, assembly verification, OCR, and code reading.
- Portable across all IMAGO devices, with OPC UA and REST connectivity for Industry 4.0 integration
- Long-term availability, including ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) variants for serial machine production
Ready to use
Preconfigured Solution
For users with a specific inspection challenge who need fast and reliable results without extensive in-house development.
- Deep-learning inspection of print defects and variations in printed products without programming, using a web-based GUI
- Fast deployment with minimal lead time and a clear focus on rapid time-to-market
- Reliably detects anomalies, surface defects, and missing components despite variations in shape, color, and appearance.
- Consulting and support from the experienced IMAGO engineering team – robust hardware made in Germany
Decision Guide
What Is Your Goal?
Choose the approach that best fits your project – both lead to a reliable inspection solution.
Maximum Flexibility
You develop your own inspection solutions or integrate machine vision deeply into your machines and automation systems.
Fast Implementation
You have a specific inspection task—quality inspection, presence detection, or assembly verification—and need a ready-to-use system quickly.
Differentiation
Why IMAGO for Factory Automation?
Hardware, software, and system integration work together to ensure reliable quality inspection, stable production processes, and seamless integration into automated manufacturing systems.
Open Software Framework
Freely programmable instead of a black box – full control over every inspection task on the line.
Multiple Tasks, One System
OCR, code reading, quality control, and AI inspection run on the same hardware instead of multiple systems.
Long-Term Availability
ODM variants and long product life cycles for serial machines and global rollouts.
Future-Proof Architecture
Scalable platform without vendor lock-in that grows with your requirements.
High-Speed-Vision
Hundreds of products per minute with processing power directly in the camera or box PC.
Applications
Typical Applications in Factory Automation
IMAGO vision systems are used in these four application areas of factory automation. This is just a small selection of what machine vision enables today.
Quality Inspection
Components and products are inspected for dimensional accuracy, surface defects, completeness, and other quality characteristics.
OCR, Barcode & Code Reading
Serial numbers, barcodes, Data Matrix codes, and human-readable text are captured for identification, traceability, and process control.
Presence & Completeness Inspection
Missing parts, components, or assembly steps are reliably detected to prevent production errors.
Process Monitoring
Production processes are continuously monitored to detect malfunctions, deviations, and errors at an early stage and prevent machine downtime.
Technology for Demanding Automation Applications
A high-performance machine vision system for factory automation must combine reliable quality inspection with real-time processing and seamless machine integration. Components, products, and assembly processes must be inspected accurately to detect defects, missing parts, and deviations at production speed.
IMAGO provides the required computing power either directly on the camera or externally in a Vision Box PC. Real-time I/O and an integrated Real-Time Communication Controller enable seamless integration with PLCs and production systems via OPC UA and REST API.
Quality inspection, presence detection, assembly verification, OCR, and code reading can run simultaneously within a single system. Thanks to the open software framework, different product variants, inspection requirements, and customer-specific automation tasks can be implemented flexibly.
Product recommendations
Recommended Solutions for Factory Automation
The following systems are designed to meet the requirements of factory automation. They combine flexible integration, real-time performance, and reliable quality inspection. Depending on the application, they can be freely programmed or deployed as ready-to-use solutions.
Reliably inspect products, components, and processes in real time – directly within your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can greater flexibility be achieved when handling product variants and process changes?
Machine vision makes machines less dependent on fixed positions, mechanical fixtures, and specific product variants. This allows new products and processes to be integrated more quickly while reducing changeover times.
How can quality inspection and automation be combined on a single platform?
Modern machine vision systems combine inspection, identification, measurement, and process control on a common hardware platform. This reduces system complexity and integration effort.
Is the platform open and scalable enough for future AI applications?
An open vision platform enables the integration of new AI models, additional cameras, and more powerful hardware through software-based extensions. This ensures long-term flexibility and future readiness for automation solutions.
