News / Press

INITIAL SITUATION IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY

Manufacturers in the food sector operate under immense pressure:
Regulatory requirements, increasing product variety, high production speeds, and strict retailer quality standards make correct labeling and flawless packaging absolutely essential.

Even a single wrong best-before date, a mixed-up label, or unreadable allergen information can cause supermarket chains to reject entire batches—resulting in substantial costs for manufacturers.

At the same time, the need for traceability and documentation is increasing, especially for premium products.

WHY OPTICAL PRODUCT & LABEL INSPECTION PAYS OFF

✔ Ensures legally compliant labeling
✔ Prevents delivery stops imposed by retail partners
✔ Drastically reduces scrap and rework
✔ Guarantees consistent product quality even at high line speeds
✔ Enables instant defect detection directly in the process
✔ Forms the basis for traceability and batch release

The earlier an error is detected, the less product must be discarded—and the lower the overall cost.

TYPICAL INSPECTION TASKS IN FOOD LABEL INSPECTION

IMAGO systems inspect inline—directly after
portioning ▸ packaging ▸ sealing ▸ labeling.

Standard Tasks

• Reading best-before dates and batch codes (OCR)
• Verification of codes and IDs (DataMatrix, QR, barcode)

Labeling and Position Verification

• Verification of product/label/logo assignment
• Checking label and product position and orientation
• For international assortments: correct label language

Advanced Quality Checks

With freely programmable IMAGO hardware, additional tasks can be implemented:

• Inspection of packaging edges (e.g., sealing quality)
• Measurement of portion sizes and distance to the sealing seam
• Online feedback to portioning machines for automatic adjustment

 

THE IMAGO ADVANTAGE – COMPONENTS FOR A ROBUST, SCALABLE SOLUTION

Vision Sensor PV3 – Compact Label Inspection Sensor

Ideal for: reading best-before dates, label verification
Strengths:
• Freely programmable
• Modular design → adaptable to any production line
• Perfect for installations with limited space
• Works as stand-alone or as an edge node in larger systems

Use Case Examples:
• Detects damaged or misapplied labels
• OCR reads best-before dates even with fluctuating print quality
• Direct rejection or stopping of faulty packs via I/Os

Vision Cam XM2 – High-Performance Camera for Complex Label & Product Inspection

Ideal for: OCR, code reading, high-speed applications, multiple inspection tasks in parallel
Strengths:
• 5 MP or 12 MP sensors, or line-scan variants
• NVIDIA Jetson Orin–based hardware (AI & classical vision)
• Robust for 24/7 high-speed production lines

Use Case Examples:
• High-resolution detection of allergens or microtext
• Detection of subtle label defects (creases, shadows, incomplete printing)
• Inspection of the entire packaging surface

Vision Box AGE-X – Computing Power & Control for Complete Production Lines

Ideal for: multi-camera systems, traceability, documentation
Strengths:
• Real-time processing via Real-Time Communication Controller
• Can be connected to multiple PV3 sensors
• Ideal platform for audit trails, data storage, and reporting
• Perfect for central control and line integration

Use Case Examples:
• Storing every label image for traceability
• Linking camera, scale, and packaging data
• Process feedback to portioning and labeling machines

IMAGO CREATES TRUE VALUE IN FOOD LABEL INSPECTION

IMAGO provides a modular platform enabling food manufacturers to ensure compliant, error-free, and fully traceable products—even at high speeds and with varying packaging formats.

Your Benefits:
• Less scrap
• Guaranteed label compliance
• Easy integration
• Future-proof thanks to AI and RTCC technology
• Centralized data management for audits