Printing International: high hopes for AI inspection

From demo to working system in 20 minutes

The real breakthrough came during an on-site demonstration. Thomas Vermeir, Account Manager OEM at Siemens: “We had already introduced Inspekto, but now we wanted to test it live in their own setup. In 20 minutes, the system was fully operational,” Thomas says. That speed is a logical consequence of Inspekto’s intuitive approach. “You indicate where you want to look, teach the system what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’, and done,” says Didier. “The software itself focuses, adjusts exposure and optimises images. You no longer have to configure anything manually.”

On the FlexLine S10, Inspekto performs three critical inspections, each with a different challenge. “That’s what I find so challenging,” says Wout Foqué, Customer Solution Architect at Siemens. “It’s actually about three use cases that all do something slightly different.”

Inspection 1: Detect empty carrier

Before loading, the first Inspekto camera checks whether the carrier is empty. “This way, we avoid double-stacking or damaging products,” explains Didier. The camera performs this check on the fly as the carrier moves along the conveyor.

Inspection 2: Product correctly loaded

After loading, a second Inspekto unit verifies that the product is present and correctly positioned on the carrier. “That is very important,” says Didier. “Otherwise, we don’t print on the product, but on the carrier.” This inspection is also done in real time, with continuous image recognition during transit. The AI recognises deviations automatically, without complex exposure or focus settings.

Inspection 3: Fully filled tray

At the end of the line, a third Inspekto checks that the output tray is fully filled and correctly oriented. “If one product is missing, Inspekto says so and the tray is rejected,” says Didier. This monitoring is done in a stationary position, with a still image and a different camera configuration. This makes the combination of three vision systems in one machine special: each is tailored to its specific task and movement dynamics.

Smarter detection, higher OEE

But Inspekto delivers more than faster inspections. “Previously, we could not detect whether a product was laying slightly twisted,” says Didier. “That sometimes led to printed mandrels. An operator then had to stop and enter the machine to clean it. That had a huge impact on Overall Equipment Effectiveness or OEE. Now Inspekto automatically detects that situation.”

“This too shows our customer that we’re continuously innovating and improving. We are not building a repeat. There is always evolution.” That mindset is essential for success in the pharmaceutical world. “This customer is very technical,” says Didier. “He is obviously triggered by Inspekto and wants to learn it himself. And thanks to remote access, we can train remotely and the customer can watch. When the system is set up correctly, it is very stable.”

OEM Partnership as innovation engine

The implementation of Inspekto illustrates how the OEM partnership between Printing International and Siemens works. “We always strive for newer and better,” says Didier. “If Siemens has developed something new, we want to use it.” But that early adopter role also requires a lot of trust. “There are always challenges. Fortunately, we can also always turn to Siemens for advice. Together, we soon arrive at something workable.”

At Siemens, Didier found the support he needed, in a layered structure. Thomas explains: “I am commercially responsible as an account manager. Wout is my equal in the technical field. He is a generalist on HMI, drive, PLC. Behind him is an army of seasoned specialists at the product level.”

Wout also serves as an ambassador for Printing International at Siemens. “Because I often visit here, I also get to know the needs better. If Didier or one of his colleagues calls with a problem, I immediately know who we need. This way the relevant information gets to the right specialist quickly.”

Siemens across the line

Although Inspekto is the eye-catcher, the entire Flexline S10 relies on Siemens technology. “We really use the full range,” says Didier. “From I/O and PLC control, to drives and servo motors, to HMI. For example, we also use the Unified HMI panels, Siemens’ latest-generation visualisation technology.”

This standardisation is a conscious choice. “Sometimes customers ask for other brands, but we resolutely choose Siemens. In pharma, everything must be able to be logged and tracked, and Siemens provides the right tools for that. Moreover, it is crucial for our validation that everything is in one ecosystem.”

“We play out our Siemens OEM partnership very often with customers,” said Didier. “Most of the URSs we get do contain hundreds of points. Then we say: everything is done to Siemens standards, so perfectly compliant. That is very convincing.”

AI that really works

For Printing International, the integration of Inspekto into the FlexLine S10 marks a milestone. “You hear AI everywhere, but rarely do you see it concretely applied in production,” says Didier. “Now we can show customers: look, this is industrial AI already working today.”

In this, stability was non-negotiable. “We are not starting with anything experimental. The system had to be reliable from day one, and it is.” Thomas sums up: “The implementation of industrial AI finally makes the abstract buzzword tangible. This project shows what innovation in collaboration really means.”

Meanwhile, the benefits are clearly measurable: a more stable machine, higher uptime and satisfied customers. “What particularly sticks with me,” concluded Didier, “is how efficiently we were able to develop this machine, at that pace and with that quality. That gives energy, for us, our customers and our partners.” Printing International’s philosophy thereby remains unchanged: everyone in the chain must be satisfied. “Our people, our customer and our suppliers should be able to look back with pride. Only then is the project successful.”